Construction Update

Ron is going to the construction job site almost every day.   Some days, he get back to the room by noon but sometimes he has to stay all day to be sure things are going well.   Workers are very diligent but they have never cured concrete the way we do in the U.S.   Ron is determined to have the best foundation possible for the building before we leave Mukdahan toward the end of March.   He says it is going very well.  

The building will have two floors and be in a U shape.   Forms have been completed to pour the columns to support the second floor.   They will begin pouring concrete, handling it by bucket, to make the columns on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 21-22.     When completed, the entire second floor will house about 60 girls (8 per room).   There is a guest room and bath and a house parent's room and bath.   The first floor has the kitchen and classrooms.  There will be a courtyard in the center of the U for them to meet for worship services until the front building can be constructed.  It will be for the church and classrooms.    The top soil has been placed in one area for a garden.  Most days, there are 10 workers, several of them women.    Wages are low for these hard-working people.  I wonder what our politicians would say about a person working in the hot sun doing hard labor for about $2.30 per hour?