Church Project Update

UPDATE OF THE SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES CATHOLIC CHURCH, NKANCHI

(FR. EMMANUEL FALE’S VILLAGE)

As reported earlier, we completed the foundation of this Church project by the end of August 2022. Immediately after, work began on the next phase of the work. This second phase was the molding of blocks to start raising the walls. Twelve thousand, eight hundred blocks were molded and completed by October 2022. It was still the rainy season, and coupled with the political crisis, the transportation of building materials (gravel, sand, cement, nails, iron rods of different sizes, planks, etc) was very difficult. In addition, the roads are in horrible condition, and since everything is done manually, the pace of the work looks slow, but by estimation, the work is fast.

In keeping with the tradition of the people, a special meal was prepared on December 19, 2022, to celebrate the finishing of the foundation. A goat was slaughtered and cooked with corn fufu – the traditional meal of the Nchaney (Nkanchi) people and many tribes in the Northwest Region of Anglophone, Cameroon.

Figure 1. Preparing the meal to celebrate the finishing of the Church Foundation on Dec. 19, 2022

Workers onsite in Nkanchi preparing food. - Feb 20323

The workers ate and were satisfied. They were grateful that the work was moving on well and words of gratitude continue to flow in thanksgiving to all the donors of this project.

By this time, that is, December 19, 2022, the walls were already going up. After the molding of blocks and the provision of cement, gravel, sand, and iron rods, the builders continued raising the walls. The people began to understand the structure of the Church at this time. They had not grasped what was happening from the digging of the foundation. One could hear some of the people saying: “I can see the digging of many holes; how is the Church going to look like?”  While others were wondering whether the work shall reach its completion stage. I told them, “With God, everything is possible,” and with their support and enthusiasm, we shall see a beautiful house of God in Nkanchi village.

Figure 2. The Raising of the Walls of the Nkanchi Church Project by December 17 – 20, 2022

Fr. Emmanuel at the Nkanchi church building site - Feb 2023

After the Christmas break, the workers gathered momentum to continue the work on the Church project. The architect, Mr. Ambe Collins, advised that the pillars should be built first before the further raising of the walls.

Figure 3: Casting the Pillars with Mr. Ambe Collins, the Architect

Architect Ambe Collins at the Nkanchi church site - Feb 2023

Mr. Ambe is a young prominent building technician (architect). His skills are already noticeable. He is hardworking, very honest, and most importantly, he exhibits the fear of God in all he does. He is generous and a committed family man. He will not forget to run back home to look after his family before continuing with his work. He is accountable for every franc, every dollar he receives. In all, he is a trustworthy guy, and I pray that such people be rewarded. Thank you, Mr. Ambe, for your commitment to your work, and your devotion to God.

Figure 4: Casting the Pillars (Picture Gallery)

Working on the pillars - Feb 2023

Working on the pillars - Feb 2023

Thus, from the first phase which was the excavation and building of the foundation, we can conveniently say that we are now into the second phase of the church project which has to do with the elevation of walls and the decking of the gallery.

By February 11, 2023, all the partition walls have been put in place while the decking part is still pending due to the lack of quality materials especially steel as spelled out in the project specifications. The lack of materials is due to the constant roadblocks by the separatists in the current Anglophone crisis. Business cars have been burnt by the rebels to restrict movement on some days and exert their own power. We continue to pray for an end to this violence meted on the common and defenseless people both by the government of Cameroon military and by the separatists. The roads too are in terrible conditions, slowing down the transportation of materials to the work site. Furthermore, the prices of materials have skyrocketed. These and other factors have slowed down the daily output of work at the Church project.

These notwithstanding, the work is moving well, and the entire Christian community is happy to see the project go this far and cannot wait to see this project complete. As of now, the work progress with regards to the molding of blocks, raising of walls, and casting of hollow floor slab up to the level of the final chain beam stands at about 43%.

Due to the recent increase in manpower on site, the work will move faster provided the required materials are available on-site and on time. It should be noted that the main stage for the building phase as of now is the preparation of the hollow floor decking without which the project will be stagnant. It is our prayer that the roads should be open for materials to be brought in from the commercial city of Douala.

Figure 5: The Present state of the work (February 11, 2023)

The courage to begin this magnificent project came from God through His believing people – the donors to this project. I throw my mind back to when I took the decision to go to school at the age of 8 years old. No one sent me to school, and my parents could not afford the school fees, but the courage to walk to school that fateful day, came from God. We thank God Almighty for his guidance and protection for enabling us to begin and continue with this giant project amidst the social-political crisis plaguing the Anglophone people of the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon. We know that Mary, our mother is there interceding for us. Thank you, dearest mother, Mary for your intercessions. We continue to thank the many men and women who have committed themselves to see to it that this project is completed. Dear friends, please, continue to support us to reach the end of what we have started. May God continue to bless and reward each one of you.

– Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Fale - February 2023