February 2008 Sucre Construction Team
On Feb. 17, 2008 the first Mission of Hope construction teamof 13 people from Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia arrived in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. After a quick tour of the current Mission of Hope clinic in Santa Cruz, they flew to the city of Sucre to break ground and lay the foundation for a new medical clinic. The team worked hard at an altitude of 9,000 feet, at times under very intense sun, digging footers, cutting and tying steal, and mixing and pouring concrete. The brothers and sisters from the local church volunteered their time to work along side the team and help out.
Buddy, Jim and Jorge clearing dirt.
Jorge digging one of the footers.
A Bible and a Cross form the cornerstone for the new clinic.
Alex and Juan, our foremen for the project.
Jorge and Alma tying steel.
Jorge with a helper from the church.
Jim, Jeff, Jim (Left to right in rear) and Dan (front) assembling steel frames.
Steel frame assembly.
Nelson with a brother from the church.
Jim (sitting) and Jeff cutting steel rebar.
Alex and Alma bending steel on a jig.
Jorge and a brother from the church preparing to mix concrete.
Alma with a brother from the church bending steel.
Jim Bunch and Jim Burgess tying steel.
Pat and Ellen tying steel.
Dan, Karl and Buddy working on a frame assembly.
Buddy working with steel.
Dan, the team leader.
A truckload of bricks arrives from Santa Cruz.
Dan and Jorge preparing for the next brick.
Unloading the bricks.
Debbie laying a brick with Alma, Buddy and Jorge looking on.
Jorge laying a brick.
Dee laying a brick with Dan and Ellen looking on.
With the foundations poured, steel rebar positioned, the walls of the clinic begin…
The children coloring their Vacation Bible School lesson.
Two girls intent on staying within the lines…
Boys working on their coloring.
Two special friends.
Prayer time.
A little one with her craft.
Singing songs.
The children proudly display their craft.
Pat and Debbie (holding the book) tell the Bible story as Alma (far left) translates.
Prayer.
Update as of April 08, 2008: the walls of the clinic continue to rise…