The Barracks

I apologize for not updating my blog in a while.  It has been a crazy couple of weeks.  We have been getting a lot done, working overtime for the past 2 weeks.  Only 2 weeks left for me with construction group.  I'll try to get another post up before I leave.  Enjoy

3 weeks ago we moved out of the Kingdom.  

So we decided to start demolishing it, starting with the tin roof

Once that was gone, we took all of the trusses and carried them down the road to the new barracks to use for that it's roof

George loves his hard hat

These are Naomi's many Marshallese teachers

Decking the floors on the barracks.  Anything can get wet except for the drills

The new fashion line of ponchos made out recycled trash bags - go green.  We have to improvise every once in a while in lands with limited resources.  

The walls went up quickly with a lot of help

It's common for the kids to share their roller blades, but they don't seem to get very far

Anchoring down the building with 6 foot rebar.  But I'm not 6 foot so it was a stretch  

The congregation having fun demolishing the Missionary Home despite the rain

Positioning the trusses on the barracks.  It was a balancing act walking on the 2*4 walls all day.  By the end of the day, I only fell off once...  Fortunately I caught myself on the way down and left only with some skinned wrists.  At least I had my hard hat on. 

Demolition Week

 The kids get pretty bored here so they find ways to entertain themselves.  Most of them are very creative with their toys and games.  This guy just decided to spend the afternoon on his roof by himself.

 Sammy the barber giving a haircut to one of the local boys - Jeboss.  He was very eager to shave off those bangs.

The new kitchen at the second floor, where we're now having morning worship and the rest of our meals

 The second floor from the outside - the left half

The kids LOVE demolition.  The old sheet rock gave them a whole afternoon of fun.

 Tyrone - the biggest kid of all

 Special Assembly Day at the gym.  145 in attendance

 Jackie, Erica and 2 local girls who both gave experiences

 David and I holding up the wall

 After the Assembly we went for a stroll on Brother Titi's sail boat, all 11 of us in that little guy.

It was an adventure

 The girls guarding the bbq.  It was a feast that a few family's hosted for all of us foreigners. 

 There were a lot of performances that night

  

The place where we're going to build the new barracks for all of us to live.  

But first we had to make room.  All in a day's work.

Demolition : Complete . We were having so much fun that it took some self restraint from destroying the other half of the house, but we decided it was for the best since there's still someone living there...

 Present Day : Building the base boards for the barracks.  Tomorrow the floor will be on. Not a bad view eh? The ocean is conveniently right outside.  Can't wait to move into this place.

Kev In Ebeye

Because the Kosrae project is coming to a close, I've been shipped out to the next project here on Ebeye, one of the Marshall Islands.  It's been 10 days now on this new island.  This project is going to be very different from the last one.  Ebeye is a skinny 1 mile long island with 18,000 people living on it.   The island in general is very dirty and poor.  There are very few trees.  A little bit more selection in the grocery stores, but overpriced as always.  There are 2 water supplies.  There's personal rain catchment for the sinks and showers, and ocean water for the toilets.  Right now the island is going through a drought so we've had to buy water several times to fill our water tanks.  We guess 25 cents a minute for the shower.  The internet is fairly fast for Micronesia but runs about 10 cents a minute on a prepaid card.

Service

Ebeye

Kingdom Hall

Leftover wood sent from Kosrae

Youth support

Future Kitchen and 2 rooms for couples

Antonio and the kids

The barge from Majuro

Our mountain of rock

Bike trip 

Cooling off

Meeting at the school

When we got to Kwajelin, we went into the airport, put our bags on a red line, sat down, the bags were searched and sniffed, and then we allowed to get our luggage.  They were laying on the floor in a garage area.  The first thing I noticed was a vending machine with Dr. Pepper, Twix, Reese's, and some other things that I hadn't seen in a few months.  Then were escorted to the ferry/military barge that was on the other side of the island.  We were warmly greeted by the majority of the group that's already here, several local friends, and few familiar faces: Erica, Antonio and Troy.  It's about a 20 minute boat ride to Ebeye and then a 5 minute walk to the Kingdom Hall.  Living here with all of the boys has turned the Kingdom Hall into some kind of refugee camp.  Right now we're working on the place where the Kitchen and 2 couples are going to live.  It's above a small store just around the corner.  Next we'll start building the barracks where the rest of us will be staying, including the missionaries I think.  We've also been busy with unloading containers and barges.  We have one from Kosrae full of wood and jacks, one from Guam full of cement bags, a barge from Majuro with 200 tons of rocks/sand and block for Kingdom Hall (only the first story of the building), and we just unloaded another container today from Guam full of random goods from Guam for the missionaries and the Kingdom Hall.  


Well I'm out of internet for now. Until next time.


Kevin

First meeting in the new Hall

First meeting in the new Kingdom Hall with 63 in attendance. 

It was pretty packed.  

One family that's been quickly progressing is the Segrah's. 

 Future Elder right there.

After the grand opening, we of course had to have some refreshments.  

Can never have too many coconuts.

One meeting over with and the place was still intact 

Mike's 2 months were up last week... tear.

Kitchen / Common Area : COMPLETE

 One of the completed sinks and cabinets in the bedrooms

Jamming out at the missionary home.  We were treated to some authentic Hawaiian food that night by the Millers.  Poi and Kahlua chicken anyone? 

 Another local fruit - Pandanas.  

Kind of a cross between mangoes and corn but you chew it like sugar cane...weird I know. 

 Alan riding the "best wave of his life".  

Now that I have my old camera back, I can take it surfing : )

 He was pretty stoked about it.

 Shawn having some fun

 Shawn catching a wave

 We had a bonfire and ended up playing with sparklers.  

This is 15 seconds of the craziness in one picture.

 Shawn the performer and Kathy the supporter, matching as always.