Missionaries come to retired local's aid at Tiniroto

Work begins on Pauline’s home at Tiniroto. The volunteer Seventh-Day Adventist crew turned up on a Thursday night and got to work at 7am the next day to finish off — and weather-proof — the house. Pictures supplied

A group of  “lifesavers” showed up at Pauline’s place in Tiniroto last week in the form of missionaries from the Seventh-Day Adventist church.

They set to work on the house begun some years ago by Pauline’s brother Dennis. He suffered an accident and could not complete the building.

Mel Haller, the principal of Tiniroto School and a neighbour of Pauline’s, called in recently and after seeing the conditions she was living in, put out some calls for help. The house had been partially covered in tarps for a number of years.

Pauline, who did not want her last name used, is in her retirement years and has no local family.

Mrs Haller contacted Joseva Seru from the Medical Missionary Assocation of Seventh-Day Adventists. She had worked with them for a month in Te Kouma, Coromandel where she says she learned some valuable skills.  She was able to rally the team together.

“If it wasn’t for Mel, this wouldn’t have happened,” said Pauline.

Some 25 willing volunteers travelled from all over the North Island, including Palmerston North and Auckland. In the team were qualified builders and willing workers and their families.

“They arrived late on Thursday night and some began the work at 7am the next morning,” Mrs Haller said.

All the labour was done for free. They took care of their own meals and transport and brought all the  necessary tools and equipment.

Mrs Haller rallied the local community and the visitors were accommodated in shearing quarters. They cooked in the school kitchen.

“The guys did the work while the ladies helped in the garden, doing a good job with the weed-eater,” said Pauline.

Over the course of a few days the outside cladding was mostly completed, with some extra cladding needed and some of the volunteers will be returning to complete the job.  “They had to get back to their own jobs,” said Pauline.

A sign off from the council is needed before insulation can be installed. A final sign-off will complete the build.

Pauline is more than happy with her unexpected visitors and now the unwanted visitors of birds and possums showing up at the house have no access.

“The draught has stopped and the birds and possums are no longer getting in”.