While visiting with some dear friends in the States last winter, we were introduced to a young man by the name of Anthony Groft, a civil engineering student with a particular interest in bridges. When we described to him our terrain, the hazards of reaching patients and bringing them to the clinic during the rainy season due to river flooding, he became interested in our need. He suggested that he could come out and build us a suspension bridge. We were excited, but we also wondered if it would really happen. College students are notoriously busy, and it is easy to over-commit. But, true to his word, Anthony began making plans to come.

A few weeks before his arrival, he sent us a list of needed supplies. We didn’t know whether these items were available on Palawan, and a flight to Manila wasn’t an option at that time, so we suggested that during his first trip perhaps he could check out the area, determine where to put the bridge and ready its foundations. In the meantime, we could locate the materials in preparation for a second visit to build the bridge.

Anthony arrived very enthusiastic. Because our daughter Christina’s work group (PACT 2010) was already in Kemantian working on the new clinic, Kent was consumed with that building project, so
Anthony was pretty much on his own, which, it soon became apparent, was no problem for him. The first couple days he was there, he determined the best location for the bridge and set anchor bolts into large boulders, eliminating the need for cement foundations. After that, without materials, there wasn’t going to be anything for him to do for the remainder of his two-week stay. So he and Kent went to Puerto to see what they could find. Upon entering the first hardware store where Kent was hoping to find a different item, he found the specific cable they needed sitting right by the door. They also found most of the other bridge materials they needed in that store. This is unheard of here, to find all you need in one place! Kent and Anthony knew God was with them and was providing for this work.

Back in Kemantian, Anthony made ten or more treks a day from our house down the trail to the river and back to exchange rechargeable drill batteries. The hike is a particularly steep one, and each round trip is at least a mile. I was impressed by his energy and commitment. One particularly difficult drill hole took ten trips to complete. Anthony never complained. He just marveled at the number of snakes and other wildlife he saw each day.

Day after day, the bridge took shape. It was quite an oddity, and many locals came by to gawk. They were familiar with the idea of spanning the river with vines or ropes to assist fording, but a bridge secured to tall boulders and suspended above the river was a new concept.

Various people helped Anthony. Ben Wagner, a young man from North Carolina who volunteered for several months to move the new clinic project along, assisted Anthony some days, as did our son, Timothy, who was home for several weeks. Some nights, Anthony and Ben worked long after dark with headlamps. With a torn rotator cuff, Timothy was limited in what he could do, but he spent many hours splitting bamboo slats and painting the undersides with old motor oil to slow the advance of termites and other pests. (The bamboo will eventually be replaced with boards of a native wood that is practically impervious to termites and rot, once the necessary J-bolts are manufactured from materials Kent is just now bringing back to the Philippines.)

The project was nearing completion, but some important U-bolts to secure the cables and spreaders couldn’t be found anywhere. Andrew Hahn, a missionary friend of ours in Brooke’s Point, had the necessary tools and the expertise to manufacture these bolts. He made them and had them flown in, making it possible to complete the bridge in record time.

On a bright, sunshiny Sabbath afternoon, the people of Kensuli and Kemantian met at the Temlang River. The bridge was a marvel, stretching from one high rock to another, suspended above the crystal waters. Though not completely finished, it was passable. Many locals were unsure of walking so high up off the surface of the earth, but we knew they would get over it when the rainy season floods came. After a dedication service, Kensuli villagers were given the opportunity to express their appreciation to Anthony for his work. Several of the elders made speeches, shook his hand and asked for pictures with him on the bridge.

Then the big moment came—the first walk across the bridge. It was a bit scary at first. The walkway wasn’t finished, and there were gaps to step over, but what a thrill to be able to walk across and see the beautiful view.

After sundown, Anthony and Ben worked into the night putting the finishing touches on the bridge before Anthony’s departure the next day.

The people of the Kemantian Valley and the people of Kensuli and the mountains and valleys that lie beyond will be forever grateful for the sacrifice of money, time and tremendous effort put forth to bring them safely across the Tamlang River. Our prayer is that the bridge will also be symbolic in their minds of Christ bridging the gap between us and God, bringing all who are willing into unity with Him.

A large portion of the bridge materials were purchased with funds raised by the Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church Pathfinder Club directed by Samantha Walter. Thank you, Pathfinders, for making it possible to save lives. As you continue to grow into adulthood, don’t forget that there are millions of people like the Palawano still in need of people like you to be bridges to salvation in Christ.

Thank you to all who had a part in making this bridge a reality! We stand amazed at what God has done for us. Thank you, Anthony, for being a part of something bigger than us all.

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