This is Ellen. When Alex sent us this picture she wrote, "She doesn't look her age at all! She is super active and takes care of a million children." Ellen has been praised by the staff at Riverside Farm Institute (the place we will be going in Zambia) as a dedicated worker and an excellent role model.
Here is Ellen and her current home. As we have already mentioned in our letter the roof is by far the worst part of the house. The tarp is really the only protection that is offered to Ellen from the elements. With the rainy season coming in only a few months a new home is certainly going to help in keeping Ellen and her family dry.
Above is a shoot taken by Alex inside of Ellen's current home. As you can see there is little room and the log in the front of the picture represents one of the several "supporting" braces that is holding the place together. The new home will be built from more durable materials such as concrete and metal. While the pictures look bleak there is good news! Donations have already come in and construction on Ellen's new home has commenced. Approximately $250 has been raised and is sufficient to begin work on the new house foundation. Below is a picture of the sand being delivered which will be used in conjuction with the cement foundation and floor.
Alex told us that she was able to ride along with Alan (one of the Riverside directors) when he made the sand delivery in this truck. The workers on the bed of the truck were picked up along the way and were eager to help out. The sand had to be delivered before Megan and I arrive because the truck will not be able to drive on the roads in December and January as the rainy season will be under way.
In the picture above we can see our team already at work arranging sand in order for cement to come for the foundation. We were even able to see Alex hard at work manning the shovel.
Apparently even Franzi and Danny, the children of Riverside's Senior Director, have taken up the shovel to help out. It's amazing what only one days work can accomplish in Africa! The entire foundation site has been preped and is ready for cement. With any luck additional funds will be raised through the various letters in which we have sent out. We truly hope that you have enjoyed seeing the pictures and are as excited as us to help build a home for a worthy friend in Christ in Africa. As more information becomes available to us we will be providing updates on the status of our fundrasing efforts and will hopefully be providing completion pictures and stories when we come back from Zambia in January 2009. God bless. Jeff and Megan.
