September 4 - 11, 2011
Pittman Park UMC, Satesboro GA

It has been a busy week here at Hope House. Pittman Park United Methodist Church sent a team here to build an addition to the dining room. There were five men from PPUMC and Bob Fasick from Bethany Lutheran (Alexandria, VA). In preparation for their arrival we had stone, sand, and cement blocks purchased and ready to use.

They hit the ground running the day they arrived. Plans were reviewed and revised; measurements were checked and checked again; stones were moved, they were anxious to get started.  Their enthusiasm and strength stayed with them all week.  Rain threatened on a couple of days, and finally succeeded one afternoon.  So, the guys took a break, watched the rain fall, then, started right back in when it stopped.

One afternoon while waiting for cement to set, they went Ganthier to visit the school and health center.  On the way back, they stopped at the metal artists’ shops for a little shopping.  

The Hope House Staff helped with the construction. The team was glad to have the extra hands. Christophe came and helped with his masonry skills. Odney, Populaire, Alexis, and Lucien did whatever task was at hand. The ladies, Roseline and Wisna, provided some fantastic Haitian meals for everyone. They even made some Haitian peanut butter for one of the team members.

By the end of the week we had a 20’x20’ screen and block addition to Hope House.  The floor is concrete but can be tiled at some time in the future if so desired. Christophe is going to return and complete the finish work on the walls. The other work left is to build the double doors, paint the trim, and install the ceiling fan\light fixtures. It is amazing see how it all came together in such a relatively short period of time.
Some people challenged how to consider this type of construction trip a “mission” trip.  We discussed that at devotions one night. We agreed that we all have different roles to fill, that we are all part of the body of Christ. We work together for Him, to serve Him.  This addition will provide team members with a comfortable place to relax after a day in the field, a space to hold devotions while being protected from the elements. If the team members have a positive experience, they are more likely to encourage others to support the overall work of VOH. And, that is what it is all about.
So, we want to say thank you again to the team for their hard work and to those who supported them and this project.