Chapel Construction: One Month Down, Five to Go

 

 We are a month into the construction of the chapel, and I am amazed at the progress that has been made. The excavation was done quickly, digging trenches for the footings and foundation walls, as well as creating a small walk-out space that will be below the sacristy and part of the sanctuary. While it has rained almost every day, the construction workers have been able to take advantage of the mostly dry morning hours to weave steel re-bar and pour cement.

 

 

 As you can see in the pictures, cement is mixed a bag at a time, and carried by hand in five-gallon buckets to the pour sites. This is laborious and back-breaking work. The only piece of machinery here is the motorized cement mixer, something that we at home might rent for a weekend home improvement project. All of the cement blocks also need to be carried by hand to the places they will be laid, after having been unloaded by hand, block by block, from the delivery truck. Fortunately, we have had some volunteers from the USA visiting, and they have helped to move the blocks and carry the cement.

 Here are some additional renderings of the chapel, including a rendering of the sanctuary area.

The contractor plans to finish the construction within six months. After that we will work on the interior- painting, laying floor tile, working out the details of the altar, sound system, pews, lighting, etc. More updates to come soon!