Today marked a milestone for the Traylor Construction Group team in Butare—the official completion of the Butare Suspension Bridge. With clear skies at last and spirits high, we embraced every moment of this meaningful day.
We started with a late breakfast of avocado sandwiches and omelets, then headed to site. For the first time in days, the sun greeted us instead of rain. Work picked up quickly, with Abby, Rick, Justin, and Ashley focusing on finishing the final sections of fencing. Meanwhile, Crispin, Caleb, Justin, and several locals added a fresh coat of blue paint to the piers on the adjustable side of the bridge—giving it a bright, polished look.
Before lunch, the TCG team took time to bond with the local crew, teaching them how to play limbo and horseshoes. Laughter and friendly competition gave way to a celebratory barbecue, where we shared a feast of rice, potatoes, plantains, goat, slaw, pineapple, and watermelon with the community.
In the afternoon, we put the completed bridge to use for the first time, walking across it to visit Group Scolaire Muhembe, a local school in Butare. There, we introduced ourselves and shared a bit about Traylor Construction Group and the roles each of us plays on the team. The students greeted us with a wonderful dance performance and gifted each of us a piece of art they had created—a touching and unexpected gesture.
We were also proud to introduce the school to basketball, a gift made possible by the Musgrave Family, who donated basketballs through Escalade Sports. We had a custom backboard fabricated in Butare and were thrilled to present it to the school alongside the basketballs.
To wrap up the visit, we brought the project banner to show the students what the bridge looks like and invited them to leave their mark on it using ink pads generously donated by Brad Saunders from Sterling Industrial.
Back at our accommodations, we ended the day with a meal of rice, potatoes, cassava ugali, and pea and carrot stew. After dinner, the evening turned playful as Patrick amazed our Bridges to Prosperity hosts with magic card tricks, while Justin stunned everyone with a levitation illusion. The day wasn’t just a day of finishing a bridge—it was a day of celebrating the people who helped build it, connecting with the next generation, and making lasting memories. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to close out our final build day in Butare.
