Tasmanian Volunteers Build Classrooms and Support Evangelism

A team of eight volunteers from Tasmania, Australia, traveled to Madang, Papua New Guinea, in June to help construct new classrooms and support a 10-night evangelistic program, resulting in baptisms and additional decisions for baptism.

Hosted by local church members, the volunteers were welcomed by more than 50 Pathfinders in uniform, marching and saluting as the visitors walked a red carpet. “The Pathfinders had been so excited that some had stayed up all night before greeting the team,” said Sarah Blockley, a participant and Launceston church member.

The new joint classroom and office block that the team worked on will replace an aging structure. “The existing school building was eye-opening to behold,” said Blockley. “It was little more than a shed with a gravel floor, small classrooms with two classes being taught at once, with two teachers in each and blackboards that had been eaten away by white ants. It was easy to see how much this new school building was needed.”

The volunteers worked alongside locals to haul and stack timber, erect framework, and install roof trusses. Despite regular daily power outages in Madang, the building team experienced none during the project, “which meant we were able to continue to use our power saws, without which it would have been much more difficult to install the trusses,” explained Blockley.

While some volunteers had specific building skills, others assisted in the kitchen or spent time with students, teaching simple arts and crafts and Christian songs.

In the evenings the group conducted an evangelistic series. The meetings drew large crowds, with attendees braving rain to participate.

On their final Sabbath the team witnessed 44 baptisms at a local beach, followed by a combined worship service attended by an estimated 1,000 people. “It was certainly a sight to behold, with David Cherry leading us all through a rousing sermon about stepping out in faith,” Blockley said.

Reflecting on the experience, she added, “Though the people had so little compared with the bounty we have in Australia, they were so happy! They give themselves to everything they do, whether it be singing with their all in church or giving from their meager supplies to make us feel special and appreciated. It was a truly humbling experience!”

The Tasmanian Conference partners with the Madang Manus Mission as part of a sister-conference arrangement. Blockley urged others to consider volunteering: “Some of us had no building experience at all, and yet, if we step out in faith, God will guide us and help us to do the rest.”

The new building is expected to be completed by local builders using the materials and funding provided by the volunteer team.

The original version of this story was posted on Adventist Record.