Perhaps you’ve heard people say that construction always takes longer, and costs more than you are planning.  That has certainly been true for us!  However, we now have an open-air multipurpose building on our property!

We don’t currently have enough money for a cement floor but are thankful for the roof and a semi-level dirt floor.  Our people are excited about our new place to meet.  

A 40-foot shipping container has been transformed into two bathrooms with a privacy wall in front and a storage area. Cement access stairs have also been added.   It looks rather bleak and gray right now, but not to worry!  We have plans to liven everything up with some community artwork projects.  ?

And of course, we are so grateful to have our well with hand pump!  Having water onsite is a game changer.

We don’t have electricity yet due to several complications with the electric company that would appear to require a significant amount of time and money to resolve.   As our leaders are quick to say, “We didn’t have electricity in our last place and we survived for 17 years.  We can wait a little longer.”

We had planned to move into this new location in late June but weren’t able to do so until August 30, the day before our lease expired on the land we have rented since January 2008.  The new location has its challenges, but also so many positives.  It seems that a stronger bond between our people from Cercadillo and Vietnan has already begun to grow.    We are seeing new faces joining with familiar ones in various activities.    There is excitement in the air!

Praise God with us for each person, family or church that has helped us get to this point!   I wish you could hear our people thanking God for you.

Our biggest need now is to add some type of ground covering around the building because when it rains the yard between the fence and the building becomes a mud pit.   We are currently investigating a type of rough rock that would be put in place and then rolled over to form a base.   In the future we could put a layer of gravel on top of that.      Estimated cost $4000.

Please pray for wisdom as we consider what next steps are for further development.

Please pray that even from these beginning days on the land that people will feel that this is their community center.  Pray that God will be glorified.

Because this update is so late and because there is SOOOO much more to tell you, it has been divided into two parts.   Part Two will be coming to an email near you in a few days.