Today was the day!  Total makeover for Odza Bridge.  In our previous post “Building Bridges (part 1)” we told you about the needed repairs and how the tree had been cut down and chainsaw cut into lumber specifically for this bridge repair. 

This morning workers from RFIS, Assemblies of God mission, UBAC and CMF hostels gathered with Ron and Reach Global missionary Phil Falconer for a good day of hard and rewarding work.  At the site some men from the neighborhood or quartier  joined them too. 

First step was to remove the old broken and rotting wood from the bridge.

This exposed a build up of dirt on the lip of cement that the 4 supporting I-beams rest on.  So that had to be cleaned off – so as not to corrode the I-beams and rot the new wood.

Then one by one, the boards of this sub-deck were replaced by new boards.

Once the sub-deck was in place, the next job was to line the boards up along a straight line, and make sure they’re evenly spaced.

Once that was done, everyone had a small break while waiting for the welder to arrive.  His primary job is with the Assemblies of God mission, welding frames used in the construction of church buildings, or temples.

Everything was in place – generator on the RFIS truck, ready for the welder to come.

To keep the sub-deck in place, pieces of angle iron were welded to the I-beams on either side of every 6th board. 

Shortly, the welder complained of poor visibility due to the sun shining.  Lacking an umbrella or more accurately, parasol, I went in search of shade for him.  I struck up a conversation with a woman pounding greens in her yard; she said it was “kpum” I think.  We brainstormed a minute and then she picked up a machete to cut a banana leaf to shade the work.  On the way to the banana tree she noticed a piece of metal sheltering her firewood and offered it.  This is just one example of how ready and willing the local people were to help contribute to this important community project.

Directly behind the welder, a carpenter followed, nailing the boards to the angle iron.   Almost as if to prove that God is in even the fine details of this project, glasses fell from his pocket as he worked.  Only instead of falling to the dark waters of the river, they (and some medicines) fell onto the board he was nailing.  It was evident that many were praying.

The final step was to lay the planks on top of the sub-deck.  At around 200 pounds a piece, this was no small task.  The help of many men from the quartier was much appreciated.  Once they were in place, Ron sawed off the ends to fit the length of the bridge. 

Then they drove spikes into these planks (sorry no picture of that, and I wasn’t there to see it either).  And voila!  The bridge is done! 

We’re praising God for good weather – mostly cloudy with no rain; for provision of materials; for great cooperation among the men from the missions and from the quartier who worked hard without complaining; for protection; and for many encouraging friends.  Thanks to all of you who prayed.  May the name of the Lord be glorified in this new bridge.