A glass that keeps looking different

Hard to believe I have now lived here in San Juan de La Maguana for two years. In November of 2014 we officially broke ground and started the clinic project, two years later we have an earthquake resistant foundation supporting about 80,000 concrete block that make the walls with all of the plumbing lines in place.
When I started here I thought it would be a challenge being the "mediary" or middleman between two cultures - one very driven by expectations and one with a slower feel with lower but rising expectations. This has turned out to be the case. 
The Dominicans can get work done as fast as us Americans when things are lined up and available - and they like to do things quickly. What has been a challenge is the "getting things lined up and available" part. This has been due to many factors, one of the main ones being the Dominican government which has very good intentions of requiring the highest levels of quality and design but in reality causing beneficial projects and work to be delayed while trying to meet the governments ever changing moving-target requirements. The clinic has fallen prey to this issue more than once so we continue to work our way through the issues. 
One of our biggest issues we have had to meet was the re-design of the foundation, as I am sure most of you know about. The earthquake in Haiti caused the Dominican government to dramatically strengthen their building standards - similar to what happened in the US after hurricane Andrew swept away building in South Florida. Our platea foundation with it's 100 miles of rebar is designed to resist the effects of an earthquake. 
After getting underway with construction in January of 2015 the government released two new books in the summer listing new specifications required for medical facilities - we had to make make many changes to the floor plan in order to meet these requirements. This essentially made our drawing package obsolete - drawings showing electrical, plumbing and structural details no longer matched the revised floor plan. 
So as a result we have had to work the project as a "design-build" type project ( a common practice in the US), where you have a good plan of what you want to end up with but as you begin a construction phase you can adapt, change and modify aspects of the construction which can help minimize costs and meet the latest requirements. In the States there would be unlimited resources to quickly work through the many issues with each phase, here in the Dominican "urgency" is not a word that describes how things work here. 
This might be the one issue that has been most difficult as a "gringo", I fully realize we cannot impose our American drive on another culture (if you do you will have burned every bridge along the way) but at times my patience runs out. I have to remind myself that the GOAL of this project is what is important, and that the road to that goal will be as it has to be. 

Our latest interaction with the government has led my glass to initially be half-empty but after contemplating and considering things it is over half-full. 

The timing of things related to my life (things working out in Stacy's and my life so I could help oversee this project) and the project have been amazing and forced me to truly appreciate the God-induced timing of everything in life. We do not appreciate this most of the time especially when we want to be in complete control of all aspects of our lives (oh if we could only control the weather!), but of course we are not in control at all. All we should do is carry into each day a positive attitude for what that day brings knowing life will head us down a path unknown. 

So my momentary philosophical pause is due to our latest meeting with an important government official who represents the department of health - the department that will approve our facility and allow it to function and receive financial assistance from the different insurance programs available here. 
Our plans were reviewed and all in all the changes were minor but significant. The main issue being that they now require wider doorways than previously and what our architect designed. After my glass quickly looked half-empty I realized how fortunate we are to have had this conversation BEFORE we have formed and poured the 150+ concrete door headers/beams. Had we been pushing along earlier this fall (as my American self-control mentality hoped) we would have completed a good many of these headers by now and we would have a big problem on our hands. 

Timing again has helped us avoid significant changes with added costs - my glass is half-full.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

   

Detailed structural work

Construction update December 05, 2016

This fall the workers were working on preparing for and adding additional columns that we will need to in order that this large building can be broken up into 6 different areas and separated with expansion/construction joints. As we have been clarifying structural questions and issues it became apparent that some of the structural issues needed to be recalculated in order to match the floor plan we now have which is the result of changes required by the government and some changes we made to improve the layout of the facility or lower the overall cost of the project (ie: minimize networking wire using data hubs to reduce the length of wire needed). This was slow work as it needed to be done properly and is also labor intensive. 

Here is a picture of Victor checking on work when a team of 10 men poured almost 30 - 2 meter tall columns using a mixer and filling the column forms bucket by bucket. Victor and Sandro (our two onsite Dominican engineers) closely supervised this work.

We are anxious to get working on the beams and roof structure but these structural details need to be in place before we can start. 

