Building Day...?

So, our time for building is quickly coming to a close.  This will most likely be our last blog post, because when we move up, we will not have access to email, facebook, telephone (landline or cell), or any other modern means of instant communication. We will be off the grid.  However, we CAN get letter and cards, and hope you will send us a little note of encouragement.  Our address is:

PO Box 707

Durham, ON

N0G 1R0

CANADA

 Here is what we've accomplished since I last wrote.

Bill stapling up screen for our windows. 

Eli making a little stool to go with the table he built. 

The boys sitting at the table on benches and the stool Eli made, inside the boys' bunkhouse.

On Tuesday, Bill, Simon, and Liam, along with our other classmates and staff, went on a 102km, 3-day men's canoe trip, along the Saugeen River. Not surprising, no one brought a camera, but here is a picture of them before they embarked on their adventure.

Meanwhile, I was left with Bronia, Eli, and Ethan to do some more building, and here is some of what we got done.

We put up black plastic for our walls.  We had lots of help from the other ladies left at camp. Also, our chimney got put up, which you can see at the back left corner of the house.

 I made a pot of espresso on our stove top...

...which Bronia and I enjoyed.  Mmmmm, delicious! 

We finished making the benches for our dining room/living room area.  (You can see the boys' bunk house off in the distance)

Also, Bronia and I made our counter tops, which are now ready to be used!

Today is our last full day to build, because tomorrow we move in, whether or not our house is ready.  We still have our (Bill & Debby) bed to build, as well as Bronia's, the table and front door to make, and a host of other little things to do.  We so appreciate your prayers and encouragement.  Please keep it coming!

Day 5

Are we done yet??

No, but we keep plugging along.  We have started to build things inside now, and so the pictures are looking less dramatic.  But again, progress is being made.  Can't ask for much more than that.

 Bronia cutting notches in the wood, which will eventually become a bench.

 Made our first counter tops and lower shelving.

To the left is the stove, then a counter with lower shelving, and then my sink.  The sink will be hooked to a gravity-fed hose, and we will have running water.

Black plastic is up on 3 of the 4 sides of the boys' bunk house.  It's almost done:) 

 Ethan at work doing the never-ending job of cutting firewood.

 Look at what God gave us to look at tonight on our walk home.

Day 4

So, I was just too tired and sore last night to post a blog.  It is getting hard, I'm not gonna lie. We are at the point where we have to decide what the priorities are, and concentrate on those.  With that, we got our "appliances' in yesterday.

Before you can actually set your stove in the cradle, you have to fill it with 3-4 inches of dirt on the bottom, then set it in, then fill in 3 sides also with dirt.

Then starts the clay work.  You need to spread clay on the inside of the oven, as well as all around it, to make sure the heat from the stove stays IN the stove.  So, this has been the kids' favorite job so far, creating the "clay station".  They got the clay ready, and Bill and I started the job of "claying" the stove.

Bill spreading clay on the inside of the stove...

...while I begin to encase the outside with clay.

After you are finished with a layer of clay, you start a fire, which will then dry and bake the clay onto the stove.  Here is Bronia attending the fire, making sure it doesn't get too big and dry the clay too fast, and also to make sure it doesn't go out.

Next is our fridge.  We have dug a hole in the ground, then placed two metal cans in the hole, then filled the hole with wet dirt.  Trust me, it's cold.  We'll get a thermometer, and see how cold it gets.

Lastly, we made the frame, and have set our sink in.

So, we may not have walls, but I can feed my family!  I know my priorities:)

Building...Day 3

So today was probably the hardest building day so far, just in terms of keeping us all motivated and busy with enough jobs to do.  Having a larger work force is not always the easiest or quickest way of doing things.  But it is what God has given us, and though tasks may take longer than we would like, we are VERY much aware that we are teaching our children some valuable lessons and life skills.  Yes, jungle camp is a required practicum for training centre, but there is more to it than that.

You see, Bill had an injury at work several years ago, and even with physical therapy and MANY chiropractic visits, he is not the same.  We're not sure he will ever be the same.  He has some very real physical limitations that he didn't have just a few short years ago.  So what does that mean?  It means he must let go of his pride, recognize where his limitations are, and work within them.  It means he must hone his communication skills so we know exactly what he needs done where.  It means that the rest of us need to do the tasks he can't do, and not complain about them.  We have a lot to learn as a family, and God has given us a new situation where we get to rely on Him in a new and deeper way.  We trust you're praying with us:)

With that said, here is what we got done today.

The boys building their bed frame.

 The finished product.  Didn't they do a good job?!?

 Starting work on the cradle that will hold our oven/hot water heater.

 Lashing poles together for the stove cradle.

The building of the cradle is mostly done.  A few more poles to add, then we will begin the process of encasing this sucker in clay!

Thank you for your prayers so far.  We think building week is going well, and that we are making good progress.

Building Our House...Day 2

Well, today was more tiring than yesterday, but I think that's normal.  We are building two houses, as we are limited to a 16' x 20' house, and felt like that would not be big enough for our family. So we are building a regular house, with the kitchen, dining/living room, shower, master bedroom and another smaller room for Bronia.  Then we're building basically a bunkhouse for the boys, with beds, shower, and a table for those crazy game nights!

So, today we built the bunkhouse and got the plastic roofs on both houses, although the plastic is only fastened on 2 of the 4 sides right now.  Also, we had a little birthday party for Ethan as well.  Another productive day though, and we are that good kind of tired where you sleep all night long:)

 The building site for the boys' bunk house.

 Still needing to cut posts, so looks like mom needs to get that job done.

 Filling in the post hole with rocks and dirt, then pacing it down.

 Rafters are all up!

 Attaching the plastic to the cross beams of the boys' bunk house.

 The boy's bunk house, with the plastic attached on 2 of the 4 sides.

 Ethan happy to have a break from building, and enjoys ice cream with his friends.

A little play time, which quickly came to an end, and it was back to work for Ethan and I!

Jungle Camp Building Day 1

Well, we survived day 1 of building week.  We weren't really sure what to expect, nor did we know how much we would or should get done.  After working a 12-hour day, we think we did pretty good.

 Eli & Bronia digging the holes for the posts.

 Simon cutting a post.

SUCCESS!! 

 Liam putting in posts.

 Someone brought a snack:)

 Bronia & Simon starting to duct tape the rafters to the cross-beam.

Our house with all the posts and rafters in place.