Help for a Hospital - Phase 2

This is a clothes drying shelter that was constructed at a psychiatric hospital near Brasov.

This is what greeted us when an NGO, who supports the hospital asked us for help. Winter snows had collapsed the structure.

Back in April we dismantled the structure, inventoried re-usable materials....

and straightened the posts which were set in concrete. Then, Randy designed a new structure, ordered materials and prepared for when the team of volunteers from UK would arrive. All were members of the organization "North Nibley Romania Team" that has supported the hospital for 20 years, and all were tradesmen.

On Monday, we drove to Brasov and confirmed with the lumber store that the materials would be delivered that morning. Elder Heninger, another senior missionary (he and his wife are from Calgary and are currently serving in Brasov) met us in the parking lot and followed us out to the hospital.We arrived at the site to find all was as we had left it.

There to greet us were Peter Tolson, the director of NNRT and his wife, Vanessa from England. The rest of the team would arrive the next day.

The men got busy preparing the metal posts to have wooden supports attached.

When the truck arrived, everyone, pitched in to unload and stack the lumber.

Vanessa and I got to work on the wooden posts....

coating them with a weather sealant and then a stain.We called it a day at that point. 

In Codlea, a town close to the hospital, there lives an artisan who is well known throughout Europe for his clay figurines. 

This is Nicolae Diaconu and his son, Marius.  Both are extremely talented and together they made this charming nativity set for us with a distinctly Romanian flavor.  We picked it up on our way back to Brasov where we picked up a few things at the hardware store and a ladder at the church.  Dinner was at McDonald's, then we went to check in to our apartment.

Guided by our GPS, we were directed up a very narrow cobblestone lane into the side of the mountain.

A cozy hotel suite awaited us there.

A gorgeous view and fresh mountain air made for a good night's sleep.

Bright and early on day 2 we met the other members of the team: 3 John's and Tony. Randy made some work benches out of pallets and plywood. While 3 men started making trusses....

others attached the wood posts to the metal ones and cross-braced them. Occasionally curious patients would wander by and regale us with chatter or serenade us with ABBA songs. One kept trying to steal the tools.  We had to watch him like a hawk. He stole the licence plate off the back of the van.  The nurses managed to get him to show them where he threw it over the fence. They even made him jump over and retrieve it. From then on, they kept him inside the hospital when we were working.

Things got pretty exciting on the 3rd day when the trusses started going up.  You can see Vanessa on one side and Elder Heninger on the other holding the trusses vertically with metal posts while Randy and Tony attached bracing. Everything was pretty wobbly at this point, so we were all a little nervous.

The trusses were all mounted by the end of the day, but the necessary support beams seemed to be going very slowly.  Randy figured out a better system in his dreams that night.

On day 4, Elder Heninger brought two young missionaries with him and they helped put on the roofing sheets.

Randy's "high wire act" was a little nerve-wracking to watch for Vicky, but he was fearless.

Aside from a few small cuts and scrapes, our prayers were answered that there would be no injuries on the project. John R. hammed it up for the camera, feigning wooziness and fear, while Vicky put a bandaid on a boo boo. You will note the ugly Croc's Vicky is wearing.  They were good for the job because they had air holes all over the top to help keep her feet cool, but.....

after a couple of days she had a crazy polka-dot feet!

By the end of the day, with many hands to help, all the bracing was done and the sheeting was up on one side.

On Friday morning (day 5), Randy's knees were weak from the previous day's acrobatics, so he, one of the John's and Elder Gunter stood on scaffolding to install the capping. Others stepped up to install the rest of the metal roofing.

A cheer went up from the work team as well as interested onlookers when the last sheet was screwed down. Just one job left to do.

The metal guides for the clothes line was mounted and the line was strung.

Simon, a hospital staff member hung up some sheets to test the wires. A-OK!

Everyone signed their name to the end beam....

and a team photo was taken.  Left to right: Nina, Randy, Elder Gunter, Vicky, Istvan, John Hale, Tony, Elder Brady, Vanessa, Peter, John Hogue. John Hexter is taking the photo and Elder Heninger had to leave early.  A wonderful group and a terrific project. Well done, everyone!

A Return to Secret Garden

Last year we did a project with Ken and Katy Cloke - directors of The Secret Garden drop in centre.

We helped facilitate the installation of a sturdy wheelchair ramp so wheelchair users can access the centre.  In a recent visit we noticed a few things:

Katy showed us how she had to use several pots to make enough food for the daily meal.

Mothers who bring their children to the center for a hot meal and organized activities often bring a load of laundry to put in the washer. This machine LOOKED okay, but it was actually broken down, past its warranty and unrepairable.

The wheelchair ramp looked good, but the rails needed painting so they won't rust;

and in the rear entrance toys, packaged foodstuffs and supplies were piled everywhere - blocking the exit - a red flag for a certain fire chief.  We saw the possibility of another great project and our supervisors agreed.

We bought a large new pot bringing smiles to the cooks.

 Ken and Randy made some measurements and we were off to do some shopping.

First stop: the appliance store to purchase a new washing machine. They would deliver it the next day.

Then a visit to a large hardware store to buy shelving material.

After a break for lunch, the installation began.

Ken was innovative in using women's products for earplugs while he cut some posts. He won't be pleased that we used this photo!

A few gymnastic maneuvers helped to get this unit put together.

Two sister missionaries happily organized the supplies onto the new shelves.

Now everything is neat, accessible and there is a clear, safe path to the exit.

The new washing machine was delivered and installed as promised.

We paid for the materials and missionaries painted the ramp railings. Secret Garden can now serve the poor and needy better than ever; and an added blessing...

a new friendship has been forged between two great guys.