Causerie Called “Cotacachi” – Part 15

Building in Ecuador is unique. Steel rods are used throughout the structure. Every piece of steel is cut on site, and the steel columns assembled. I have never seen such hard-working and industrious people in my life. You almost get the feeling that you are the Egyptian and the slightly built men are the Hebrews, as seen in the Scriptures.

The water table is very high in certain areas of Cotacachi. In this particular instance some of the concrete and steel columns required 3 meter cubed foundations. That is almost the size of a small room. Everything is done by hand. This is what I call hard labor!

Once the handmade steel columns are in place, the builders then lay stones, carefully fitting each one in place and ensuring that they are level. This is covered with a thick layer of concrete.

Where necessary wheelbarrows containing concrete are lifted and poured into place. Can you imagine the strength that these people must have? They never stand idle and work at a dizzy pace the whole day, except for their tea and lunch breaks.

Kitchen worktops could support an elephant.

Concrete mixers are hired, and the race begins. It is especially tedious when concrete has to be hoisted up to the second and third levels.

Timing is important and everyone has his work to do. The dust literally flies.

Concrete is brought to the top bucket by bucket. Manmade structures to accommodate the hoisting up of the concrete are firmly in place. Bamboo is used extensively during the building operations, as well as “pingos” – wooden poles.

Everyone knows exactly what he is supposed to do. Everyone runs from morning and until the job is done.

All structures around the steel column are made with wood, concrete poured and a vibrator used to disperse the concrete evenly.

Floor slabs consist of steel columns in rows. Concrete blocks are put in position and concrete, bucket by bucket is poured onto the entire area. Here the workers are plastering the concrete ceiling. You can just imagine the amount of work and energy required for this part of the construction. This is one of the messiest jobs imaginable as plaster is thrown onto the ceiling and then smoothed.

In no time at all the walls are plastered and this builder can be see using a hard broom to give the wall a texture. They are meticulous with their work.

I never cease to wonder how these slightly built, young people can work at such a pace and laboring to the extreme.

Most building do not have back yards or gardens and are built right onto the border line in front. The only place to have your building material on hand is in the street. This is done routinely, and a small monthly fee is payable to the municipality for the use of the public road.

I am reminded of a “heavenly” building. We read about it in I Corinthians 3:11-15. Jesus is described as the Foundation. Each Christian will be required to build a “wall”, representing the work that we do for God. God will one day test our work that we have done for Him. Paul describes the quality of our works. Did we build with wood, hay and stubble? – in which case when God sets fire to our wall, it will burn up with nothing left. Or our work, to God, may be as gold, silver and precious stones, the only kind of work that will be acceptable to God. Let us labor for our Master with vigor, determination, endurance and commitment, as depicted by our dedicated Ecuadorean workers.