My Trip to Papua New Guinea

[Tomo]

G'day all, sorry about the long time in coming... but hopefully you'll get an idea of my trip by what I'll try and tell you. And some pictures.

 

I know this may not be really relevant here, but instead of writing up a whole new report I just copied and pasted the one I did for Churches and supporters around the area.

 

Our team consisted of 16 members - 4 leaders, 10 teens, and 2 children. After 10 days at Bootcamp* on the Sunshine Coast, at the “Lords Bootcamp” (Tewantin) we flew to Port Moresby from Brisbane International airport. There we met the missionary who we were going to be working with - Ken Kenamu from CIEDA. We stayed that night in a missionary home called “Mapang”. Travel to and from the airport to there was by hired bus, putting all our stuff in the back seats, and us piling into the rest of the bus. Mapang Missionary Home was quite a nice place, and we had a great night there, getting up at 3 am the next morning to catch our domestic flight to Tari in a Dash-8 aircraft. Arriving at Tari, four Landcruisers were awaiting to take us on the three hour trip up to Pori Mission Station. There were three tray back Cruisers and one Trooper (which was the police escort for us). The trip to Pori was an exhilarating experience and very fun! With a few flat tires and a couple of break downs, one being quite bad - the center bolt that holds the front differential from sliding on the leaf spring broke. It slipped on the U bolts and jammed the front wheel against the mudguard. Those of us from that ute then hopped into the police trooper, which was another experience in itself! With four policeman, shot guns and machine guns, I think we were pretty safe! The trip ended on a huge high, as we were welcomed by singing parties, a flower ribbon that we had to drive through, and were presented with flower Lei’s - which was pretty awesome!

We stayed at Pori Station Friday and Saturday nights (24th, 25th Dec). Saturday being Christmas day there was a great celebration, with local churches from around Pori who brought their garden produce (like fresh vegetables and other food), as thanksgiving offerings to us! There was a Christmas service, to which we did a drama and some singing. On Sunday we did a puppet show, and also more singing with one of the team members preaching.

 

Sunday afternoon we packed up and walked a couple of hours to the airstrip site, and Ken’s house at lake Tuku. They had built us two Kunai thatched round houses - one for us boys, the other being a more open one for the kitchen/dinning type room. The girls stayed in the little house that was there. The buildings were in an enclosure with guards 24/7, so we were pretty safe from theft and any other danger! On Monday, they (the locals) put on a huge ground breaking ceremony for the airstrip site with ‘wigman’ dancers - all dressed up in their painting and stunning feathered headress. It was an amazing thing to be a part of it all. Arriving at the airstrip site there were numerous announcements to be made, appointing all the local communities their spot on the strip to work on. Also with a message and some singing and drama from our team.

 

We had a most life changing experience working with the communities for the next 3 weeks, with highs and lows through the team - most of us getting altitude sickness of some sort the first few days, and getting used to working by hand. The hardest part for a lot of us was having to pace ourselves instead of trying to keep up with the locals! Because we just couldn’t without making us more sick!

 

I was pretty surprised at how much soil was moved in a days work when everyone works together. There was no machinery, and only about 5 wheel barrows between about 3-400 people. So canvas bags were used as sleds, and or soil clumps were just carried. It was a slow way, but the only way... and after the three weeks, I was extremely surprised how much was done. No where near completion, but certainly a good way towards it.

 

Ken found out I was a mechanic, so one Saturday four of us walked the couple hours back to Pori Station so I could take a look at an old generator there. It hadn’t been run since 1972....... so after we pulled all the stuff out that had accumulated in the shed it was in, I started working on it - with only a shifter and screw driver it was interesting, but fortunately some other guys tracked down a couple spanners that were pretty close to the right size! Anyway, about four hours later I managed to get the little single cylinder diesel to run, that was a pretty exciting time for all concerned! Only one of the locals there had ever seen it run, and he was only a little boy then. So, I spent a little while giving instruction on how to start and operate it. It is an old 110volt AC alternator, and there isn’t a great deal of use for them because they have 240volt lights throughout the station. So that will need to be rectified sometime. Wouldn’t take much to fit a 240v alternator on it. And in my opinion would be well worth it as the little motor showed it’s reliability. (was built in 1926!)

 

The highlight of the experience for me was working and getting to know the people, the love and care they showed us was more than we all expected!

