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March 27,
2003
Today we turn the spotlight on another of
Canvasback's important outreaches--building young missionaries.
Right now, Canvasback Youth Committee member Ron Torkelsen
is leading a team of 35 students and their adult sponsors to the
island of Yap to construct an
administration building for the
Seventh-day Adventist School.
The mission is a joint
partnership between Canvasback Missions, an independent Christian
mission, and the Pleasant Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church in
Pleasant Hill, CA, of which Torkelsen is the associate pastor.
Begun 3-1/2 years ago, the
foundation for the building was laid, plumbed and wired . . . and it has sat
unfinished ever since. The team's task will be to lay the cement
block on the first floor and fill in the walls. Currently, the
school is using two small rooms to run a school of 200
children.
Constructing the building is not the
ultimate reason for the trip, says Torkelsen.
"We're not building a building; we're building kids," he says.
"It's a means to an end. You take kids from an affluent society
and show them the stark reality that life is not the way they
experience it. We want them to recognize they can make a
difference if they put themselves to the task."
In November, 2002,
Torkelsen took a fact-finding
trip to Yap and was amazed by the different culture he found
there as well as the difficult circumstances under which the
people live. He wanted his young missionaries to experience it
too. For example, he said the average family makes $50 a week, yet the
cost of goods is expensive. "A stick of chalk costs $1 and a
ream of paper costs $10," he said. "They do without a lot of
things, yet they are happy." Plus, he
added, the people are
spiritually open and excited about ministry, so the benefits of
the mission will be felt by both giver and receiver.
"I truly believe that God has blessed us
because he needs us to help other people in the world."
Daily reports from Pastor
Torkelsen on the mission, which ran March 17-27, included the
following highlights:
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Day 3
"I will
never underestimate quality cinder block again." This
was stated by a veteran
missionary named Mr. Van. Assisting
in the laying of block was complicated because of
variable sizes, hardness, and weight.
Frustration was the
name of the game for many. That being said, much was
accomplished. The walls are rising and the skill of
the workers is improving. |
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Day 5
Another
good day! We love this place and the people, but the
bugs and the humidity are no longer welcome.
We are at the halfway mark!
Comments float from person to person about not wanting
to go home. I do not believe this has to do with the
families awaiting our arrival but rather the
experiences we create each day. Spirits are high and
the work is progressing well.
We
find windows being installed today as well as a door
or two. We are now beginning to work on makeshift
scaffolding since the walls are up several courses.
Teams of block layers work on all sides of the
building and the youth are doing a great job. |
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Day 6
Another
day and another new experience. Water is the operative
word for this day. Lots of water in the form of rain,
rain, and hard rain. Even still the work goes on.
But then surprise!
No more lime for the cement. Without the lime the
mortar becomes very stiff and hard to manage. Progress
slows down and who knows if we can finish. Then came
an idea from Henry. Experience truly
is the best teacher and Henry has experience. Instead
of lime we substituted "dish soap". Yup, dish soap.
After the bubbles the mortar smoothed out and the job
kept up the pace. The only thing different is that the
project site smelled so clean.
Another opportunity presented
itself today. Several of our crew were able to help
teach the children in the lower grade classes. Songs
were sung for all to hear. Meena taught math to 3rd
graders while Kara and Andy tutored
5th graders. Thursday will be another opportunity to
interact with students and learn from them as well as
share from us. |
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Day 7
This
evening brought the realization that we have one more
day on the island. Yap has been home for more than a
week and we have come to enjoy the people and their
gracious customs. We still hate the bugs and humidity
but the people are wonderful. Tomorrow will provide
the final experience of the trip. God has blessed us.
Hopefully we have been a blessing as well. These kids
are genuine and a testimony to God's goodness.
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Day 8
Would we do it again? Absolutely! Do
we want to come to Yap again? Without a doubt. We made
friends and we made a difference. And we came to the
conclusion that missions are
not just where you go, but who you are! We
ARE missions. Regardless
where we go we will be missionaries and love the
experience. |
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