Portland Christian Center Photo Journal

Photos and video of the Portland Christian Center construction team working at the Jehovah Jireh Good Shepherd School in Pedregal (Panama City), Panama. The journal begins at the bottom of the page with the first day of construction on Monday, Nov. 3rd and chronicles each work day... and the weekend activities in between!

DAY 10--Last day and last block in the tall, end wall. More blocking above bond beams. Blocking bathroom on 3rd floor. Cute kids. Nick the "rock star." Recognition and saying goodbye to the Panamanian crew. Mission accomplished. The team. David speaks for the team at the farewell service. Recognition and prayer for the team.

Nov. 15, 2008

DAY 9--Up to the peak on the tall front wall. Continued blocking on the stairwell. Bond beam work continues. Nick and Lindsay are a hit with candy for the kids and youth. Dinner at the Boyds.

DAY 8--It's chapel day with about 300 kindergarten through sixth graders at the Jireh school.  The kids shared a couple of typical Panamanian dances.  Team members were presented with a gift and Pastor Johnny Saucedo prayed over the group.  Lindsay shares a devotional with the kids... in Spanish!  (Great job!)  Lunch with the team.  Bathroom blocking continues.  Arlen finishes the stairwell wall up to bond beam height.  Blocking over the bond beam on the front wall begins.  Bond beam work continues.

DAY 7--Arlen and Sherry begin the "high adventure" (safe, of course) of blocking the stairwell! Bond beam goes up on the front wall. Parade of scaffolding and welding bond beams and blocking above. A taste of Panama at Las Tinajas... and a cultural dance show... just ask Arlen about it.

DAY 6--Mostly a sunny day (see the rainbow?) helps the crew tackle the long front wall and bring it up to bond beam height in one day! Blocking bathrooms... a man's version of "patch-work quilting." Another day pouring bond beams. "Pulley duty." The "jefe" (boss) holding up the wall?

WEEKEND--Saturday tour included a trip to Colon on the Atlantic side (see team photo) and the Panama Canal Visitor Center at Miraflores Locks. Is that an actual service tunnel? Sunday was "memories" day. The team returned to the Santa Librada church and school, where the Portland team first worked in 2000 and 2001.

DAY 5--Four classrooms blocked complete to the bond-beam. Nate and Arlen "keep going" in the restrooms. Blocking started above the bond-beam; continues to roof line. "Reunited"... Jim arrived today.

DAY 4--Second set of bond beams poured. Faithful blockers tackle heights and the "jig saw" bathroom; enjoying the view from the 4th story! Peanut butter, jelly and... chicken feet? The famous "no light" traffic light or "learning how to drive in Panama."

DAY 3--First bond beams on long wall poured.  Blocking progresses.  "Block Ingenuity."

"Block Ingenuity" video... So how do you get 5,000 30lb blocks up the the fourth floor?

DAY 2--Block on first long outside wall reaches bond beam level. Blocking begins on second long outside wall. Joyce and crew outfit kitchen and dining facilities. "Who's the leader of the... m-i-c-k-e-y..."

DAY 1--Blocking begins on the fourth and final story of the school.

Video greeting from Pastor Bob Ward

Nov. 1, 2008