Grigorio, our plumbing engineer was at the site again Saturday and he inspected the completed drain pipe and hot and cold water supply lines that are all now installed inside the building.
 The locations where hot water will be needed was determined based on discussion withs Dr Canario and consulting the government requirements book. Hot water is an unusual feature for most facilities in the Dominican, so obviously a healthcare facility does indeed need hot water but not to the extent that you would find in the United States, so thereis no point in going to the expense of installing it everywhere.

 - Some interesting information regarding things like hot water and drinking water that we all take for granted in the US: 

 - most houses here do not have hot water, those that do have a wall switch near the bedroom(s) that turns on the small water heater when you want to use it. This is true even in very nice condominiums in Santo Domingo.

- Water from the faucet is not safe to drink, and this is the case everywhere, even in nicer homes and hotels. A great example of this is the Mirebalais hospital in Haiti built in 2012 by Americans who thought clean water should be provided in all faucets and even water fountains. This is an example of thinking you have a good/practical idea and going through the trouble of providing it only to find out it will not be accepted. None of the Haitians will drink from the faucets of water fountains at the hospital - this is not a normal thing in Haiti or the DR so they were asking the people who grew up here never drinking from these sources to suddenly trust that they could safely do so. 

By the way, there are no such things as "water fountains" - only cooling units that have a 5-gallon water bottle on them.

Our medical gases engineer was also here Saturday and we discussed what we can do to simplify the gas installation and lower it's cost while ensuring that the clinic will be fully able to serve the needs of it's patients. He had some very good ideas.

I am excited that Victor is ready to start "dinteles" or the headers that span doorways, these will be formed and then made with rebar and concrete. He will also begin getting the rebar structures made that will be the skelton of the structural beams that tie exterior walls together.
We continue to confirm the structural components, finalize issues with the structural engineer and architect and ask if there are any cost-saving possible with the beams, roof structure and other features.

This Friday we plan to meet with Health Department officials in Santo Domingo to discuss and seek their approval of our desire to "phase" the finishing of the building - we would like to reduce our initial completion cost by delaying the finishing of 23% of the building - after very positive discussions and input from Dr Canario and Dr Caseres this concept can lower our cost-at-opening by $200,000 or more.

Please consider both the project and me when planning your 2017 donations. We hope 2017 is the year when we can all but finish the building, and with your help we can do it!

Thanks for your continued support both financially and prayerfully! 

ThanksGiving thoughts

   The Revolution Tour is completed, what an amazing experience.

Revolution Update Tour 

   Over one month ago Stacy and I began a journey visiting eleven different churches that have been very involved with Solid Rock and the Revolution project.   The purpose was to bring over 530 individuals and organizations up to date regarding what has happened over the last two years since ground breaking in November of 2014 and what the the future holds. 
It was a wonderful time visiting an amazing array of different type of churches and meeting many people who have be very involved with Solid Rock for decades.
What I now better understand and appreciate is the variety of faiths involved with Solid Rock. Even though there are differences in how each church might praise the Lord or reach out to those in need, all of these churches are each praising and doing with the same underlying reason - to fulfill the message Jesus delivered asking that we recognize Him, the blessings God has placed on every one of us and that we are to serve others. 
Whether we praise thru contemporary or conservative services, rockin' electric music or traditional organ music, pews with kneeling bars or chairs arranged in a semi-circle - we are all acknowledging Him, trying to live our lives as He asked, searching within ourselves to find the unlimited love we all possess, and reaching out to those in need. 
From providing meals to thousands day after day, planting churches in far away places with church members relocating to be the roots of the new churches, reaching out to neighbors offering food clothing and shelter to people going through a difficult period in life - all of these things are being done by groups of people who really all belong to the same thing - the Body of Christ.