 

One little instance stands out:

 

A couple of days after we started on the airstrip, I was starting to get altitude sickness and felt really un-well. So, I was just sitting down and resting with a couple of the other team members, when this old guy went and cut us some grass and brought it up to us to sit or lay down on. That really hit me hard, because we were the ones supposed to be helping and encouraging them, but they were the ones spending their time helping and caring for us! To me, seeing them all work while I was sick on the side watching, made me feel very small - but they still loved me for it and took the effort to make sure we were comfortable and protected. It actually

 

reminded me of how God loves us. We must do so little in his eyes, and we often have to sit on the side and take a break, but he still thinks we’re the best and loves and cares for us.

 

We were farewelled on the 14th of January, at the airstrip site with the PNG highlands pig killing and feast ceremony. A total of 16 pigs were killed and cooked in the earth oven ( mumu). We each were then presented with a string bag (Bilum) made by the Pori women. Also a Bilum cap and us guys received bird of paradise feathers to put on the cap.

 

With all the locals and our little team we saw about half the airstrip completed.

 

We departed early next morning (about 4am) to Tari in three Cruisers, the trip being very fun! It was dark for the first half or so due to the time we departed, and slightly raining, fortunately we had Troopers this time and were under cover! But the ute ride would still have been so much fun though, but the thought that the bags would have gotten very muddy and wet... not so fun, so, the Troopers were certainly an answer to prayer there.

 

In Tari we stayed the night at Halogali Mission Guest House, was a lovely place. Doing final cleaning preparations, and getting the mud out of every nook and cranny (boots especially) so customs wouldn’t have any issues. We departed by ute the next morning to the airport and after quite a wait, got everything checked through (the tickets being hand written). Our plane was about an hour and a half late, so once we got to Port Moresby we actually boarded our International flight back to Australia about an hour late (they call it PNG time!) but they waited for us. It was a rush from Domestic to International terminals! Running!

 

The flight back went without any issues, and we landed safely in Brisbane. Customs were really good, and we had no issues and everything came through. We then had the bus trip back to Tewantin, and the four days of de-brief. This was spent preparing presentations to show those back at home, and preparing for the mental ‘aftermath’ of a trip like this.

 

The trip was a brilliant experience and I’m looking forward to getting back over there again to help install a hydro unit to the house at Lake Tuku. The fast flowing mountain stream running through the property lends itself perfectly to this type of unit and a much better alternative for small applications compared to a generator.

 

Pori is about 5000ft above sea level, and consists of about 17,000 people - If I remember correctly. Transportation to and from Pori is extremely expensive and hard on the vehicles due to the road conditions. 40klm takes approx. 3 and a half hours. This airstrip once completed will be a huge life saver both medically and economically. The strip length once completed will be 700mts.

 

Our visit was a huge encouragement to the Christian community of Pori.

 

Thanks so much for your support and prayers.

 

*Training for evangelism, cultural preparedness, and team unity.

 

 

Port Moresby

 

 

Looking west - Port Moresby

 

 

 

 

Tair airport

 

 

 

My style of transport! :big_grin:

 

 

The rest of our crew - and the Police

 

 

Flatty.... took them about 3 minutes or less to change!

 

 

 

 

 

Crawling up the mountain!

 

 

 

Ooops!

 

 

Standing on the back of the Police Trooper

 

 

Pori Mission Station

 

 

About 5500ft AMSL

 

 

Some of the locals with another team mate

 

 

Christmas day service

 

 

The old Pori Airstrip - 450mtrs, no longer used but a friend of mine used to land on it.

 

 

Vertical farming - or close to it!

 

 

A better view of the old strip

 

 

Local lads

 

 

A local school, the kids sung us all a welcoming song in English - and their language.

 

 

You can see the new airstrip sight in the distance

 

 

Trekking

 

 

Lake Tuku - bottom end of the strip runs out onto the lake

 

 

Cleared of trees... now the earthworks start!

 

 

Where us guys slept

 

 

 

Some dressed up in their traditional dress to perform the 'wigman' dance for us.

 

 

Awesome views

 

 

People!!

 

 

Yep that's right! Shovel and pick...

 

 

Me standing on the end of the strip, overlooking Lake Tuku

 

 

Looking up the airstrip

 

 

Buildig a round house

 

 

Sweet potato plants, and Lake Tuku

 

 

Myself and some local school kids

 

 

I was a bit sick one day to got to work, so stayed back and made this...

 

 

Their big hand made ditches!

 

 

Me working on the old Generator

 

 

Big mound is gone! Early morning, with clouds around.

