Resuming Construction
All praise to God that we have been able to resume construction on the school building!!
We feel strongly about giving the children opportunity to attend school to help give them the best chance to come out of poverty and make a living for themselves someday. Currently the children attend public school and we help fund the high cost and fees associated with getting an education.
In 2019, we began plans for building our own school at the orphanage. This would allow the orphans to attend school as well as the children of the volunteer workers at the orphanage. Additionally, the school could be used as a source of income and sustainability through creating opportunities for employment and improvement of the surrounding community through attendance of the area children that currently cannot afford to attend the public schools.
We had to pause all construction over a year ago and, therefore, no progress has been made. This is due to the fact that we simply did not have enough funding to continue construction. We continually look to the Lord to provide, and while we had enough funding to pay for food and school fees, there was no extra for the construction. The building was put on hold with the cement footings poured, cement columns for the ground floor completed, cement of ground floor poured, and brick walls partially built. At the time, the builder gave an estimation of about $18,000 US to continue the next phase. There has been significant increase in cost of materials over this time and the new estimation was $20,000 US to continue the project. ‘
In January of this year 2023, as the Lord provided a bit of extra funding, we were able to continue construction on the school. The entire school building project is a significant and lengthy process, and we will continue to follow God’s leading and direction. When he provides the financial means, we will press on with the next steps and building phases, while at the same time continuing to provide for the immediate daily food needs and continued school fees for the children.
