The last week

Our debriefing week has come to an end and my apologies for lack of posts over the last week. It was a wonderful week filled with many different activities. Here are just a few things and pictures of what did.

We left Sunday and visited many beaches along our travels to our first stop in Gravatal where we got to enjoy the warm thermal-mineral water. The hotel offered a nature walk and that is where this picture is from. The team with our nature guide, who spoke german very well so Wilf and Ralph were our translaters.

On Monday we traveled to the Boqueirao Farm Hotel where we got to enjoy a horse ride, and the many other activites the "farm" had to offer. Here is a group shot with the horses, even those slightly scared of horses, Jeanette and Karen, got up enough courage to go for a ride.

On Wednesday we went to Urubici where we saw 3 magnificent waterfalls over our days there.

And today we arrived back in Florianopolis. It was a fast and much enjoyed week with safe travels and great company. Tomorrow we leave the hotel around 11:00 and our flight departs Florianopolis at 1:45pm. You can pray for safe and smooth travels. Thanks for reading and I'll post one last time when we get home.
Anita

Saying farewell

Today we went to the center for a BBQ and were blown away by the gratefulness that was expressed to us for what we have done. Yet in perspective it is so little compared to what the staff do everyday and it can be difficult to receive the amount of thanks they showed us.

They raised the flags and played both the Canadian and Brazilian anthems. This is out front of the administrative building that was built by a For We Care team several years back.

Revealing a plaque that is displayed in the administrative building showing all the names of all those who have come and volunteered from Canada, from this year as well as previous years.

Another plaque in memory of Walter Kerber who was the founder of For We Care.

Wilf and our wonderful cook for the last 2 weeks while at the center. She has the most uplifting and outgoing spirit that made it very easy to interact with her, even with the language barrier.

The massive spread that was made for for us.

Jeff at the kids table with Jonas' children that we met last week at his daughter Suellem's birthday party.

One of several group shots taken, here Wilf and Dwight are with several of the residents and Marcus (far left) who is one of the staff members at the center.

After the BBQ we spent the rest of the afternoon at another one of Florianopolis' beautiful beaches. Relaxing and enjoying the warm, yet not too hot weather.

Wilf and Anita jumping for joy and getting some serious air.

The beach from above where we enjoyed our afternoon.

Tomorrow we leave bright and early for our debriefing week. There is no guarantee that we will have internet access where we are going so I will post when able. Please pray for continued safety and health as well as a week of relaxation and fellowship. Thanks for reading.

Anita

Final work day

Before I post some pictures from today here are just a couple pictures of what we did yesterday evening.

We took over the hotel lobby and cheered on the Canadian Women's hockey team.

Ralph was having a hard time seeing so he placed himself front and center to get a good view.

And moving on to today, which was yet another wonderful day. We wrapped up a lot of projects and enjoyed the sunny, yet not too hot day.

Lloyd and Wilf getting nice and close as they removed a wood frame from a already dry column.

Anne and Jeanette cutting rebar for the forms for the ceiling.

A project from start to finish, first Ross makes the wood frame for above a doorway on the first floor.

Then Wilf pours the cement into the frame.

Then Ralph lays the bricks above the new frame.

Me (Anita) and Karen putting together the wood pieces for the ceiling frames.

Dwight on one end and Wilf fitting into a tight squeeze on the other using the old school water level.

As the day was winding down a lot of clean up was done.

While a couple of people worked hard to clean up it took 4 men to fix a ladder...

Tasks were running thin at the end of the day as we finished what we could without starting brand new projects. Lloyd, Ron and Jonas talking in the upstairs with all the walls, including columns, doors and windows complete.

These two pictures compare the building from the first day we got there to today, a lot of progress was made and we have only God to thank for all the work we were able to get done.

Here Ross is gifting to Jonas his tool belt that he used for the last two weeks.

And of course a group shot infront of the, what will be, 3rd dorm building. Along with our team members there are, Jonas (far right), Ron (far left) and the 3 residence (in the middle) that were strictly volunteers, working extremely hard for the last 2 weeks.

There you have it, our last day on the job site, what a blessing it has been and praise needs to be given to God for the health, safety and succcess he has given us while here.

Tomorrow we head back to the center for a farwell BBQ and then Sunday we head off for our debriefing. The goal is to continue to post regularly so please keep checking.

Anita

Work day 9

Today was a fabulous day, it was sunny, not too hot, with a nice breeze. More columns were poured and we kept busy with a lot of odd jobs. It is hard to believe that we only have one more working day.
This is the progress we have made so far, it looks so different from when we first got there.

Jeff attempted to help out this morning and was given strict instructions from the Dr to keep that foot elevated and this is the bed he found for himself.

Ralph helping out downstairs with the demolition around the doors to fix the frames.

Wilf and Lloyd being the goofs that they are.

As you can tell by the pictures Ross was back at it today building and prepping the doors on the first floor for their frames.

Tearing down the scaffolding that was used to build the brick walls up.

No bricks to lay so Dwight helped out by sweeping and creating a major dust storm at the same time.

To pour the highest columns they used, what I called, floating scaffolding. Anchored through the wall without any supports from the bottom. Only Jonas was allowed to use those (:

That's Jonas on the floating scaffolding in another corner, they moved the scaffolding from one corner to another using sandbags to keep it weighted down on the inside.

That is what the scaffolding looked like inside. Lloyd and Wilf doing their part to pour the columns.

Thanks for reading once again and stay tuned as we do have only one more work day before we head off for a week of debrief.

Anita

Work day 8

Today was similar task wise but much cooler weather wise. We continued on laying the rest of the bricks and pouring the last columns and window/door frames. We were also able to finish up the window frames on the first floor. We were down a team member, Ross, you will notice there are no pictures of him today. Ross woke up in a very large amount of pain last night and was diagnosed with kidney stones both by our resident Dr., Dwight, and after spending most of the day in the hospital. He is okay and is back at the hotel and feeling better. It is just a waiting game now for the stone to pass. He is in good spirits and comfortable now. Please pray that his spirits would remain up and that his pain would remain managable. And now for a few pictures.

Jeff pulling his share while keeping his foot elevated.

Anne and Karen laying bricks on the second floor.

Wilf on the very high, but I promise very sturdy scaffolding, prepping the columns.

Dwight getting the wires ready to tie the wood frames in place.

Me (Anita) laying some of the final bricks around the windows on the main floor since Ross was preoccupied and not there to continue on with his project.

Lloyd putting the wood frames in place.

Jonas showing us how it is done. He layed 14 bricks to 3 that Jeanette layed. (:

Ending the day with some cards as most of the days work was done and there was not enough tasks for us all. Here Karen, Jeanette and Anne teaching Lucas, one of the residence, how to play Uno.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned as we only have 2 more works days.

Anita