Message from Lynn Chotowetz

We have received an update from our friend, Lynn, who is living in Africa and serving with Hands@Work. Lynn and Jayme went to where our men will be staying to help prepare for the team. This is his email about what he saw:

Hope you are doing well. We have just returned from stepping out dimensions on the exact site where you'll soon spend 3 weeks turning a flat bushy field into a life-giving place of transformation! I think something like approximately one thousand snotty-nosed little kids came to watch us do it, so you can be assured you won't be alone as you work!

The entire project you're working on will encompass 2 classrooms, one office, and a toilet. According to Sal's calculations, you will likely be able to finish one classroom and the office. (perhaps also at least digging the hole for the toilet, as a few of you have experience in that...!). A local contractor has been hired to dig the foundation of the first classroom and office (a single foundation for both), to pour the foundation slab, and to build it up to ground level with bricks. Two locals have also been hired to purchase bricks, cement, stones, and sand and ensure they're on site when you arrive. They will also have lined up sources for the timber, roof iron, and door frames, to be purchased and picked up while you're there. Finally, they will purchase two wheel barrows and 4 - 6 shovels.

Water is available on site at a hand pump well drilled recently by World Vision (now our partners)...but as there is never a line up of less than 50 women and approximately 300 water jugs at any given moment, you will have to plan your water trips!

Margaret and Dominic will drive you from the Farm to the border (Jacob may also have to offer a car to fit you all in), and at the border you will be met by a German missionary friend with a Land Cruiser who will, along with M&D, get you to Lubambishi, where you will have to present yourselves to immigration, and then on to Likasi, where you will also present yourself to immigration a second time. In Likasi, you will stay in a house next to this German missionary, and only 5 mins from M&D's new house. Margaret will arrange food to be cooked for you. Food is expensive in DRC, about 75% more than you'd pay for equivalent items in Canada. Cooking will cost very little, only the purchase of groceries. You will also have to purchase bottled water...about $1.75 for a 1.5L bottle.

Make sense? That's all I can think to tell you for now, other than to say it is a wonderful place. Lots of old colonial urban infrastructure surrounding by very rural villages.