New Church Posts

             One of the big projects over a month ago was replacing the 28-year-old wooden posts holding up the church. The church leaned dangerously, and it was only a matter of time before it would collapse. Since it was built six feet off the ground, it would be devastating if the church was full of people when it fell. A big wind or the weight of many people could easily topple the building. It was a danger they could no longer risk. For several weeks, everyone met in the school building for church until the posts were changed out for new ones.

From the picture, you can see the side of the church is no longer level.

Carrying a post to the church after floating it down the river to the station.

               For several days, twenty men went out to the bush to collect the hardwood called “Hyawi”—a heavy and durable hardwood that would last many years. After finding the trees, chopping them down, and cutting them to length, they stripped them of the bark. Then they floated them down the river to the station. Two men would carry one post between them on their shoulders down to the church. We needed over thirty posts. Within a few days all the posts were collected and waiting near the church for work day. 

               With a workshop being taught, it would be a couple weeks before Dale was able to help them with the project. Once that was finished, work began. The first thing was to empty and remove the water tank that supplied the village with water. (The tank was filled by catching rain water on the church’s iron roof). In case the church shifted or fell during the process, we didn’t want the water tank to get ruined.

Removing the water tank.

 Then a giant rope was tied around a nearby coconut tree several times. The other end was tied to the top of the church. Hopefully, that would give it stability as a few posts were removed. 

The holes were dug down at least three feet.

             At the worst and most-leaning corner, they removed one post. On the adjacent side, they worked to remove another post. The work was slow at first to see if the church would shift. After a few hours, several new posts were in. During the first day of work 13 posts had been replaced by twenty hard-working men.

The biggest posts were chosen to begin the project.

               On the second day of work, the men tried to raise one side of the building. Over the years it had sunken several inches. Dale showed them how to use a fulcrum to try to raise that side of the building. After several tries, they got the idea and were successful raising one whole side of the church. 

Using a simple system to lift one side of the church as each post was added.

               After three days of hard work, 36 posts were replaced.  Every one of the original posts were rotten just below ground level. There were about seven posts (installed 3 years previous) that were holding up the entire church! In the process no one was hurt, the church didn’t shift or collapse, and now they have a strong church that we hope will last another 30 years.

              

Now that it's safe, we are meeting in the church again.




(C) 2016 Carin G. LeRoy