"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor."         Proverbs 22:9

          The last pictures of the building project you saw had only one half of this gable end of the building completed.  Now we have started work on the gable end on the joining wall for the Betikara Orphanage.  In about two more weeks that gable end should also be finished.  We are also working on the 17 trusses that will be needed to support the main roof of the auditorium.  Five of those trusses are completed to date.

          The above pictured truss does not look all that big.  However, you have to keep in mind that the main auditorium for the Betikara Phase II project is 16.5 meters, by 32 meters (54.15 feet, by 105 feet) in size.  The truss you are looking at above, is over 17 meters (55.78 feet) in length.  In order to get the trusses up on the supporting wall we will need to build a movable platform and rig a block and tackle that can lift the trusses into place.  Sorry, there are big cranes in Madagascar, but the price per hour for rental is prohibitive.  :-)  Right now it takes 15 workers to move the trusses from the place this just completed truss rests, to the stack of trusses that are already completed.
          Below you can see a better picture of the inside of the main auditorium.  If you look to the left side of the auditorium you can see two doors in the stone wall.  These doors enter into the classrooms that are already roofed, and will house ten classrooms for the Betikara school and for the use of the Ambohimarina congregation on Sundays, once the Phase II building project is completed.

          Below is a picture showing the progress of the work on the remaining gable end for the main auditorium.  Two of the workers that you see pictured, are standing on top of the Betikara Orphanage roof.  Keep in mind, that all of the Betikara work is being done by hand.  The excavating, cutting and preparing of the rocks to be fitted into the walls is all done by hand.  The trusses that are being built are all fabricated using hammers, chisels and hand saws to prepare the tongue and groove joints that are fastening the trusses together.

          Phase II of the Betikara building project has come a long way, but we still have a ways to go.  Please pray for the completion of this project, and the safety of the workers (in the coming months) that are laboring daily to make Betikara Phase II a reality.  As I mentioned earlier, the trusses needed to support the main auditorium roof are heavy.  Pray that we do not have any accidents as we lift the trusses into place.  Pray also for the workers hearts to be opened and receptive to the 10 to 15 minutes of bible teaching that they receive every day they work.  Some have already put on Christ as their Savior.  However, the majority of Betikara workers are still entangled in the sins of this present world.
          Betikara is becoming a reality thanks to God our Father and your continued prayers for the timely completion of this project.  We cannot thank you enough for everything that you have done in the past, and continue to do to further His cause here in Madagascar.  May God bless you richly, lift you up and strengthen you, as you continue to serve Him in the Kingdom.
 

  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