For volunteers maintaining homes in remote parts of Australia, access is as vital as the tools and materials themselves, and aviation is often the most effective way of getting to work.
In a recent Pioneers house renovation project across Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala and Elcho Island in Arnhem Land, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) played a key role in flight logistics to support those called to serve the local church.
“MAF was brilliant,” said Paul Sullivan, a 70-year-old retired agricultural scientist from Tamworth, New South Wales. “They arranged to take all the floating floor and tools out on any of the flights out there that weren’t full with their luggage load.”
Paul and Sydney builder Neil Boot embarked on a six-week journey by road for a 60-hour drive in Neil’s 12.5 tonne truck, loaded down with building materials and an off-road caravan.
Arriving in Nhulunbuy, the pair focused their efforts on practical needs: replacing floors, building fences, constructing bathrooms, and offering encouragement to Pioneers staff devoted to building the church in Arnhem Land.
For Pioneers mission workers like Prabhu Pothula and his family at Dharrawar, Elcho Island, life can be rugged and isolated.
Before the building project, their kitchen was a verandah, and bathroom facilities were accessed by a walk through the bush.
Building materials are expensive and in limited supply on Elcho Island, but when resources ran low, bush ingenuity came to the fore.
Paul said, “We went to the local tip, and there were lots of pieces from demolished houses. We made the bathroom frame and the roof out of most of that.”
The challenge of delivering other materials from the mainland town of Nhulunbuy to such an isolated location was solved with MAF’s help.
“They organised to send all the building equipment out, all the flooring and a lot of our tools. Some flooring had to be cut to length to fit the GA8 Airvan,” said Paul.
Reflecting on their achievement, Paul said, “If we can encourage them and help them to do their work and make it easier and more liveable, we can just glorify God and encourage one another, just build each other up in Christ. So, what Pioneers and MAF are doing up there is, to me, absolutely brilliant. I take my hat off to them. They're working under tough conditions.”
So, what Pioneers and MAF are doing up there is, to me, absolutely brilliant.
MAF pilot and Pioneers worker Jaco Loenen said, “In a remote place like this, skilled labour is very expensive and hard to come by, and volunteers who come to offer their time, skills and expertise make all the difference. They make it possible to do building and repair work that would otherwise be unaffordable.”
“But it’s not only that,” Jaco added. “The friendship and fellowship they offer reminds us that we are part of a much bigger Christian family and we don’t venture here on our own.
“In return, we hope our visitors and volunteers can be encouraged to see the work the Lord is doing. We hope and pray it can truly be a win-win situation in that way.”
With another volunteer trip already in his plans, Paul’s first flight with MAF will not be his last, and MAF continues to be a vital partner in sharing hope and building the church in the hardest-to-reach places.
