A November to Remember

 It’s hard to believe that here we are on our final project of the year. As often happens at this time of the year there is more events and things to be done and it seems that each day starts to move faster.

A West Coast Sunset

The first half of November was spent continuing the project on Greymouth Baptist Church. With most of the internal work (building of new storage rooms) done it was time to turn more attention to the very weathered manse. We were blessed with remarkably good weather over the two and a half weeks of work, making the weather dependent work possible to continue every day. 

Volunteers working on the manse

As previously mentioned, the work was not straight forward, and as weather boards where sanded and scraped back many borer riddled or rotten boards needed to be removed and replaced- sometimes revealing further water damage in the inside of the building that needed to be addressed. The builders on the site had no lack of work and other volunteers spent countless hours scraping and sanding before any paint could be put on. Due to the condition of the building it became clear that even with our wonderful volunteers from MMM and the church that we wouldn’t get to a full two top coats of paint on all the building, and the main aim was to complete all building work/repairs. We were very pleased to have several members of the church join us, and with their help we got further that we thought possible, with all repairs done and most of the building primed and  at least one layer of top coat. 

A before and after of one side of the manse post repairs and some paint

The kids also were able to get involved painting the picket fence out front with some help from my parents who visited for a few days. It looked like a scene from The adventures of Tom Sawyer!

The kids all getting involved in painting the fence

With the fantastic weather on the coast we also had plenty of opportunities to explore. We enjoyed a bush walk around Woods creek, an old mining area complete with tunnels and glow worms, the Moore family organised a Guy Fawkes bonfire and fireworks on the beach with fire grilled banana splits and there was plenty more beach trips and fossicking for greenstone. 

Exploring Wood's creek track and tunnels

Bonfire on the beach

Fun with sparklers

The weekend before we left Chris traveled to Twizel to do his annual disc golf tournament with his brother, and do an in-advance site visit for the next and last project. He had a great weekend catching up with his brother and getting to play lots of disc golf in some stunning Mackenzie country weather. I took the opportunity to take the kids to Shanty Town. They loved exploring the old style town, riding the train and getting to pan for gold! We also got to walk the stunning Point Elizabeth track. 

Chris about to throw at the disc golf tournament 

The kids having a go at gold panning and Hudson getting himself into trouble at Shantytown

The kids enjoyed riding the train at Shantytown

We enjoyed the subtropical bush on the Point Elizabeth Walkway 

Before long it was time to say goodbye to the pastor and team at Greymouth Baptist Church, and take the trip east, over the Arthur's Pass, stopping by in Lincoln to visit Chris’ parent for a couple of days before arriving in Timaru.

The Greymouth Baptist team outside the completed storage rooms

Our final project for the year is a bit different, and not something that Chris has ever done before. The project is to convert two forty foot containers into an office space for the Gloriavale Leavers Trust.  Gloriavale, from the outside looks like a quiet quaint removed religious community on the West Coast. But as people have left the community it is becoming more apparent how it is a place of fear, coercion and control, devoid of the grace and freedom that comes through Jesus Christ. The leavers trust is there to help people who are leaving, people who have no possessions, no home, only the clothes on their back, getting them places to live, furniture, clothes and jobs. They also teach them how the world works, even simple things about social etiquette which is foreign to the people who have spent their whole lives cut off from the outside world. There is a great need for counselling and, in some cases, offer of legal support for those who want abusers to be held accountable. (For those interested in finding out more about the Gloriavale Leavers Trust you can visit https://www.gloriavaleleavers.org.nz or, if you want to know more about some of the issues in Gloriavale the documentary Gloriavale is available to stream for free on Three Now).

 Working on the containers, with the requirement for steelwork and welding, is not something Chris is familiar with but fortunately we have had some wonderful skilled volunteers to take on that aspect, leaving Chris to manage the rest of the build. 

The containers in place ready to be converted

Master engineer on the job to create openings of windows and doors

The two weeks we have had here so far have been filled with lots of hard work along with a lot of fun, laughter and fellowship. The number of volunteers doing at different times has been amazing- church connections, friends of friends, known MMM volunteers, all coming together and putting their different skills to use for the Gloriavale leavers trust. It has also been a chance for us to see some more familiar faces with people we know from Dunedin also putting up their hands to volunteer. 

The project has also had great backing from the community with most of the material donated or given at heavily discounted rates. This project could have taken a very long time but in 2 weeks the engineers have completed the cutting and welding of the containers to join them and get them ready for external joinery, deck post holes have been dug and the roof is on!

Anchor piles ready for the concrete pour

Some of our fabulous MMM volunteers

Team members working to get the roof on

We have felt so blessed so far on this final job. Our amazing hosts Liz and Graham have opened up their home to us all, and with the great weather, massive flat section, great fellowship, pool and spa on site we have barely left to explore the surrounding area. It is a great way to end the year and we are looking forward to seeing the progress over the next couple of weeks. 

The amazing set up at the Gregory's

We have got to experience some beautiful light displays over the surrounding landscape

Praise points:

• For such a successful start to a complex project

• Our kids are doing well with homeschooling and enjoying our last project placement!

Prayer points:

• For us to finish the year strong together as a family

• For wisdom as we get our plans in place to head back home to Dunedin and start school and work again.