The hand of God lifting the Dominican Republic from turbulent waters

So as I told the interesting history of Solid Rock and explained what has happened with the project and then most importantly why this project is needed, it really came down to just one simple thing: This project will ensure that for decades to come the Poorest of the Poor have a place to go when they need health care, and they will be provided that care with loving, open arms and in the name of Christ the Lord. Care, love and hope will be provided to people with no expectations who have no feeling of entitlement, continuing many years of serving others. What an amazing gift to provide to people in need, and the Revolution will be the vehicle though which these works will continue for generations, raising so many, changing and saving lives.
   This Thanksgiving we are all fortunate to be celebrating the abundance that our blessed country provides to each of us, please stop, take a moment and communicate your love and appreciation to not just your friends and family but to everyone you encounter this holiday, we are the Body of Christ.    
   Thank you to all of the people and organizations that have made this project go from only a dream to a project well underway.
   So I ask if you would support people in the DR,  this project and help us ensure that the amazing works that have happened in these first 27 years will continue for 27 years and beyond.
   We are blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving!
   

Touring

November 1, 2016
We've been "on the road"!
Stacy and I have been in the States now approacing a month and we have visited several churches who have been supporters of the Revolution Project.

Illinois Farmland

Roanoke, VA - 2nd Pres

Concord, NC - Glorieta Baptist Church

Nashville, TN - 1st Pres

Peoria, IL - Northwoods

Indianapolis, IN - 2nd Pres

Ft Wayne, OH - Pine Hills

Wauseon, OH - Crossroads

It has been very meaningful to meet many of the people who have helped with the project historically, financially, prayerfully or physically! 
Historically - It was truly special to meet many of the people who have been an important part of the history of Solid Rock. The accomplishments of life-changing and life-saving events that have happened over the past 27 years is remarkable, so meeting some of the people involved in serving others has been very meaningful. 
Financially - It is amazing that because of the generosity and vision of 530+ people and organizations over $2.7M has been raised so far. These people and churches have invested in a dream that truly is becoming a reality, and it is only because of their investment that it is happening.
Prayerfully- The spiritual support is so appreciated, there have been numerous "God-coincidenses" while working on the project and I thank everyone for keeping the project and everyone involved in their prayers.
Physically - Thanks to the 100's of volunteers who have spent their money and limited vacation days to offer their time and talents helping onsite. The work done at the project by these teams has been a necessity, and going forward there is much to be done and some neat projects for teams to help with as we get closer to needing outbuildings, grounds and work on the building itself. 

It was extra special to see Dr Diller (87 yrs) at Crossroads, he was ready to build a new clinic soon after the hurricane and flood in 1998, so it is nice to be a small part in helping see his vision become a reality. His life's story is one of meeting the call of Christ, he has led an extraordinary life of serving others.


SRI has been a conduit thru which so many positive things have happened in the San Juan area, and with the completion of this facility we can ensure that the mission of Solid Rock and everyone involved can continue for many generations - SERVING THE POOREST OF THE POOR.  

The Reality - Higher Cost but same Vision  & Need

Being in-country has allowed Frank and me to arrive at a realistic construction estimate which is now $4.5M ... $1.5M more than the original campaign. We have a new campaign target but the same vision of why this facility is needed. We are building the fully equipped facility at a very efficient cost of $98 per square foot and are working daily to find ways to minimize costs.

So we are continuing to press forward but cautiously watching that your donations go as far as possible.

Very few capital projects by non-profits can pass 100% of donations on to the project, Solid Rock is doing that - there is no better way for you to help people in need. 

Perhaps you cannot take the time to offer your talents and travel abroad - please consider trusting that we will use your gracious gifts very carefully with a simple goal - building a facility from which people may Serve Others ... changing lives medically, spiritually and giving wonderful but very poor people a sense of hope.

And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.” Mark 12 41-44

End of September 2016 Update

Fall is here - it is a beautiful cool evening here!

It has been raining almost regularly in the afternoons, as I mentioned in an earlier post this has been nice for cooler evenings but has caused some issues with progress at the job.

Below is a video showing the work we completed last week on 76 columns. These were "integral" columns meaning they were to be part of a wall. The concrete not only creates the column but also locks the adjacent walls to the column making for a very strong entity.

We are beginning work on installing the water supply lines now that all drain lines are in place. We will also get any electrical conduits that need to run into the roof slab installed so we can begin forming the beams that lock the tops of the walls together and span doorways,etc. 

