Chapter 5 - Page 42 - Building A Village

   Jim met with Jackie to pay for the land and transfer the deed. It didn’t take much time to finalize the transaction. The next item on Jim’s agenda was to hire a company to drill a water well. A second company would set up a pump and build a water tank. He also hired a company to set up a small but permanent electric generator system.

   Jim visited the Davis Construction Company of Africa and hired them to pave all the roads around the hospital he planned to build. They also agreed to widen and pave the narrow road that ran to the main road. He contracted the Buju Excavation and Construction Company to build permanent public rest rooms and showers and to clear all the undergrowth from under and around the trees. They would also start the foundations for the hospital and dining hall. Once the hospital and dining hall were completed, Buju agreed to build thirty small houses and later, a church, swimming pool, and the park. Work would commence in three weeks, when workers had been hired and the necessary equipment and building materials had been delivered to the job site.

   By Friday, Jim was happy with the way things were going. Some of the work would begin on Monday, he’d been told. But when he arrived at six-thirty Saturday morning, he found workers all over the place, and saw six jeeps and trailers loaded with workers, driving toward the wooded area to begin clearing the undergrowth from under the trees. Wanting to impress Jim, Bujugy of Buju Construction had hired anyone who had a strong back and was willing to work, instead of waiting three weeks.

   Jim instructed his guide to pull off the road and park so he could watch all the activity. Fishman did as he was asked.