Don't Forget the Carpenters...

Each day while the doctors and nurses were busy sharing their gifts with the people of Honduras, another equally devoted team of carpenters was doing the same thing right here on our property.

Joe, Mark and Doug spent the week sharing their skills with us.

This year's main project was to try to build 4 new classrooms.  We are soooo out of room in the school until we can expand, either up or out.  In the mean time, we need to put up some temporary classrooms.  So, in the main school building, where the big open room was, there are now two newly framed classrooms. 

Framing out the rooms at the beginning of the week.

Lots of progress.  

In the Center, they put up another two rooms on the upper level.  This year, there are as many as 5 classes going on in the Center at once, depending on the day and the weather.  It can get quite noisy and quite distracting, so it was decided that the best thing would be a few temporary classrooms.

Letting the sparks fly!

Putting a wall into place.

Every night after dinner, we would have a debriefing time ~~ a time where we all talked about our day.  One of the things that I loved, is that the medical team was always so excited to hear what the carpentry team did during the day.  On at least a few days, when we got back from clinic, one or more of the doctors would join in and help the carpenters.

Dr. Chad, remember to measure twice and cut once.  (Good advice for surgery, too.)

At the end of the week, we had four new classrooms framed and walled, ready for lights and fans.  I'm hopeful that as soon as Semana Santa (Holy Week) is over, we'll be putting those new classrooms to good use.

On Thursday, the last day of medical clinic, the carpenters joined us for the first hour.  They wanted to see what was going on and how it all happens.  Since Thursday's clinic was just outside of Comayagua, they could come out for a bit and then head back to Enlaces.  They were a welcome addition to the clinic, even for the short time they were there. 

It really does take a whole team, working together, to get things done.  Dr. Rick and his incredible team from Michigan make it look easy!!  We can't wait until next year.

Tomorrow I'm going to share pictures from the talent show that was held on the Thursday evening of our brigade week.  It was pretty awesome to have the team here to help us celebrate Honduran Father's Day!