Work

  So the project Luke and Nathanael are deep into is remodeling an office to become a "Welcome Center" (unofficially named- any recommendations are appreciated!).  This is located in a place everyone passes after getting off their bus on their way into town.  The vision is that it will be a way out to "at risk" girls (and boys) who otherwise may get into (or have already gotten into) prostitution. We are pooling resources from local businessmen to training facilities to get these people into reliable jobs and off the streets.

  Thai construction, although it's getting better, is completely unpredictable.  This project has been one in which every fix requires two more before it.  Luke and Nathanael have been tearing out old tile which was covered with two layers of linoleum.  They have now completed the "tear out" and now have the new tile ready to lay, needing only to chip away excess thin-set and build dividing walls to separate the space into three areas: Reception area, office, and meeting room.

  They were also asked to hook up a sink that had been used to store dirty dishes before washing them in the bathroom sink.  The bathroom is about 18" below grade, so running the drain has been a trial since all walls are concrete and there is only a narrow concrete ally behind to dig down through to find the drain.

  Here are some pics so far...

This is the front of the "Welcome Center"

This is the before picture of the inside from the back.

The "tear out" begins.  The office is shut down and officy things are shoved back.

Day 1- It is slow going.  I don't envy people who do this regularly.

Day 2- We now have 2/3 of the tile up, thanks to our new "Harbor Freight-ish" hammer drill.  Tools here are expensive and under-powered.

My work truck: "I don't know what's funnier- the way I looked driving like this from the store to the office, or the fact that no one was amazed at the sight of me doing so" (its a common sight here).

We had to chisel away concrete to run the drain in this ally.