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The tsunami of 2004 was the result of the second strongest earthquake ever recorded. The province of Aceh in Indonesia was the hardest hit area of any in southeast Asia. Over 125,000 Acehnese were killed and that many more were missing. Compassion Frisco was formed as a humanitarian agency to work among the tsunami survivors. Mayor Simpson and the city council sent a proclamation to the mayor of Banda Aceh declaring our city's sympathy, and affirming Compassion Frisco as an organization wanting to provide long term service with partners there. Compassion Frisco was birthed out of Preston Trail Community Church. Over the past four years teams have gone to work with partners on the ground there in wholistic community development, empowering women, medical care, trauma counseling and athletics. For the next two weeks John Taylor and Dudley Raymond will be in Aceh to oversee the installation of complex playground equipment to be installed in a new park in Banda Aceh. The equipment was bought and shipped to Aceh from the states. Pray for them in these efforts.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

hot and slow

All

on Monday we arrived in Banda Aceh at around 1:30. Vaughn Thomas picked us up from the airport and transported us to the guest house where we had lunch with Lizapple White. Then we went to visit the mayor as well as look at the equipment in storage. The meeting with the mayor went well although they would slip in and out of Achenese So in reality I am not too sure what they were saying a good portion of the time.

Then we went to visit Vaughn's farm. He is doing demonstration as well as research and testing to help the locals lean different farming practices that are sustainable and transferable. He has about 2 hecters with chickens, several fish ponds where they are raising fish, compost piles, garden plots, a compressed earth block factory, cattle where the waist is captured and the methane gas is refined and used to for a cook stove, as small store, they are growing timber, and goats. It is truly amazing.

Today Tuesday

We started at about 8:00. We showed up at the mayors office where the equipment was stored at waited and waited. Finally we called to see where the men were that were going to help us and learned they had already loaded the equipment to the site.

While John and I were unloading the equipment and getting organized, Vaughn started to dig the first hole, that's when we heard the very distinct sound of post hole diggers hitting rock. He was only 1/2 inch down and hit the first rock. He gave up and moved to the second hole. Well as luck would have it he met the same fate. Uh Oh

Today, with the help of 3 locals we dug a grand total of 14 holes. You must use a rock bar to loosen the soil and rocks enough to get it out with the post hole diggers. It seams as if the soil is compacted well and is made up of 50% soil and 50% rock. The rocks are rather large in some cases. We have 46 holes to dig in total.

Did I mention that it is HOT HOT HOT. We are thankful for what we could accomplish today and know that tomorrow will be a good day as well.


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  1. UnknownApril 28, 2009 at 9:33 AM

    Sounds like alot of hard work!! At least you will be building the park on a strong foundation.
    The baby is doing well, and they will be getting home today. The kids woke up early and had a hardy breakfast for their TAKS test.
    We miss you around here.
    You are in our thoughts and prayers.
    Love,
    Bridget

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