Digging Moats and Building Dreams: Brandy and Rachel's Unexpected Home Delay

 If you’ve ever built a home, you know the road to completion is often filled with bumps, delays, and unexpected surprises. But when Brandy and Rachel set out to build their new home, they probably didn’t anticipate one particular twist — the need to dig a moat! Yes, a moat — the kind that usually surrounds fairy tale castles. So, let’s start this story the way all good fairy tales begin. Once upon a time…

Early on, construction was moving along smoothly until a water leak was discovered in the basement. Now, as nice as an indoor swimming pool sounds, Brandy and Rachel weren’t quite ready to make that design leap. Initially, the water was blamed on the lack of a completed roof. But when the roof was done and the basement continued to fill, it became clear that something bigger was at play.

Enter the builder, who suggested they dig a trench. (But come on, let’s keep calling it a moat — it adds a little magic to the story!) This mighty moat ended up being about 8-10 feet deep in some spots and about two feet wide. But digging wasn’t easy. The house is being built on top of a limestone foundation covered with only a few inches of topsoil. And while limestone might not be as tough as granite, it’s certainly no walk in the park to dig through.

Thankfully, Sowers4Pastors has a jackhammer handy, normally reserved for bridge projects. For weeks, the jackhammer worked overtime, chipping away at the limestone. The water had been seeping through the stone, getting stuck in cracks, and pooling in the basement. After the moat was dug, French drains were installed, and work had to be paused to let the basement dry out.

Dry basement!

Now that the water’s been dealt with, construction is back on track. But there’s still work to be done. The house still needs electrical wiring, doors, windows, countertops in the kitchen, and finishing touches on the tilework. Most of the plumbing is complete, but they’re still working on connecting the house to the solar energy system that powers the other two homes on the property.

Update: a friend of the ministry from Maryland is coming the first week of December, to complete the electrical work! Thanks so much, Andrew! 

Rachel is optimistically hoping they can be in the new house by Christmas, but she’s realistic about potential delays. After all, they hadn’t factored in moat-digging! Still, they’re eager to move in before the next dry season hits, bringing with it the sweltering heat of Gracias. The new home promises to be much cooler than their current rental, which is feeling a little cramped now that their family has grown by 50% since moving in!

Of course, a bigger house means they’ll need more furnishings to make it feel like home. If you’re looking for a way to help, consider contributing to this cause. Everyone’s excited to be settled into the new space, even if the moat won’t be part of the final design. And let’s not forget Nana and Gampa, who are thrilled at the idea of having four grandchildren living on the property!

 - posted by Christi