An Architect Missionary: 2019

LEA Hostel Progress

I can't say enough about this wonderful orphanage & school. LEA started in 2005 by Martin Tango, an orphan himself who was lovingly taken in by Pastor Zak and his wife (and quite a few other children without homes) at the age of 13. In 2005 the orphanage/school started with 20 children with financial help from a church in the Czech Republic. I first visited in November 2013, and they had nearly 300 students. My friend, Mark Croskrey spear headed an effort to provide a well for LEA and we both visited in July 2015 to see the well progress; at which time the school/orphanage had grown to 400 children. As of last summer, they had over 600 students. The education these children receive is top notch, and the classroom buildings meet government standards; but the housing is rented and subpar. My friend Mark is spearheading another effort, through Helps Ministries, to raise money to build dorms that I first designed back in 2014. The plans have been tweaked by a local designer to meet their growing needs, and even though funds for complete construction are not fully raised...they have started building this year anyhow; and it is so exciting to see. Mark and I will likely visit early in 2020 as the dorms get closer to completion. If you want to help them complete the dorms, go to:
https://helpsministries.org/funds/campaigns/lea-orphanage-hostel/

SHADE - a shipping container building

SHADE-Tanzania is a ministry to children with albinism in Tanzania; where they are at risk of having body parts removed by witch doctors who believe these body parts bring good luck. I was first introduced to SHADE in August 2015; and drew up some master plan drawings for a future village to contain schools housing, agriculture, soccer fields, and business development training. Purchase of the first piece of land fell through, but the Lord provided a much better parcel. A new master plan was developed...and the first of a village of buildings using shipping containers is well underway. This will serve as the school and office, with guest rooms on the upper level. In time, Lord willing, the office and guest housing will be in new shipping container buildings and this will be expanded for primary and secondary education. The photos below show some of the construction process of this first phase.

Master Plan

Grace Center Bible Church & Aletheia Ministries

It is so exciting to see this church & ministry center get closer and closer to completion. Much like the Church Mexico Community Center in the previous post. I first met Pastor Michael Turay teaching on the book of Romans in January 2013. I noticed him studying the smallish church that the conference was at during a breakout; next thing you know I'm visiting him in October, 2013...and though not quite complete; this project (on a MUCH more complicated site than Church Mexico) is getting closer. When complete, the three story building on a steep hill with a lot of big boulders will also be used for training pastors, housing them, and also for the church to meet regularly. The ground floor was complete almost 2 years ago, and they have been able to worship there since that time. Following are photos of the construction when my son, Josiah and I visited in 2015 and work started on laying out the foundation...and some progress photos since.

the site in the early stages of HAND excavation

the whole congregation that was able to help, helped move the rocks and boulders

A LOT of hard labor!

The first floor was complete, and services were able to be held towards the end of 2016

building the 2nd floor roof/3rd floor slab :)

no heavy equipment, just strong men at work

IGLESIA MÉXICO CENTRO COMUNITARIO

We were introduced to this wonderful church planting and discipleship ministry based in San Luis, Mexico back in February 2013. Nearly 6 years and 3 buildings later; the community center buildings are complete, and we were invited to celebrate with the church, community, and many other volunteers who helped build these buildings in January 2019.