Building at Kyampisi 1

Yesterday (Monday) saw us begin our building work at Kyampisi.

To begin, Peter and I drove to the local hardware to buy reo, wire, cement and sand. To cut a long story short, Peter asked me if I would be in a position to pay for it all, which although I was willing to do, I didn't have the required 3,000,000 shillings in cash (and the hardware store wouldn't take VISA). I've organised the money today and we'll pay for it all tomorrow.

Initially we're working on the foundations (initially ground floor and then first floor) for the primary classrooms at the new Kyampisi International Christian School - a two-story block consisting of six classrooms (three upstairs and three downstairs, each with a verandah on the eastern side).

This decision was made as the Kyampisi community had already commenced the ground floor foundations - excavation work and initial rocks.

I spent time smashing huge boulders (with a sledge hammer) and compacting them into the excavation area in readiness for smaller pebbles, sand, reo and cement.

Once we've finished the ground floor slab I understand we'll be building pillars to support the elevated slab (first floor) which we'll also lay.

As the Lord provides, KCM plans to erect four of these double story blocks - two side by side and two opposite the initial two (with a playground area in between).

The second project was unknown to us before we visited Kyampisi, having said that, it seems to be well needed. Until KCM build their main church, probably in 2014 (depending on funds) they are limited to a shady area under the trees or the children's chapel that was erected in 2010, as a place of worship. Interestingly, Peter separates the children and the adults on a Sunday morning and chooses to keep the children in their chapel. Peter has a vision for a large roofed area to be built behind the current children's chapel that will act as a multi-purpose area (including a place of worship until the main church is built). KCM have recently built a retaining wall to build up the foundation (as the area has a significant slope).

Although we spent many hours filling this area with soil yesterday, we still have loads more soil to move in order to fill the area completely so we can lay a concrete slab - probably a similar process to the ground floor slab of the classroom, although not quite as solid as the multi-purpose structure is only one level.

For the record, we forgot to take our gloves yesterday - and as we were working pretty hard in hot conditions, we started to earn a flew blisters. One of the locals helping us had a pair of gloves which he shared with me - given that they had holes all through them, they didn't really make a big difference - but the thought was greatly appreciated!

Once we finished our day of manual labour we enjoyed a staff meeting with Peter and the four teachers from the Kyampisi school. They outlined the many resources critically needed at the school - we agreed to take them shopping next Saturday to buy what we can. We also agreed to buy them staff uniforms.

After a full day we drove back to the Jesus House. To be honest, I prefer driving in the daytime. Driving at night in Uganda is very difficult as there are Borda Borda's driving in each direction, people walking in all directions and cars coming towards you (and overtaking you) with high beam lights switched on and you really can't see where you're driving. It isn't fun because you're very conscious that you could hit someone as there are no street lights.