I hope to see you at one of the October/November Update Tour stops 

- please see info below and verify closer to the date on the Solid Rock Website.

Wednesday, October 12
Roanoke, VA
Second Presbyterian Church – Roanoke
7:00pm

Sunday, Oct 16th  during "Pop-Up" Sunday School in Roanoke at 10am

Monday, October 17

Concord, NC
Glorieta Baptist Church
7:00pm
Heavy Hors D’oeuvres Provided

Wednesday, October 19
Nashville, TN
First Presbyterian Church – Nashville
5:30pm
Dinner Provided

Tuesday, October 25
Peoria, IL
Northwoods Community Church – The Factory
7:00pm
Refreshments Provided

Wednesday, October 26
Indianapolis, IN
Second Presbyterian Church – Indianapolis
5:00pm

Thursday, October 27
Fort Wayne, IN
Pine Hills Church – Student Ministry Room
7:00pm
Dessert & Coffee Bar Provided
Please RSVP by October 20th to Annette Melvin | annettem@pinehillschurch.com | 260.637.3198 X2100

Sunday, October 30
Wauseon, OH
Crossroads Evangelical Church
3:00pm
Coffee & Snacks Provided

Wednesday, November 16
Spartanburg, SC
First Presbyterian Church – Spartanburg
6:30pm

Thursday, November 17
Gainesville, GA
Griffeth Home | 3918 Cochran Rd | Gainesville, GA 30506
7:00pm
Dessert Provided
Please RSVP to 770-287-4766

As always, thank you for your 

prayers and financial support!

September Update and Invitation

Construction has progressed the past month getting columns formed and many plumbing pipes installed. 
We are working out some structural elements with the architect and a structural engineer so we can begin work on vigas (beams). 

Below is a video with a few different sections:

- showing the construction work
- an aerial flyover view from a drone !
- an Invitation to learn more

Here is another shot from above:

As always, thank you for supporting this project with your prayers and financial support, we are working as frugally as possible stretching every dollar that has been donated. 

Also, thanks for your prayers and financial support for Stacy and me during this time in the DR! 

It Is Becoming a Reality, Help It Happen

It is always helpful to be reminded ...

please take the time to watch and you will understand why we are building a new clinic. 

I appreciate this video more than ever, perhaps because I have had a 2-1/2 hour discussion with Dr Caceres and know his passion and better understand the needs in this area of the world.

Thank you for supporting the REVOLUTION

 with your prayers and financial support.

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate,
to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” 

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

A full and amazing summer

First a construction update: 

Many windows will provide natural ventilation

It is now mid-August, and the project construction has made great progress this summer. After laying almost 70,000 block, we now have walls at least 9' high. 

Plumbing vent pipes

Workers are now in the process of installing plumbing pipes that will run under the floors and inside walls. We will also be forming and pouring concrete for about 90 columns, this will be followed by structural beams that span doors and windows. 

looking north

So we are finally at the "rough-in" stage, a time requiring final decisions of where electrical and plumbing devices will be located. It really is becoming a building!

the perimeter security wall that has been
 built by volunteer teams this year

The construction teams have built 200 meters of wall so far this year, and it is almost to the southeast corner of the property. We will now have two sides of the property defined with these walls which will provide good security.  



This month is a slow one at the Guest House because it is a time to recharge from the many vbs/construction teams that were here in June and July and get ready for a very full schedule in the fall. 

I am looking forward to teams returning in September so they can continue this valuable work.

a 180 degree view of the perimeter wall built by our wonderful volunteer teams looking from SE to NW - the walls are behind the yuca and plantains!

-----------------

Stacy's sunflowers

And Second ... Its been an amazing summer  

This has been such a wonderful summer for Stacy and me for many reasons:

- The project has made great progress as discussed above - it is great to see meaningful progress and now be working with a great construction team. I want our time here in the DR to be efficient and well spent, so seeing walls arise has been very rewarding.

- We celebrated many birthdays ... mine, Stacy's, our son Tim's and even his new wife's (more on that later!),a mom turning 80 and a dad turning 85!

