Rarongo Theological College Work Party

Work party volunteers from the Uniting Church in Australia will work alongside local people at Rarongo Theological College in New Britain, PNG, in July/August 2005. Three congregations (one from Brisbane, one from Sydney, one from Adelaide) will each go for 2 weeks, as well as other volunteers during the 7 weeks. Urgent needs include the water supply and quality, electricity supply and building maintenance and repairs. The volunteers will work on the following projects: Minor repairs to the Chapel; Construction of a new 260m2 single men’s dormitory; Refit of an existing 2 storey dormitory for single women, a staff bedsit and student common room; Refit of an existing dormitory for use as a teaching block for Home Science Sewing & Women’s Health plus a unit for guest lecturers; Upgrading of the water supply including tanks, mains and building connections. In addition, the Rarongo Local Committee will refit one of the dormitory blocks, another local group will refit the learning block which has suffered extensive termite damage, and village workers will undertake the demolition of the dilapidated buildings to salvage the materials for marketing.

John C, a retired architect who is overseeing the work party project reflects on his visit to Rarongo in February: “We went to listen and discern the needs of the Rarongo community. They have an absolute unshakable faith that God is blessing the project, and our immediate reaction was of being humbled and challenged to understand the real needs of the college and the will of God for the future. The people in the community of Rarongo made us feel so welcome and were an inspiration to us as they fed us, socialised with us, and witnessed their faith to us and fuelled our desire to do the best we can in partnership to refurbish Rarongo’.

Expressions of interest to sandy@sa.uca.org.au