Hello St Lukes family and friends! We are on the final day here at Getsemani on the work site. We are all very tired and sore from the hard work we have put in thus far, but also so delighted at what we have accomplished. Most importantly, we are thrilled with what we have experienced in giving and sharing in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We all feel so blessed and were excited this morning to wrap up our last task. That task, alas, was a hefty one in that we had to get all of the concrete footings poured by 12 noon. The footings needed to be completely poured, all around and through the foundation lay out, lest, concrete would settle in a non-uniform manner. We got after it and after a few challenges, we did it! Not by 12 noon mind you, we did have to go past our deadline by about an hour, but nonetheless, we completed the task! We all agreed that we had just tackled the toughest, most labor intensive part of the project, so we were looking forward to our outing later in the day at the natural hot springs spa. Ah, what a relief it was! Before departing for the springs, we had a nice lunch where the HFH team, local contractors and the home owners all addressed our team with a mountain of gratitude and thanks. This above all, might have been the experience of the week. Quite emotional for all of us. What a way to feel the light of God shine all around us! Please follow us through the day in the pictures below. Grace and blessings to all.

Time to get started on concrete mixing and pouring! Have to get all footings poured today by 12 noon!

Time to get started on concrete mixing and pouring! Have to get all footings poured today by 12 noon! Team leader Fred R lays out the plan.

 

Okay, shovel in sand, gravel and concrete mix into one big pile,

Okay, shovel in sand, gravel and concrete mix into one big pile,

Okay, now start shoveling the pile into two separate piles

Okay, now start shoveling the pile into two separate piles

Now we shovel the two piles back into one, then form it into a cone !!!

Now we shovel the two piles back into one, then form it into a cone and add water, and mix !!!

 

Caesar and Franklin jump in to show us some tricks to the trade - aka, can you guys move a little faster!

Caesar and Franklin jump in to show us some tricks to the trade – aka, can you guys move a little faster!

So the whole team gets after it with vigor, the team was shoveling, mixing, shoveling the wet concrete into wheel barrows and moving it to the our location.

So the whole team gets after it with vigor, the team was shoveling, mixing, shoveling the wet concrete into wheel barrows and moving it to the location.

The volcano cone mixing pool

The volcano cone mixing pool

What a process of mixing concrete,, all by hand

What a process of mixing concrete,, all by hand

Now we move the concrete with the wheel barrows to the pour sites. Oh, more shoveling of a heavy wet mass to get it in the barrow.

Now we move the concrete with the wheel barrows to the pour sites. Oh, more shoveling of a heavy wet mass to get it in the barrow.

Sandra the home owner and Brit from HFH both step in to work the concrete spreading in the trenches

Sandra the home owner and Brit from HFH both step in to work the concrete spreading in the trenches

Here we are, our first foundation footing is in!

Here we are, our first foundation footing is in!

The bucket brigade method had to be used to get the concrete to the middle sections

The bucket brigade method had to be used to get the concrete to the middle sections

Lets take a break to rest the cement covered boots

Lets take a break to rest the cement covered boots

Enrique', a local from the Getsemani, steps in to lend a hand

Enrique’, a local from the Getsemani, steps in to lend a hand

 

Enrique hangs with the team on a break - he loves our snack bars!!

Enrique hangs with the team on a break – he loves our snack bars!!

We are done, the entire footing base in down, the team celebrates!

We are done, the entire footing base in down, the team celebrates!

We finish it off by signing the St Lukes cross into the footing base

We finish it off by signing the St Lukes cross into the footing base

Lunch celebration

Lunch celebration

 

Ah, lets get into the spa!

Ah, lets get into the spa!

The spa

The spa

Hey Luke, how's it going?

Our two buff team members, Hey Luke, Paul, how’s it going?

The spa

The spa

The spa

Bill is ready to get some well deserved R & R at the spa