- We celebrated our 30th anniversary! My how time flies by, its been a great 30 years spent with my best friend. 

- July marked 20 years since waking up one morning with a serious heart issue. There aren't many days that I don't stop and appreciate the many days since that summer.

God's coloring book - water off of the Keys

- We enjoyed a fun family get together to celebrate my parent's 60th anniversary gathering near where we spent many days on the water off of the Florida Keys back in the 70's. 

Uh oh, time to head for the dock!

Proud parents with a new daughter!

- And we gained a wonderful second daughter with the marriage of our son Tim to Ruby! 





God is good, and we are extremely fortunate and blessed for so many reasons.  


Living here in the DR we definitely have a clear understanding and appreciation for the abundance and comforts of a life in the United States.  There are so many things that we all take for granted living in the US or even here in the DR, and this is simply a fact and result of being raised in such an amazingly comfortable and abundant society. It is what we know and have always known.  

But it is good to be reminded of that abundance and appreciate it, recognize it and not take it for granted. Our egos have an amazing capacity to generate expectations that can then lead us to finding something wrong even among the most beautiful and comfortable of situations. We should strive to overcome those expectations and appreciate all that is available, every day. 

Give thanks to God and think of those who are not in your place of comfort, those struggling for food, clothing or shelter.

Serve Others. 

Thanks for you continued prayers 

and financial support!

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. 1 Peter 4:10

August update - walls are standing

Its August, 2016 and we have walls!

This week the plumbing workers start installing pipes for the roof drains and the drain pipes that will be under floors. This will be an important step because we need the roof drain pipes in place before any beams are poured and the drain pipes will need to be properly sloped, and we have a limited depth in which to run them.

We are also working with our structural engineer and architect on the structural beam designs, there are some details that we need to clarify so that we build these as specified. The 2010 earthquake in Haiti impacted all construction here in the DR, and there are some details that we need. Once we have the answers we need carpenters will begin forming these beams that will span all window and door openings as well as where we will have the translucent domes. 

The picture above  is the result of my first attempt at flying a drone over the site. It is a basic drone so flying it is a bit tricky and the pictures aren't 1080p, but it is really neat to see the building from above. I hope to post more pictures or even a video later this week.

Please stay tuned for more updates!

         ----------------------------------------------

Thank you for prayers and financial support. Because I am volunteering here, please consider a monthly gift or a one time gift that will help with our living expenses here in the DR. You may do so online or by sending a check:

(you can click one of the links below:)
Solid Rock International

Second Presbyterian Church - Roanoke, VA

GoFundMe.com

  

Block Walls update July 12 2016

70,000 block are now onsite and most are laying in walls! Our three mason crews are each finishing up their section of the building. Cleanup and filling of the block cells with concrete continues. 
We will now begin forming the beams that will span doorways, windows and the skylight-type structures so these can then be filled with concrete. 
During this same time the plumber can begin digging properly sloped ditches for the many drain pipes and then install these pipes now that the 40+ masonry workers are done with this portion of their work.

Here is are a couple of videos, one showing a brief overview of the building site and the work by volunteers and another is a one minute tour - hang on tight!

Around the Site:

A one minute walk-thru:

Thanks for the prayers and support - 

both greatly appreciated!

update July 5 2016

Some pictures of work on the building over the last few days.

What you see when first driving onto the property

Standing at the southeast corner, looking at the large conference room and exam rooms

Setting up to start 3 more courses of block  on the east wall looking north

Taken from atop the warehouse looking west

Mixing mortar mix for the block masons

Sifting sand that will be used by the masons

Our diesel mixer is used to mix the concrete that is poured into the block cells

The ER area

Mixing mortar for the ER area

A bunch of mortar waiting to be used in the west part of the building near the kithen

Building walls for the private room section

 And Finally, a time lapse from work on Saturday, July 2nd.

Going Up

The block masons are moving along very well.

As they lay block we are locating doors, windows and plumbing pipe locations. Electrical locations will utilize the voids in the block that are not filled with concrete. 

Here is a time lapse from this morning:

Will post another video soon!