 

 

The round house we were building

 

 

Walking to the airstrip from where we were staying

 

 

Looking much better!

 

 

As you can see, there is still a lot to be done!

 

 

Being presented with cap and bilum bag

 

 

Ground oven - called a mumu (pronounced moo moo)

 

 

On our way home...

 

 

 

Our late plane...

 

 

 

 

 

 

On descent into Brisy

 

 

The team in our PNG shirts!

 

So, there you go, some of my 1200 photos... Hope you enjoyed them

 

Any questions, please feel free to ask.

 

Regards,

 

Tom

 

 

[XP503]

Proud of you tomo

 

 

[Guest Wigg]

Congratulations Tommo you did yourself & your team proud. Thank you for sharing the fantastic photos with us all. What beautiful countryside & the scenery is magnificent to say the least. We missed you on here while you were gone. Sue & John

 

 

[Guest studentbiggles]

Tomo, you sweetie and your team of young volunteer missionaries have done all Australians and Aviators alike so very proud with your wonderful humanitarian endevours in PNG. Wow !!! watch a place to live and work....heaven on earth?

 

I had a little chuckle to myself when you mentioned the "Altitude Sickness".......And your a pilot !!. LOL..... I have experienced the same snow skiing one year, lots of hard "Yakka" at altitude really knocks you around.

 

Question: I did notice that the locals do not have "beasts of burden" in their village, ie: water bufflo etc, read or heard over the Christmas period that there is an organization /group that can help out isolated peoples in remote or devastated regions with these types of livestock ,that we/us pay for buy a donation, to me a great may to help........Great piccy's to.......Always Fly and Keep Safe You Wonderful Young Man............Cheers Alley

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Great photos Tomo, Looks real nice up there by the lake. That is going to be a real nice strip when it's finished ! thanks for the photos..................................cheers Maj...

 

 

[Riley]

Doubt that the accolades you receive here will ever equal the self pride that your colleagues and you are so entitled to but "Well Done Son" anyway! Very interesting photos and a great read. Makes good old Dalby look kinda plain tho, eh whot? Cheers

 

 

[sfGnome]

Good stuff Tomo! :thumb_up:

 

 

[Tomo]

Question: I did notice that the locals do not have "beasts of burden" in their village, ie: water bufflo etc, read or heard over the Christmas period that there is an organization /group that can help out isolated peoples in remote or devastated regions with these types of livestock ,that we/us pay for buy a donation, to me a great may to help........Great piccy's to.......Always Fly and Keep Safe You Wonderful Young Man............Cheers Alley

Yes, they don't have any domesticated type animals, other than pigs and dogs... as far as I'm aware anyway. Was just talking to my friend about it today actually - they don't have milk, and come to think of it, they don't really need it I don't think.... Obviously in the towns/cities they have anything and everything you want.

 

 

[Gnarly Gnu]

Fantastic Tomo, God bless you!

 

And what a beautiful country with lovely people, not ruined by welfare as we sadly see around here. Pity you couldn't have gotten a backhoe up there for a day to sort out that job in one go.... industrialisation really changes things.

 

Update: oops, sorry if the positive reference to mechanisation offended any Greens, I realise digging by hand and carrying water is the way of the future to some.

 

 

[Guest davidh10]

Great work Tomo. Thanks for sharing the story.

 

 

[Tomo]

Hey Birddog, great to see you here, thanks for taking the interest in my adventure also.

 

Yes a Machine will be real handy, and I'm working on getting one there somehow, liaising with the mining companies, and hopefully we might see some results in the near future. Getting it there is the problem, as most of the crossings wouldn't be able to handle the weight.

 

Even a Bobcat would be better than nothing, and that is certainly an option to get there with.

 

There are certainly many things that need help with, like costings for water tanks, a vehicle for the CIEDA organization so they don't have to keep paying huge amounts to hire them...etc etc..

 

But anyway, it will be good to get back over there again, August looks to be the time when I will be back - myself and few others.

 

Thanks everyone.

 

 

[dunlopdangler]

Tom, you should try briggsee about getting a Dingo....you never know....

 

 

[Relfy]

Awesome work Tomo, looks like a very rewarding trip. You should have used your mechanical skills to say...build a D9 or something like that?

 

 

[Yenn]

Good on you Tomo. At a guess I would expect the generator motor to be a Lister, the old ones were practically indestructable. Possibly too high for water buffalo to thrive, I think they are strictly a lowlands animal.