We spent another day on the worksite, we’re in the home stretch now. We arrived to see So (site manager) adding the sheets to the roof of the carport. They are a lovely shade of jungle green – as someone said “for camouflage”. We had a few jobs to do including removing the edging from our perfect concrete slab, then packing the edges with mud to prevent breakage, cleaning the poles to be added to the carport structure, moving the roof sheets when they were needed, and painting the carport poles black. Shae went with “midnight black” to describe the colour – Elijah and Billy decided that was too basic, but couldn’t decide on something better.
Several members of the group spent time balancing on beams and scaffolding to paint the top beams, everyone did a fab job of being a circus performer and no one fell. We did all look a bit like the 101 dalmatians though, after being splattered with black paint. Billy’s long suffering shirt gained a smiley face on the front in paint, to go with the mud “patterns” on the back.
We were also waiting for another load of gravel to arrive to fill up the middle of the driveway. The group was very unenthusiastic about this prospect! Brother Mario did mention that they’d use a digger to move this gravel instead of our bucket chain (thank you Brother Maz!!). Though the gravel was due to arrive at noon, it still wasn’t there when we left at 3:30.
When we finished up for the day we had completed the whole first two sections of the carport and had painted the third, awaiting the roof. The remaining two sections need more beams welded in before we can finish them, and though some of the boys have tried several times to convince us to let them have a go at welding, they are NOT allowed to use the power tools.
After a good long shower (sadly not a hot shower) to scrape off all of the paint, we had dinner with the girls again and helped them with their homework. I have started a knitting and crochet craze, though the homework still got done. Our reflection at the end of the day involved the boys thinking of something that has challenged them and a trip highlight. Everyone did a great job of thinking deeply about their experiences so far and the boys are treating their reflections with respect and contemplation.
I do think several will be returning with bug phobias though as we’ve had quite a few freak outs with some enormous insects! Luis emptied half a can of bug spray on one poor bug last night alone!
Sally
St Bede's Thailand Outreach July 2019 