The last two days have been filled with technical work. Oliver and Boaz have been working on building a frame to mount the four solar panels on the roof. We have them temporarily positioned and completely wired into the charge controllers and bank of batteries, but securing them to the roof so they will not blow away in a tropical storm (daily) is a project. The first step is to build a frame that will attach to the roof. For that you need wood. So four Folopa guys went into the forest, cut down four trees at least 12 feet tall, stripped the bark, cut them to 12 feet, and carried them up and/or down the mountain back to town. We manhandled them up onto the roof and laid them in approximate position. Now, how to attach them? Each timber is approximately 5 inches thick. Nails simply won’t reach through them into the roof structure, so we are securing them with stiff wire wrapped over the timbers, pushed through the roofing, and then wrapped around the rafters. You can begin to imagine the challenge. Then add a scorching hot tropical sun, occasional torrential downpours, and a host of other interruptions and you get a sense of the slow progress we’re making.

Neil serves as the project foreman, tool and parts supplier (from his amazing workshop in the attic), technical consultant on existing wiring and plumbing systems, and cook. Yesterday, in the midst of everything, he baked fresh bread from scratch. We also polished off leftovers of chicken noodle soup, baked pumpkin and yams, and a couple kilos of spaghetti with meat sauce. In between, we had several cups of tea and more WOPA biscuits.

Heath and I spent the day on two projects. First, we removed a 240 volt water pump that no longer works because the 240 volt generator isn’t working, and the pump has been sitting so long it won’t turn anyway. I brought a small 12 volt water pump as a replacement. The pump is used to move water from the network of nine 55-gallon drums that collect rainwater from the roof and gutters up to another 55-gallon drum reservoir on the roof which provides water to the kitchen and bathroom. Disconnecting the old water pump from its electricity and plumbing cleared the way to install the new pump. But of course the new pump requires different plumbing attachments and different wiring and switches to link it to the 12 volt batteries that power the home electrical. If I had done this job at home it would have required at least four trips to the Home Depot. Since that isn’t an option here, we simply rummaged through Neil’s amazing collection of spare plumbing parts and found enough pieces to make it work. After initial testing of the new water pump installation, we determined that there are a few more kinks to work out of the system, but we should resolve those today.

This whole exercise gives new meaning to the phrase, “We have done so much for so long with so little, we are now able to do anything with nothing.”

After tea and WOPA biscuits with the guys, Heath and I then turned to more electrical work. One half of the solar power and battery system is set up to serve Neil’s house; the other half is set up to serve the Training Center building next door where the Bible translation team normally works. It happens that the house batteries and charge controllers are on the opposite side of the house from the Training Center batteries and controller. In order to assure that all the batteries get the benefit from all the solar panels, we wired a connection and switch to link the two sides of the system.

It is hard to believe that we’ve been here just four days. The days start early and are filled with planned activities and unplanned opportunities. Working with Neil and Heath has been another great bonding experience for the three of us. The mix of physical and spiritual work while we’ve been here has been energizing. The hospitality of the Folopa is overwhelming. Multiple times daily they drop off pumpkin and yams to be sure we are well fed. The bugs have been minimal. No mosquito bites for any of us. Temperatures have overall been quite cool, with occasional brief scorching sun doused by tropical rains. The local kids are entertained by our smiles and stumbling Folopa words and phrases.

Tomorrow will be Sunday worship here. Neil will be preaching in Folopa. I’m looking forward to sitting on rough benches wobbling on a dirt floor and singing unfamiliar words and harmonies with people who will one day be standing side by side with you and me before God’s throne, worshipping Him.

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