A few of the many spectacular views from the top of the mission property.

Whenever we can squeeze in time, between ministry activities, we work on our major, ongoing project: the construction at the mission center just outside the city of Gracias. When completed, this property will include facilities for hosting visiting teams, with dormitories, kitchen and dining areas and gathering spots. These same buildings will be used for the monthly pastor training school, when that is in session (4 days per month, for 9 months of the year). We will have a large bodega (warehouse) where we can store and organize donated items for distribution. Plus, of course, we will eventually be building our own house on the property.

Originally, Missionary Ventures purchased the land for this project, but through a mutual agreement, we have purchased it from them. So, when completed, we will own our own home and land again, for the first time in many years. (Since we have no savings or retirement plan, this is our way of filling that gap.) We are all rather excited about this! The acreage is extensive, although not good farming land, and we plan to raise some beef cattle on the property, to be another aspect of the "tentmaker" part of our work.

At this time (December 2008), the bodega is about 60% finished, the dormitory building is 50% completed, and the intern house (which will include 3 bedrooms and apartment style cooking facilities for those coming to work with the ministry for longer periods of time, and which will probably house some of our older children, at first) is 20% completed. As soon as the bodega and team house are enclosed and secure, our family is going to move into them, while constructing our home. That will save us the cost of renting a house, while we continue construction. We'll be semi-camping during that time, but we're looking forward to living out on the land. We just weren't ever meant to be city folk, I guess.

We have recently received a donation of a large diesel generator. Our intention is to set up the buildings to run on hydroelectricity, with the generator as a backup and supplement. The generator will also enable us to move to the property before the rest of the electric system is completed, if we should decide to do that. The extra cost for this off-the-grid system is balanced by the large cost we won't be paying, to run electric poles and wires for several miles to the property.

This drawing is of the top few acres of the property. By building here, we can take full advantage of the beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. The rest of the property goes downhill until it reaches a river valley, with a short stretch of river access.