April 2012
Dear Friends, Brethren and Family
Kathy left me (for a season)
Kathy's mother, Bonnie Haynes, turned 85 March 20th and the other four kids
wanted Kathy to be there for this birthday (even though I am firmly convinced
Bonnie will outlive all of us) so she left here March 20th. We did not have
the funds for her to come back here before our speaking engagement at Pepperdine
University May 1st so she has been there in Joplin MO. She will fly out May
1st and I will meet here at the LAX airport and we will go together to Pepperdine.
This is the longest we have been apart since we got married and it
will never happen again. When your best friend and mate is not with
you - it can get very lonely. We talk through Yahoo Messenger every morning
at 6:00am my time and we have Skyped a couple of times but being close is touching
and hugging.
Building Progress
We thought this would be a good time for me to be focused on building the house
so we would have a place to come back to but the sawmill which was to cut the
wood did not get out to the wood when they said they would and then we have
had low pressure after low pressure coming through which resulted in us having
over 28 inches of rain the last thirty days with lots of thunder and lightning.
Fifteen inches of that rain fell in the second week of April which caused major
flooding. We finally got our first load of wood on April 6th then there was
flooding on the farm so trucks could not get in to haul the wood out.
April 6th
April 11th
By April 11th I was out of wood so was back in a waiting game. It took a couple of days but Steve went in with his truck and a trailer and brought out some wood for the rafters. We had five rafters put together and in place by April 18th.
April 18th
around the corner green hardwood?
Steve hauled some rafter wood out that afternoon and we got the rest of the rafters build and up the next day, April 19th. (Keep in mind when I say "we" I mean usually three, Sul and Tal and me [some days just Tal and me] and when I say wood - I mean wet, green, sap-dripping wood - some of it we could go around corners with.)
Last Friday April 20th the container people were suppose to shift our two loaded containers out to the village. However they never showed up and I hope to get them shifted this week. We were also waiting for more wood to make the cross beams before we put the roofing iron down. So Friday was a town-day (it was raining) and I was able to get some things done that needed to be done. I paid bills and I was able to pick up our renewed visas for another year. Steve, bless his heart, went in on the flooded road and brought out a full load of wood which should see us get the house enclosed. It was the last load for the trailer, ever!
El trailer, now retired!
Yesterday, Saturday April 21st, we got all the support beams for the roofing done on one side and tried to put the foil down before we put the roofing iron on - not going to happen in the wind. There were squalls of winds coming through but never calm enough to get the foil down. Unfortunately I was not a happy camper over that. It tore it from the other guys after we had stapled one strip down and here I am 20 feet in the air - on a ladder with reflector foil wrapped all around my head - quit laughing it was not that funny!
After I calmed down and got unwrapped we were able to go ahead and get the beams up on the other side, bracing in the roof, cyclone straps put on all but about 10 points. (ran out of strapping).
We had a wind and rain squall come through about 3:00 pm which had us scurrying to get tarps over all the tools and stuff. After it passed we then we put up the last beam.
So the roof is ready for the foil and the roofing iron which I hope to get up Monday if the winds have calmed down. (As I write this Sunday evening the thunder and lightening is creating quite a scene outside. No rain yet but it is coming. Just hope it clears like the weather map shows for tomorrow.)
I will have to go to the hardware store and get more cyclone straps, the cement board for the exterior as well as primer for the windows before I pick up the truck and Abu Morris Monday.
Mostly I have been using the bike to go out and work (since the small car broke down). Some days I am able to borrow Steve's truck and Morris will go out with me and supervise.
Morris with Atel
My hope (by the end of this week) is we can get the roof on, the exterior cladding on, the louver windows installed, the doors installed and electrical wiring in place (maybe the interior walling and ceiling). It is open space plan with only one wall section walling off the toilet and bathroom area. The fewer the walls the cooler it will be here in the tropics. At least it will be secure and we can leave some stuff in there while we are gone. We will have to do a lot after we get back to make it liveable but the Eton brethren are going to pour a slab for the verandah, dig the septic system and get water pipes to the house from Morris' pipes across the road (until we can dig our own well).
Vehicle Problems
The car we were able to buy with the funds provided in February was not such
a good buy after all. In Vanuatu they do not have many automatic transmissions
and the company that brought this car in initially does not have a mechanic
who can rebuild automatic transmissions. They have to send them off on ships
to Australia or New Zealand to get rebuilt.
