Our house is rising above ground zero

Today marks our fifth day in Banda Aceh, and our fourth day of work in Tibang Village. We continued to cut more steel bars, bent even more steel rings, and tied them all together. The work was getting monotonous, but all of us were beginning to get increasingly proficient at it. :)

Meanwhile, the local skilled workers and the home-owner of land plot #118 began to saw pieces of kayu (wood) and then carefully placed around the foudation of the new house. Our reinforcement bars, complete with steel rings, were then placed between adjacent pieces of wood.

Once the wooden planks and steel reinforcements were in place, we were instructed to make a fresh cement mixture. This time, the ratio was to be 3 wheelbarrows of sand : 2 wheelbarrows of gravel and stones : 1 pack of cement. And this time, we were told to make the mixture really, really wet. It became clear to us later on why it had to be really, really wet - of almost 'diahorrea' consistency, as one team member jokingly commented. The reason was this: we needed to ensure that the cement mixture flowed fluidly into the mould (formed by the wooden planks) so that as few air bubbles as possible were formed or were trapped inside. If any such bubbles were left behind, they could become moisture traps, and when moisture accumulates in these voids, it could cause the steel reinforcements to corrode and thereby compromising on the structural integrity of the building.

Some of the local skilled workers fixing the steel rings to the steel bars

Home-owner of land plot #118 sawing wooden planks

The wood serves as a mould for the cement.

The cement had already been poured into the mould, covering the reinforcements.

An unexpected visit

In the afternoon, Team Pembantuan was pleasantly surprised by the visit of the National Director for Habitat for Humanity Indonesia to the worksite. He extended his warmest welcome to the team, and also chipped in his share in the reconstruction process.

Hosea, the National Coordinator for HFHSg, passing a bucket of cement to the National Director of HFHI

The village boys also wanted to play their part. From L to R: Fahkrurazi, Burhan, Mohd Salleh, Suphan and Khairllah

At the end of another work day

This evening, after we were done with our work, Thay and Aan arranged to have us visit one of the oldest mosques in Banda Aceh. It is a splendid work of architecture! And for dinner, Team Pembantuan decided to give Aan and our driver, Ammar, a treat at the one and only KFC in Banda Aceh. We ordered nasi (rice), spaghetti, perkedels, french fries, original and crispy chicken, soup, pudding and ice-cream. Everyone was in high spirits, and feeling really good about the bonds that we have formed with one another and with the local villagefolk.

This magnificent mosque is one of the oldest in Banda Aceh.

From L to R: Ammar, Hosea, Hiew, Alvin, Adele, Wai Yan, Aan and Lark