half day today

We only worked half a day today so we could have a party for all the people who will be leaving next week. It was a lot of fun to spend time with guys in other than the work day. Thats about all to report today. The first picture is of the local computer shop,the second is showing how they unload 90 lbs. cement bags here, The last is advertisement local barber shop.

more of the same

Still working on finishing up little things left undone. Today we were in an area they call the new market. We had to install two anchors. The holes were already dug. They have contractors who are paid by the hole. They had predug our holes. Since most of the construction is done, there is a lot of talk about who will stay and work for the co-op and who will not be here much longer, so there's some tension over that. So not a whole lot new to report.  I am going to send pictures of the market area and one of Augustine and Emanuel, the two guys I have been working with for the last couple of days. There is a photo of some people watching me climb a pole--something that happens quite often.

Still on the run

Cody and I are still hanging switches and cutouts. Victor is building the single phase tap down by the airstrip. There's 13 kilometers of backbone built so far, and they are just waiting for the generator to energize it. The transformers still have to hung.  I think Bob told me that 120 people are signed up for power, so they know where some of the pots go, and Bob thought that he might have Victor and me go hang some starting next week. The first two  pictures are of me and Augustine working on a tap pole. The next is of the crew building a tap. The last is of some kids watching us work.

The long awaited truck showed with the 500 bags of cement today. John said he would have the pads for the breakers poured by next week so maybe we will work on that instead.

I got out of the compound

To start I want to correct something--the 500 bags of cement are not going to be mixed in a wheel barrow--they do have a cement mixer, but every thing else will be by hand. We got out of the compound today.  Vic is feeling much better, he was scattering poles.  I spent the day with Cody and a couple of the local guys doing some small jobs, hanging some switches, stringing a span of three phase, and some other stuff.  It was good to get out and move around the town and see the area. The first two pictures are of me and Augustine, one of local lineman. The other is of some kids eating sugarcane. They just flock around if we are working around their homes.

more work on the sub

Victor is feeling a little better today, said he may even come out tomorrow just to get moving around again.  We got the two bays that are going to be put in use first done today. We are out of 22 inch DA's so I hope to get out of the compound and get to move around a little bit. Bob made it back today and seemed pleased with what we had done on the sub. That made me feel good as we had changed a few things because of the mix up with the blueprints.  Other than that, not much to report.  The first two pictures are of what we have gotten done on the framework of the sub--pots, breakers, and generators to follow. May get to the pots and breakers if the truck bringing the 500 bags of cement (to be mixed by hand to make slab to set them) ever gets here from Uganda. The generators will not be here until after I leave.  The last picture is the crew that has been working with me and Victor on building the sub. The guy on the right works on the compound doing other stuff, he dropped by so we included him in the photo.

Jail break Sunday

I was going to mention that on Sunday we had a jail break in the compound.  All the chickens got out of the coop.We were just kind of having our coffee and watching them as they were the best and only show in town, when we noticed that some hawks were out for some breakfast. So we had to go out and shoo them back into the coop.  Somewhat limited entertainment early on a Sunday morning here in Maridi.

I also am going to try to post a picture for Barbara It was taken with the big camera so not sure it will load but will try. I just thought you might need some advertising ideas.

pictures

The first picture is of the local hospital,the second as you can see if you have been following we have moved along with the sub, the third is of a sunset from the back porch.

Victor sick

Victor woke up today not feeling well, he was in bed all morning so he went to the Dr. after lunch and was tested for malaria and he has it. They gave him some medicine and he seem somewhat better tonight but not 100%.  I am still working on the sub today Cody came over to help and we made some progress.  John just told us Bob will be back tomorrow which will be good. It will be good to see if we did ok on the sub as we built a lot of it on the wrong print, some things are not quite the same but I think it should be good.  One of the line crews had a problem at the local hospital, It turned out to be their problem but we spent about an hour to prove it.

pictures from the program

Here are some pictures I took when we were at the NRECA program in town today.

pictures of U.N. barbque and of NRECA program

The top picture is of some people from Sweden and Germany.  The bottom is of some kids who wanted their picture taken. The pictures from the big camera are too hard to load and that is all I took today.

Sunday

We pretty much took the day off today.  John and I worked on one of the trucks batteries today for a little bit.  We also went down into town to watch a play put on about NRECA coming to Maridi.  It was very interesting to watch and check out the people. We also had a barbeque today and invited some people from the U.N.  They were very interesting to talk to as they have a different viewpoint as to were Southern Sudan is headed.