Helping needy Malagasy kids to become 

Jesus’ kids!

May 2002                 Volume 5, Number 5

“Religion that God the Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” 
                                                    James 1:27
Building Project Update
          Remembering back to the good old days before the elections here in Madagascar, work was progressing well at the Betikara land.  Since we do not have a tractor, we started using our old Daihatsu Rocky.  The Daihatsu came in handy by pulling a plow or trailer.  Using low range four wheel drive we had enough power to pull the plow and not go to fast for the men that worked the plow.
          No, in the picture below we were not getting the ground ready for planting.  We were getting the ground ready for moving.  Since we can not afford to hire a bulldozer, I decided that if we could just break up the ground it would be a whole lot easier and quicker for the workers.
          Plowing up the dirt greatly increased the amount of work that could be done in a day.  Instead of half of the men having to dig the dirt and the other half move it via wheelbarrows, they all just gathered up the plowed dirt and loaded wheelbarrows.  Of course this only worked well while there was still diesel fuel in Antananarivo.  Now the men are back to digging the dirt by hand so the work is going slower.  Using the two methods of moving dirt, (plowing and digging by hand) we have been able to terrace another section of the Betikara land that will be used for building of guest houses and the clinic once we get to phases III and IV of the Betikara land project.
          Some of you may be wondering what has happened to the building project for the Betikara Lambs.  As was reported in a previous newsletter, we have completed the foundation for the Betikara Lambs new home and the school/worship area, which is phase II of the Betikara project.  We have installed all of the sewage and waste water plumbing and are now waiting to pour the cement floor for the Lambs new home.  Purchasing cement, sand and rebar for construction purposes is just not possible at the present time.  First, there is no diesel fuel for transporting goods.  And second, presently the cost of the needed items to continue our construction has sky rocketed.
          Before the election problems started we purchased bath tubs (2), Shower stalls (4), toilets (6) and sinks (6).  We also ordered all of the outside doors and windows for the orphanage section of the building project.  All of the outside doors (2 double wide doors for the kitchen and store room, 4 normal width doors and 16 windows) are being made of metal for security purposes, and have already been completed, except for the latches and hinges.  Latches and hinges are on hold until supplies start returning to the Antananarivo area.  In the future we will purchase 12 wooden doors and frames to be used inside the building.  We hope to have at least the metal doors on hand before we start pouring the cement floor so that we can anchor the frames for the doors in the poured cement floor.
          God continues to bless us and make it possible for the Betikara building project to progress in some way.  Though we are not able pour the floors and start erecting the walls for the Lambs new home, we are able to continue working in preparation for the future phases of the Betikara building project.  The workers at the Betikara land are thankful for their steady jobs, especially during this time that many businesses and factories have completely closed down due to lack of materials or goods for resale.
          We have worked non stop at the Betikara land since March 2001.  During that time we have built a two story combination guard house and store or stock room, purchased several tons of cement and sand and have purchased all of the bathroom fixtures and sewage and waste water plumbing needs and have even purchased (even though all of the government paper work is yet to be completed once the government offices start working again) the piece of farm land that was inside of the Betikara land.
          Including all of the above items there are also all of the rocks (80,000+ to date) for the foundation and building walls and the many tons of gravel that are needed for pouring floors.  Through the month of April 2002 (one year and one month) we have spent $40,701.08.  (This total also includes the salaries for the Betikara workers.)
 God has truly blessed the work at the Betikara land so far.  We look forward to continuing this work and its completion that will allow the Lambs to move into their new home, Lord willing in the new year.

 
EXPENDITURES
Rent
 $ 200.00
Food
 914.58
Education
 17.00
Clothing
 0.00
Misc.
 0.00
Health Care
 17.90
Care Giver_____
 155.00
   
Total expenses
$ 1,304.48

 
 

If you would like to help with a monetary donation, write your check out to BETIKARA and send it to: 

  Indiana Church of Christ 
  225 East Pike Rd. 
  Indiana, PA  15701 

“He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.” 
                           Proverbs 19:17
 

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