Wall update June 18

Work is moving along with much to do. We have three subs each with their own crews working on the block work, so there are about 50 workers onsite. They are laying a bunch of block daily, so we have been working hard to stay ahead of them laying off doors and plumbing locations and confirming final locations and information of many details. Everyone is working well together, Our team of three engineers are overseeing the work and are onsite the entire day, checking that work is properly done.

Here is a quick video of the site from above ...

Stay tuned for more good news!

Keep up the prayers and support, Thanks so much!

The WALLS are underway!

It has been a long time coming, but on Monday, June 13, 2016 we started building the walls. We are officially above the foundation walls!

Mixing mortar - powered mixer optional

Here is a short video from Monday afternoon:

And some other pics ...

Some of the team from Pine Hills assembling a column

A heavy rain offers a good source of water for mortar mixing

End of the day on Monday, nice.

Lets get this started ... WALLS!

I'm excited!



We are at the end of a slow period during which we changed engineer/builder so that construction will go as efficiently as possible. It was a difficult decision, but necessary. 

My optimism is strong - there is a new level of commitment and drive to ensure that that the project happens as efficiently as possible.  Frank and I feel like the team we envisioned is now in place. 


Masons are lined up, block is arriving, the plumbing and electrical engineers are finalizing details ... we are like the space shuttle that is T minus 10 seconds and counting. I can't wait!  Here is a little video summary.













T minus 9 ...

WAIT! - Don't close this without a short prayer!

ok, thanks. :)

Challenges behind us, good stuff ahead

It has been a difficult couple of months. We made the hard decision to ask our builder / engineer to step down and no longer be involved with the project. It was a very disappointing step to have to take, but a necessary one. 

Money is tight, we have not met our campaign goal and so we must watch every expense and spend as frugally as we can. In spite of this being the case, our builder just was not on board with us in this regard. I think he is like most everyone in the DR who believes the organizations from the USA have all of the money in the world and will pay whatever is necessary. It is just the common opinion here. 

Frank has explained to several potential suppliers and subs that Solid Rock is not that American organization that has a large shiny building in a downtown somewhere. Solid Rock is a single room in a young couple's home, and there are only two employees there, there is no "national headquarters". It is a concept that many Dominicans just do not comprehend, it is that simple. The USA is considered  'the land of opportunity, the land of abundance, it can provide all that is needed for a project here in the DR' - well, not in our case. Our generous donors are many, but we still need more money in order to make this dream a reality, and it will happen.

So we are being as deliberate as needed in order to see that the money everyone has so generously provided can go as far as it can.

I am so very proud of Solid Rock being ranked #47 out of over 8,300 non-profit organizations AND being on three of their "top ten" lists. It is a nice recognition of the hard work our board of directors (both now and in the past) has done to keep the focus on what our purpose is about. All of the wonderful things that have happened here are the result of support from people like you - those who have donated hard-earned money to Solid Rock and/or those who have donated their money, time and talents (often giving up precious vacation time) and traveling to the DR, serving the people here. So if you stay focused on what you want to do, do it well, accomplish it only thru the generous hands of donors and volunteers, and keep after it for 26+ years ... it works. And it works very effectively. This is accomplishing a little bit of what Jesus asked us to do - SERVE OTHERS. 

See more info - click this: Charity Navigator Site

So to everyone who has been a part of this wonderful journey since 1990 and even earlier, THANK YOU.

I am excited that we are lining up getting over 30,000 block delivered so that we can start getting some walls rising from the ground. I hope that by the end of summer there is a building looking for a roof! At the same time we will be tackling the plumbing drain lines and then other conduits and pipes that will be located under the floor.

We have asked an engineer who has been acting as consultant with the the project to begin a 3 month trail as "head" engineer. He has been SUPER HELPFUL over the past year serving in a consulting role and has recommended most of the suppliers and laborers we have used. I am very excited to have him "running the ship" knowing that he is very capable and also very conscious that money is critical and making things as efficient as possible is a necessity.

So I hope this is the last of the "tough news" I need to share. Good things never come easily, and I'm pretty sure some bible verses point this out to us ... :).

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.     Romans 12:11-12 

KEEP ON PRAYING