First Baptist Church (SSM) -- Construction Trips to Central America

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Construction Trips to Central America

Our John Benson was one of many church-based volunteers who
made a few trips to Central America between 2003 and 2006.
Their goal was to help with the expansion of a small church in Nicaragua and
to participate in the contruction of a mission conference facility in Honduras.
These photographs illustrate some of John's memories from those trips.

CONSTRUCTION JOB IN HONDURAS...

Welding the Roof Trusses in 2003...
Mission headquarters & conference centre
starts to take shape in the city of Suyapa.

...Nearing Completion by 2006.
Half a roof is better than no roof.

The Construction Crew in 2003...

EVERYDAY LIFE IN HONDURAS...

Saturday Market in Tegucigalpa...
Features "fresh" meat, vegetables, and dry goods,
through the wonder of no refrigeration.

Eager Students...
Local orphans waiting for a bus.

Local Woodshop Carves a Niche...

Contrast in Living...
Fancy homes overlook ghetto
built on top of a dumpsite.

Some Real Competition for
Our Women's Hockey Team...
And even more for the Men's!

NICARAGUA CHURCH EXPANSION (2005)...

Little Street-Level Church –
No Place To Grow But UP!

The foundation work and first floor
construction were done in 2004.
But the plan was – build it higher.

Cement by Hand – A Batch at a Time...
Mixed on the ground, then hoisted up.

EVERYTHING Is Done By Hand...
Including the pour!

Building the Second Storey...
A story in itself.

A Little Cultural Exchange...
Home cooking a long way from home.

Not all missions work is in contruction. John prepares a Canadian-style spaghetti dinner for a local family and workers (14 in all). Good fellowship leads to better teamwork and easier acceptance of God's Word.

The End of a Hard Day...
Young people fellowship together
over an indoor marshmallow roast.

Local Young Hearts...
They help in construction of the church,
kids' ministry, etc.

NICARAGUA CHURCH GROWS AGAIN (2006)...

I Wanna Take You Higher...
Second floor complete.
Put a third on top.

Tying Down the "Roof"...
Former roof sheeting becomes the floor above.

...And Setting Up the Re-Bar.

Hand-Carried Concrete... Supplies are taken to the second floor where the concrete is mixed (by hand). Then it is hauled up to the third floor by pulley – one bucket at a time! It takes at least two men to pull up a bucket. (Did we mention this heavy work is all done by hand ?? And by women too!)