A Full Day at Kibuye

 Today was a pretty productive day at the hopital (no, I spelled it like is is here in Africa).  We got holes drilled between the two shipping containers and conduit sleeves are in place to begin disassembly of the work we did in October in preparation for the expansion this trip.  We began connecting conduits under the Solar Inverters outside and we also got the large electrical panel installed that is the Combiner Panel for the added solar arrays.  We had people under the containers, on top of the containers and inside the containers throughout the day.  The Solar Array installation was hampered all morning by rain,  but later in the afternoon, we were able to begin rail layout and installation of the smaller Combiner Boxes at the Arrays..  We got lights in place inside the Battery Container and we should be getting these powered sometime tomorrow.  Working with sleep deprivation and this altitude it is very easy to get dehydrated.  This affected several of the guys.  We will try to do better in keeping adequate water available at the PowerPac.  Some of these photos give you the story of the day.  

Tomorrow we are going to shut down the PowerPac and run on Grid or Generator power, as we begin relocating the lithium batteries installed in October to the new Battery Container.  Also we are hoping to get a big jump on installing the Solar racking.  We are quite a way off from being finished, but are hoping each day is a big step toward that goal.  

In spite of colds, sore backs, sore feet, and some minor (so far) intestinal and stomach issues, waiting on tools and parts to show up on the plane tomorrow, and other issues, things are going pretty much as expected.  Things going totally smoothly and according to plans and schedules, just don't fit the African mold.  But, God is definitely in control and we are excited to see Him continue to use this facility and the staff here as they advance His Kingdom.  Did I ever mention that, in an average year, Kibuye Hope Hospital is instrumental in seeing 1.500 to 1,800 new souls coming to an understanding of Salvation and committing their lives to Him?  That is why we are here these weeks in January 2023.  It is definitely a privilege to be a small part of this ministry.

We have a local Electrician-In-Training named Jesse shadowing us and helping us to learn, as all of his training so far has not included practical work experience in the electrical field.  I understand that Kibuye is hopeful he will be able to come on maintenance staff as an electrician.  From what we have seen, he should be a candidate for that.

Today we even got to use our 1" electrical fishtape.  Perhaps a new invention...

Tomorrow morning Earl will be leading a devotional time with the hospital staff in their weekly Wednesday morning time.  I have seen this hospital's staff, meeting out on a balcony, in a prayer time for one or more patients.  The staff really cares about these people here in central Africa.  It is also sobering to see bodies placed in the Morgue, which is right by the PowerPac, and then to se families come to the other side of the building to retrieve their loved ones.  This happens every day.  We can only hope that the deceased persons have had the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel Message.