The Hamilton House from Vision to Reality

GUESTHOUSE

Thomazeau, Haiti

The vision for having a base of operation in Thomazeau Haiti started years ago, but there was no money for this project and at the time, none was

coming in. By April of 2011 the small LiveBeyond staff prayed for a date. The plan: if the money needed to purchase this plot of land came in by the

date, then we knew that the Lord wanted it to happen. If the money didn't come in, then we knew it wasn't in the Lord's plan. As Laurie said, "If the Lord doesn't want us to have a permanent presence in Haiti, it's the last place we want to be." The date was August 15th. By August 15th all funds needed to

purchase the land had come in. It was nice to have the $ needed, but more importantly, we knew HE wanted LiveBeyond to be there.

Once the money for the land was in hand, Dr. Vanderpool wanted to have the land surveyed. The verbal agreement was for a certain amount of

acreage. When it was surveyed, they drove big iron stakes in the boundaries of the lot. It seemed bigger than what was expected so coordinates were

taken and once home, he drew it out on Google earth and found out it was more than expected. Not only had the Lord provided the $ for the purchase

of the land, but He TRIPLED the size of the lot!

Thousands of feet of wall have been constructed around the guesthouse compound as well as the next phase, the clinic and

surgical hospital.

Thomazeau is inland. It is hot and still in the center of town where LiveBeyond ministered for the first three years in Haiti. But this valley has a constant breeze,

to refresh and renew.

This breathtaking vista awakens the reality of

Ezekiel 37. May the Lord rattle

the dry bones in this valley,

breathe life into them and

assemble a mighty army to

bring the salvation of

Jesus to Haiti.  

LiveBeyond has been bringing teams to this land for years to pray over it and over the neighbors who live in the surrounding

villages and towns.

A bulldozer was brought from Port-au-Prince to raze the area, to prepare for the building to begin

In January 2013, construction began on the first phase of the LiveBeyond Base, Thomazeau, Haiti.

 

Many foremen were interviewed before settling on Badzou, a very talented builder (Pictured here with Katherine, LiveBeyond International Projects Director). Badzou has proven himself to be not only very capable, but also very teachable, as he's

learned many new techniques. LiveBeyond is blessed to have him.

 

With the bright Haitian foreman chosen, he then hired a hardworking crew of Haitian workers. Since the plans were designed to California Earthquake Standards and the workers had never built this way before, checks and balances were put in

place. The designing structural engineer and other building professionals scheduled trips down to make sure the plans were followed exactly. It was

important for LiveBeyond to hire an all Haitian crew so they would learn new skills and so that money would be pumped back into the Haitian economy.

And the work began...

When the foundations were poured and the slab was in place, excitement grew in the community, knowing LiveBeyond was

there to stay.

 

A team of engineers, builders, and LiveBeyond staff spent a year discussing and planning the guesthouse. It was imperative the house be as safe and

usable as possible. The plans were drawn to California Earthquake Standards. Throughout construction, builders and the structural engineer who drew the plans have gone to the construction site to be sure the plans are followed

strictly and that quality is at the highest level.

Even in the random construction photographs there are reminders of why we are doing this. The constant in all that we do from medical clinics, clean

water projects, maternal health care and community development programs, and even the constructions: BE GLORIFIED, LORD!

Turner Construction, a huge global construction

company, donated hard hats, safety vests,

ear plugs and work gloves to the 100+

workers involved in the LiveBeyond project.

Each piece of rebar is bent by hand.  

Each piece of rebar is bent by

hand.

Concrete is mixed on the ground and relayed up the ladder bucket by bucket to pour the 2nd story slab.

The open-air eating pavilion with attached Kitchen was started in late May 2013, once the guesthouse was in full swing.

This is the central hallway in the 2nd story of the guesthouse, before the walls were all the way up, and the roof constructed.

The June 2013 LiveBeyond team got to visit the unfinished house, marveling at all that had been accomplished.

This is the staircase inside the guesthouse. It will lead from the 1st floor up to the 2nd floor and then up to

the roof…where millions of stars will be waiting.

The guard at the gate welcomes authorized guests into the base.

Rebar has to be carried up ladders to the roof, arranged and tied together all

in the relentless Haitian heat.

Members of the June 2013 team visited the

guesthouse after a long day of clinics. These

beds don't have mattresses, but they

were horizontal surfaces, and that was

enough.

Trent Latta, the structural engineer who drew the plans for the guesthouse, enjoys the view of the valley with Dr. Vanderpool, from the slab over the

septic tank.

LiveBeyond staffer, Corbin Water and structural engineer, Trent Latta survey the work and enjoy the view from the roof of the

dining pavilion.

 

A nice cheery yellow was chosen for the inside halls of the guesthouse. The selection of paint colors in Haiti is limited to 12 colors. There is no mixing. That's it.  

The inside of the dining pavilion is open air to enjoy the breeze

The kitchen is attached to one corner of the eating pavilion. It will one day service the

entire base. All meals for the guesthouse,

orphanage, hospital,

…a closer look into the kitchen

In the midst of all the construction, there is a

garage (or carport) in one corner of the guesthouse compound. This is where the LiveBeyond Maternal Health Care Program is

operated. The permanent clinic and hospital are yet

to be constructed, however the work is too

important to wait.

The LiveBeyond construction team works to finish the inside

Electrical wiring doesn't go behind sheetrock, but is

finished on the outside of the concrete walls.

The floors are finished with a

treatment to the concrete, instead of

putting down expensive tile.

Loubens, one of our faithful Haitian staff who translates for teams, helps out by painting.

The bright colors of the Carribean are among the few colors available in Haiti.

Workers finish the walls on the porch of the guesthouse, which surrounds the house on all 4 sides.

Prepping the roof of the guesthouse for the final pour.

The concrete for the 2nd story roof is made on the ground, relayed bucket by bucket up to the roof

of the Dining Pavilion and then relayed again up to the 2nd story where it can

be poured. The process has to be quick as the

Haitian sun is all the while drying the concrete.

It takes a lot of men to accomplish this!

Each of those buckets of concrete weighs

realistically around 85 lbs...

In late June 2013 the first dinner was served in the Dining Pavilion to LiveBeyond staff, interns, and visiting water engineers who had come to survey the area to discover

ways to help.

The water tank was laboriously maneuvered up to the roof where it will be installed to

provide water to the Guesthouse and Kitchen. A

diesel generator will power the pump to get the water from the well to this holding tank.

The first structure to be erected on the LiveBeyond base was a pavilion. It's located just on the other side of the wall surrounding the Guesthouse compound, within the wall where the hospital will be. This pavilion serves as a site for 1 or 2 of the mobile

clinics that are held monthly by missions teams.

As of July 15, 2013, the guesthouse is almost complete. The only construction yet to be completed are the walls around the roof of the guesthouse and

dining pavilion, so they can be used as meeting space. It still lacks painting and finishing details inside and out.

This picture was taken in December 2011 when the land was surveyed. The Lord had blessed LiveBeyond so completely with commission to build the LiveBeyond base.

You are invited to share in this blessing as we care for the poor & vulnerable together.

http://www.livebeyond.org/call-for-funds.html