I wrote the missionary I bought it from and he basically said, "you bought it - it belongs to you." I have heard from some of the brethren that he had trouble with the car but when it was sold to us we were told "it was in great condition." So I guess it is my $5,000 loss. I knew there were some things wrong with it, not working (speedo, A/C, fuel gauge) and was prepared to accept that.
I bought the car for transportation for Kathy and for Morris to travel to the village without having to wait for someone to transport him all the time. He drove it once up and down by the village. Since it is automatic he can do so with one leg. We were going to let him use it while we are back there raising funds and reporting.
Since Kathy returned to the States I have been using my tri-cycle . However since we bought the car in February we only used it 6 or 7 times to go out to Eton (20 miles). The last trip was April 1st when the transmission would not engage right after I got back from Eton on Sunday afternoon. I had to have it towed to a repair shop where they have finally pulled the transmission and have said it looks like we will have to get a reconditioned one or second hand one from overseas (no spare parts here). At this point I do not know the cost. I have been back several times and it looks like if they can find a replacement transmission in New Zealand it could be August or September before it can be fixed.
Travels on the bike
On one trip one of the exhaust bolts fell out and on another trip the nut loosened
on the other bolt (but did not fall off this time) and the exhaust was sounding
pretty wicked by the time I drove to the house in Port Vila both times. I replaced
the one and tightened the other back up again! I now carry extra bolts! (along
with the extra tubes, tyre changing tools and air tank) Since I put on the new
front tyre the new front tube I have not had any additional punctures on that
tyre. Thank the Lord!
It has rained many times going to Eton and coming back. Some days when it is raining here in town it does not rain out at the village (32 km/19 miles away) but I have to have the rain gear on to get there. Some days no rain at the village but heavy rain on the way back to town. I have a full face helmet but need a wiper on it. One day, coming back after working all day, it was raining so hard I could hardly see the road ahead but some pick-up truck came flying by me doing at least 80 mph, the speed limit is 50 mph. Idiot - without his lights! That was the same day when I got home I found out one of the pockets in my rain jacket had been open and I had a full pocket of water. (Thank goodness my iphone was not in that pocket - I listen to music going back and forth to Eton!)
This past Saturday the wind was a gale going out on the bike. The only thing that saved me from getting flipped off the road at one point was I had 28 pieces of roofing iron and 25 kg of flour for Tal (to bake village bread) in the back. I figure the wind was blowing 25-35 mph with gusts up to 50 or 50 mph. Keep in mind that I was traveling 70 kph mostly right into it. I was afraid it I turned my head at all the wind would rip my neck and helmet right off. When I looked down the road I thought is was raining in the distance but depending how far I was from the ocean it was either sand or sea mist. And sea mist sure messes up the helmet visor. Sand does not feel good on the legs when you are wearing shorts either.
I have had to be careful riding back in the afternoon because my hands wanted to seize up with all the sawing (using the electric saws and drills powered by our small generator), hammering and all the bike driving I have been doing.
I used the bike Saturday to bring over wood over to the worksite from where Steve had dropped it off across the road to dry a bit. (Tal, my biggest helper, is standing in the background.)
Work Observations
I forgot how heavy newly cut (green) wood is (2" x 6" x 10'). There
were many nights my body told me how heavy it was. It literally wore me out.
My knees are killing me (I fell one day and cut my right knee on a piece of
coral). I was already struggling and that almost kept me down for the count.
It took about 5 minutes for me to even get up and then I hobbled around and
had to sit down for awhile. I had Tal worried a bit! I hurt just about as bad
as when it got whacked in Vietnam.
Most work days (when there was wood - 10 of 18 days) I left here by
9:00 am and got back after 4:30pm. No, I do not stop for lunch! The days there
was no wood between work days were days - I thanked the Lord. He was doing more
than I could think or ask for - so I would be ready when we had wood. Most wood
days I was pooped and tuckered out by the time I climbed off the bike or out
of the truck back in Port Vila. I don't think the VA needs to do any stress
tests on me - I have been doing them all month! (and I am still functioning,
on most cylinders - I think)
In fact I had to slow down and take more rest stops. The heat was something
else and we were working in the sun and on the concrete pad. I was running with
low blood pressure and could tell it. Lots and lots of water and powerade but
I still found myself cramping up (hands and legs.) I felt like I have run a
2 minute 880, several times. It might be all the ladder climbing and heavy lifting
of green wood. Ya think!!!!!!!!!
