Running saga of accommodation …
After seeing a house the demarcheur (agent) showed me behind and west of the mission since I got so hopeful: it was an ideal location, had a screened porch, a storeroom and the right number of bedrooms, and as an older house that had been fixed up just looked like it would be cheaper than all the others we had seen (eg. Kitchen obviously previously an outbuilding awkwardly joined by a wall, older style, old aircon). Unfortunately it ended up being WAY more expensive than the agent had suggested - the owner was adamant that he wanted at least 225.000cfa in negotiations with SIM personnel (250% of the SIM rent allowance) and would leave it empty until receiving that amount.
I got so busy preparing for the end of term tests for the bible school and the week-long seminar I was giving at the Institut Missiologique I couldn’t do any more walking or contacting others.
Next I heard that there was the possibility of a “fixer-upper” offered to the mission for a reasonable rent - as long as we finished the construction. After looking at the house, the location is good but that’s about it at the moment. It needs everything except walls and ceiling, since that’s all there is. The present metal louver windows are rusted and won’t shut so would need replacing; there’s no plumbing, plumbing fixtures, septic tank or water connection; rusted out electric wires and no electric fixtures or connection; compound walls too low and in one case really leaning well over …. They’re getting quotes on how many years’ advance rent would be needed to get it up to livable standards and my heart sank at the thought of another situation like last term in Agla living for months in the guest house having to check up on workmen, since I’ve already heard several stories about the quality of work done by the usual building and been strongly warned. But if I have no other choice?
… the saga continues…
