Date: 26th July 2015
Dear Church, Pastor, and Supporters;
(Colossians 3:13) “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
Continued from last report…. 24th June 2015
I had no option but to leave the vehicle with the workshop in Lae and travel back to Mt. Hagen via public transport. We had been here in Lae for ten days and accommodations are very, very expensive. Unless you have someone to stay with, it is just not feasible (at least on my budget) to lodge in public accommodations. I would have and could have left Lae before now, but I have been taught and do practice to take most folks at their word with some margin for error etc. However, here in PNG, one of the issues this will pose is they will give you just enough language, hope, and promise to persuade you to ‘hold on’ until the next day, then the next and so on until before long a week or two or more has passed.
I was disappointed but then most things in life do not go the way we expect or want them to go, do they? We packed up the night before and rose early the next day, to be transported from the place of lodging to the bus stage. By 0630 hrs. We were dropped off and waited for the bus.
Bye and bye a bus came, we boarded paid our fare, however it was 0930 hrs. By the time the bus was loaded and we set off for Mt. Hagen.
Once again, we were transported over the pot-holed riddled roads, the driver dogging from one side to the other. Mile after mile until we left the Markim Valley behind and started ascending the Dalo Pass, which separates the coastal region from the Highlands. A 9000 ft. pass with hairpin curves, no guardrails, no escape ramps, no room for error, if you drive off one of these mountains here in PNG, it is likely you will not live to tell it.
The day passed as we sped through the mountains of the Highlands, each province markedly different with people, customs, languages, décor and behaviour. There are just over 800 languages here in New Guinea so the diversity is evident to the traveller.
1900 hrs. We arrived in Mt. Hagen where we are staying; the journey was hard, long, dusty, and trying on the body. If you (whom ever you are) have never travelled by public transport in a third world country, then these words, and details are but a story to you and for the most part, will go in one ear and out the other. However, if you have, then you know of what I speak and it is you who is able to pray more efficiently for us here.
For the next week we would be here in Mt. Hagen working on the water issue (city water), which was brought in to the Kim Baptist Church mission grounds some years ago. However, due to an illegal connection from some people, the water usage, and bill went unpaid therefore, PNG water board cut off the main connection. This was a serious problem for us, as the locals were using water from a natural dug cistern. This water was not screened, filtered etc.… therefore we were buying drinking water, but the bath water and cooking was an issue.
I became involved, spoke with water board, and the story was, we would have to open a new account, run some new piping and then settle some debts from the old account and they would hook up the water.
The water piping was acquired; we dug the passage and buried the piping up to where we would connect. Discussions were made, and then Dr. Delay…. It was three weeks before we were able to get the water connected, considering where we are, this is quick. If I had not been involved, it could have went into months. Now there is city water, all connections are secured and this issue sorted out.
I knew that I had to make a move to get out to the Mission stations and take care of mission business as well conduct men’s meetings regarding the work. Our shipping container was already off loaded at the Nogoli mission station so that was another reason for our trip.
During my stay here in Mt. Hagen I have been teaching almost every evening out of the book of Revelation from 1930 hrs. To 2030 hrs. The classes have been well attended, with as many as fifty students.
I was able to secure a vehicle hire (Toyota Land Cruiser 4X4) which normally goes for $300-400 / a day, and whatever the number of days you take the vehicle for, that cost is ‘upfront’ in cash. The owner was a Duna Tribesman who knew me from many years ago and agreed to hire out the vehicle to me for ($150.00/ a day) I would need it for six days and day number seven he would donate for the LORD’S work. Again, the King’s heart is in the hand of the LORD and HE turns it whithersoever he wills. (Pro. 21:1)
On the 15th of July I picked up the vehicle, we did some shopping in town for basic things we would need to sustain us for a week’s time. A couple cooking pots, teapot, some kitchenware etc., as we went to the local market to get fresh veggies, whilst in the market, the vehicle was broken into and everything we had just purchased was stolen. The thieves here have figured out a way to secure in their possession (key fobs) that is programmed to open the remote central locking module on the vehicles here. No damage to the vehicle, no glass broken no forced entry, simple and easy.
Therefore, we had to postpone our trip from departing early the next morning to repurchase what had been stolen so at least we could have something to cook our food in whilst at the mission stations.
The consolation is, somewhere the LORD detained us and kept us from something worse down the road. By 1130 hrs. We were ready to pull out of Mt. Hagen for Nogoli, after our prayer, Hepe (Ekere’s eldest son), Sherry and I departed and started our journey to Nogoli mission station.
Conversation in the vehicle is reduced only to, which is important to say or advise, due to the road noise, the vehicle straining to absorb the pot holes, the constant changing of gears up and down the mountains. Through the course of the day, the diesel engine hummed tirelessly as the hours passed, the kilometres calculated, only when we would halt to stretch our legs and relieve ourselves did the combination of noise cease.
As we pulled into the Nogoli mission station it was nearing 1830 hrs. With a crowd of people waiting to eagerly greet us, it took a little bit to get unpacked, set up house and prepare our dinner. The mission house which my father started, back in the early 80’s, I had finished when I also came here back in the mid 80’s, that said, most everything has been stolen, vandalised, or is no longer in working condition. There is a skeleton of a house, so we simply pitch our tent inside and work out of there.
Our container is here, and there is something about seeing your property (whatever value or worth it may have) when you had last used it in another country, or place.
Much has changed over the years here in PNG, some good, and some bad. With so-called development (whatever that is supposed to mean) comes many evils, and adulterates a society, which cannot be reversed. Though PNG is not where many ‘Western’ countries are in respect to the LORD, and moral living, however things are changing at an alarming rate. Much of the old tribal life has been forsaken by the younger generation. Instead of drinking cold mountain water, it is Coco-Cola now for many; instead of sweet potatoes it is junk foods, snacks, cheaply cooked take-away foods. With quick availability of commodities, comes laziness and loitering in the cities and towns. This embryo soon hatches crime of all types and sorts.
I preached twice at the Nogoli Bap church where Bro. Andy Tyia is pastor. He would be a little older than I but we used to be play mates in the day. On Sunday morning we held a early service in order that we might depart for the Tangi mission station in time to worship with the Tangi Bap church where Bro. Kendo is pastor.
We departed Nogoli at 1030 hrs. and arrived at Tangi by 1200 hrs. to worship. They asked me to preach, and so I did, the service lasted for one and half hours but no one complained or walked out. In fact they seemed surprised that I finished so soon.
The rest of the day, we also settled in the old home there at Tangi where dad cut timber out of the jungle and built a beautiful home. Over the years it too has deteriorated, suffered tropical rot, structural damage, vandalism, theft etc.
The corrugated roofing has rusted, and the water tank is no longer healthy for usage. We still had some privacy and a place to call home. Water was carted from a natural stream for cooking, and bathing. The cooking and heating of bath water was on an old wood-cook stove, which is as old as I am.
Life is simple, slow, but a purity about it that the modern world cannot duplicate. Many meetings were conducted with pastors, Tribal leaders, and Christians. Most of the questions they have for me now is when can we start the Bible School, and Seminary for the Pastors? It has been many years since this was put into effect and there are many problems in the work, and churches, which we face now.
Until the next report, may our LORD keep each of you in the centre of HIS will and bless the work of your hands.
In His Name,
Missionary Peter Halliman