Plum
tuckered!
I had visitors like this beetle. (that's my shirt tag for sizing) I think he was looking for his mother!
After getting ready to use the compressor and nail-gun out on the house I found
out that the small generator we have would not power the compressor so we have
been doing all the nailing by hand. Bummer! We are definitely going to need
to find the funds for a larger generator for the house.
I understand that building a house is a numbers game. After all this building (and more still to come) I'm thinking that at 63 I am getting too old for this! (But I was all we could afford!)
On the countdown for coming back:
I have packed up everything that can be packed. I took the office apart, the
dining table, etc etc. and put everything I could in the containers. Everything
that is left (frig, stove, m/w, washer, dryer, bed, chair and odds and ends
will be taken out a week from Monday. I do a final clean of the house and then
I fly out Tuesday afternoon May 1st through Fiji and on into LAX (Calif) - to
rejoined with my soul mate!
My corner
My next report (Lord willing) will be after I get back there in the States. Our plans are to be in the States until August 16th when we are booked to fly back home here to Vanuatu. I have Veteran medical work to be done, Kathy needs a physical and both of us need dental (my denture and front chipped tooth; Kathy lost a crown last month). It looks like we now really need to find funds for a more reliable vehicle. They cost between $12-25,000.
We really need your help again: if you have or know someone who has a vehicle (hopefully fuel efficient because we will be traveling around) that we can borrow or rent real cheap from March to August please email me (or Jason @ j13huff@yahoo.com or Kathy @ abu49kathy @ yahoo.com); especially we need your prayers!
Counseling, chatting, reading,
sharing ........ being family
I have one more week to teach on my series on "Spiritual Gifts in the Body"
at Eton. I still try to find time to sit around and encourage brethren in the
struggles we all go through here in Vanuatu. I am finding that as they watch
our struggles it encourages them to know if we can overcome they can also. Living
out in the village and culture even more so!
Fiji had severe flooding again last month and we of Eton congregation was able to send funds ($272 Fj) to Anna Conivanua and her family and some of the people she is trying to help as well.
Special needs
1. We really need an additional, hopefully not an antique, laptop computer with
a camera that we can use Microsoft ware on.
2. We want to bring back a heavy duty wheelchair for Morris if we can. We need
one that has wide rear wheels or maybe even rear dual wheels . He needs to be
able to travel on grass and gravel since we don't have any concrete footpaths
in the village. Wider wheels would do that. If we can't get a whole chair maybe
just replacement wheels. (If I have trouble getting it back on the airlines
I will just have Kathy ride in it or I could ride in it with my bad knees.)
Please write if you can help!
Financial Needs
As you have read moving here has been expensive and living here will be expensive.
We still need to increase our monthly support $500-1,000. If you can or
know of someone who can help this need please pray about it and let us know
so we can come visit with them.
The house we are building right now at Eton is a temporary house so that when we get back in August we will be out in Eton and not paying rent here in Port Vila ($900-1300 per month). We are trying to keep the costs down but make it livable. So far we have only spent $10,000 building. The Eton congregation gave 100,000 vt (US$1,100) toward the cost for the roofing iron.
Moving out there will also let us start some Bible classes (using the Eton church building) and to get the ground cleared and the building started for more permanent buildings for the Bible school we have planned down the road. (Again - some of you want me to tough it out but Kathy deserves a more livable house.)
Please pray about this and if you can help please send it to the address below or write my son Jason (j13huff@yahoo.com) and he can give instructions on how to wire the funds directly to our account here.
Additionally some of the needs we have as we move forward on the school property: house ($35,000), guttering, water tanks and pumps ($1,800), a solar hot water unit ($2,800), a bigger generator ($5,000), a solar/wind power unit ($2,500), septic system ($1,200), a classroom ($12,000), a student duplex ($15,000).
Thank you so much for all of you who are supporting us and have contributed to our needs. God bless you! We look forward to being with you soon and sharing with you what the Lord is doing through us in this outpost of civilization.
Your seed sowing workers in the Kingdom.
Tobey & Kathy
Contributions for Huffs and building the Bible school, vehicle and house can be sent to:
Huffs/Bible School
c/ Mt Hope church of Christ
2830 Mt Hope Rd
Webb City MO 64870
or
Mailing Address:
PO Box 3229
Port Vila, Vanuatu
South Pacific
Ph:
(678) 710-1617
(678) 22-418