A group of Australian retirees travelled to Kahubu village in Sarawak, Malaysia, in July to help construct a new church building as part of a fly’n’build mission trip led by Pastor Calvyn Townend and his wife Dawn.
Over 12 days, the team worked alongside local villagers and church members to build brick walls for the church. Western Australian volunteer Ron Weir served as the building leader, overseeing construction to ensure safety and quality standards were met. Local contractors handled the flooring and roof construction.
“In every way, this journey was a testament to the truth that servant hearts don’t come with age limits,” said Hillview church member and trip participant Mary Fedorow.
Despite language barriers and the challenges of heat and limited infrastructure, volunteers collaborated closely with the local community. “Mission trips like this one leave lasting memories—and build more than just walls,” said another participant.
The trip was the 14th fly’n’build initiative led by Pastor Townend, who first began visiting Sarawak in 2008 to run evangelistic programs. As new members joined the Adventist Church, he recognised the need for permanent worship spaces and began coordinating construction trips with volunteer teams—many of them retirees from Australia.
Located in a remote region of Borneo, Kahubu has limited access to church infrastructure. At 86, Pastor Townend remains actively involved in supporting mission initiatives across Sarawak.
