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| Children of Bellevue Park Nazarene Church ready to perform the Christmas drama 2018. |
We praise the Lord for the opportunity to serve him in Vanuatu and for the privilege of shepherding a growing number of our neighbors right in our front yard. At the invitation of our neighbor to the east of us, we began worshiping together about a year ago. We met under a tarpaulin that was strung on ropes between several trees. It has held up pretty well for this year, but with cyclone season already here, we knew we needed something a bit sturdier and weather proof. Because of some donations from generous people, we were able to assist financially in the building of this little shelter. The posts and roof support were given by our neighbor across the street. The team that constructed the shelter included Pastors Seul Kalorus and Sandy Shem who were given the responsibility of Church Building Coordinators at our District Assembly in October. John Edward also faithfully assisted, along with our neighborhood children, Isaac, Lino, and Bruno. Here's a few pictures to help you see what they did to build our natangora palm leaf roofed shelter...
The framework took lots of work since the team had to harvest the trees and skin the bark from the logs before they dug holes to cement the posts in place and nailed the branches for the roof support.
These are palm leaf panels that will make up the roof. They are harvested from a palm tree here in Vanuatu that is called the natangora, also called a sago palm. You can click here to watch a video of the making of the panels. The narrator is speaking Bislama and his local language.
The first natangora panels are being nailed on. The tarp can be seen to the right of the shelter.
John and Isaac are on the roof and Pastor Seul is handing the palm panels up to be nailed.
It looks like the church is on fire! Part of the process of helping the roof to be waterproof and longlasting is to have a fire underneath with the smoke and heat rising.
It's all ready!
We met under the tarp before we moved to our new church shelter to dedicate the building to God.
Ready to pray the dedication prayer and cut the ribbon.
Our first service in our new building!
The children hanging flower leis on our honored guests who helped to build the church.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
Psalm 96:1-3
