Yet another whirlwind of hard work and good times blew through Gleno for 2 weeks. As we near the dry season here in Timor, this fun filled storm came with showers of improvising at just about every turn. Some familiar faces (Chippy, Roni, Canyon, Orion, River and Luke) along with some new ones (Peter and…
Our Shipping Container Residence – Part 2 Dear Reader, The month of August 2024 was a busy, but productive one. Regular readers would be familiar with the 2023 project update, but in 2024 we had renewed forces. August 2024 was nothing short of a whirlwind here at the construction site in Gleno, and it seems…
Welcome the Gugu Family: A Beautiful Symphony of Faith and Fun! It’s with the greatest joy and a dash of excitement that we welcome our new team members, the Gugu Family! Imagine the perfect blend of Romanian resilience and American warmth, topped with a sprinkle of heavenly harmony. That’s the Gugu Family in a nutshell!…
Our Shipping Container Residence Dear readers, It has been some time since we commenced construction of the residence. Regular readers will know we paused the building to do some much-needed erosion mitigation to the property’s northern boundary. With that critical task behind us, we’re excited to share updates on the residence. The residence is designed…
Did you know that flowing water is one of the most powerful forces on the planet? It shapes and reshapes landscapes, carves canyons and valleys. It can build fertile floodplains that support life or cause destructive flooding. So, guess what this letter is about? Yes, you guessed it—water! Specifically, the small river that borders the…
One of the things I’ve learnt while working in this beautiful country is that you need to be able to adapt & learn quickly. I may have worked in the built environment in various capacities but I’m no electrician. Fortunately, God blessed me with a curious mind and after a quick photo of my design…
Since the beginning of May 2022, we have been working tirelessly on the septic tank project. It has been quite the journey, considering the numerous challenges we faced and the fact that all the excavation work was done by hand. Surprisingly, the digging was completed in just about two weeks, which is quite impressive when…
We planted coconut trees this week… and here are the steps we followed Step 1: dig the hole (thankfully this was already one by Daniel.. yey) Step 2: fill the hole with 200mm of sand (to help the water drain) Step 3: add plants that are rich in NI (to help the trees grow) Step…
Although the road needed fixing, meetings and discussions were held with the chefe-suco, who in turn talked to the relevant land owners… but after all that, four 20ft shipping containers were delivered to the site. The preparation for the foundations has also started and a gallery showing the delivery and the progress of the works…
ok.. so we’re in Gleno… but why? Our volunteer work here is to design and raise a radio tower, and also to organise the construction of a residence / area where the locals can come and learn about agriculture and a better lifestyle- VIVA MELHOR; in 2013 an estimated 90,000 children under 5, or 50percent, suffered…