January 1977
Dear Brethren,
What is a normal day to the local people here?
As the first rays of light appeared in the sky, Waru
awoke to a typical cool, foggy, highlands morning to attend to
a few dying embers that remained in the ashes in the middle of
the floor. His thoughts races back to the evening before when
his pigs hadn't returned home to be fed. This morning there was
no time for the normal hubbub of village life. No time for small
talk with the other village men, no time for the normal baking
of sweet potato in the ashes, Eating would have to wait until
later.
From a sitting position by his fire, he yelled to his
wife who was just getting up in her house. A few minutes preparation
and she was ready to go. Waru pulled himself away from the warmth
of his smoke filled hut and he ducked through the door, he grabbed
his machete and clutched it in his hand. Leaving their children
in the care of their eldest daughter and joining his wife, he
headed out in search of their pigs.
As they crossed the stile and headed for the bush, the
sun popped over the mountain and warmed their chilled bodies.
In their minds they wondered where their pigs were and why they
hadn't come home. Had they been attacked by a dog and killed as
a result of the fact that the spirits were upset and angry because
of to unsettled quarrel with someone? Or had they strayed into
foreign ground where they were mistaken for wild pigs and shot
by someone hunting - time would only tell.
Hours later, after combing the bush calling and looking,
they came upon their pigs sleeping In the shade of some trees
from the already hot morning sun. Chasing them home, Waru's concern
shifted to his friends dying child. Something must be done quickly
to save the life. As he securely fastened the last picket in the
pit house fence, he decided he would go and see his friend, Negi.
Before heading out, he stopped by his house to get a sweet potato
to eat along the way. As he made his way along the rugged trail,
he carefully peeled the sweet potato with his thumbnail, making
sure he did not drop any of the peeling. Carelessly dropped potato
peeling would only mean more trouble possibly if a sorcerer was
to find it and cast a spell of deaths on the owner of the peeling.
As he approached Negi's village, life seemed to be normal.
The village was basically empty with all the adults off working
in their gardens; however the children were there running around,
laughing, screaming and crying In their different modes of play.
As Waru bent to enter his friend's house, he found the parents
concerned over their dying child.
After a short discussion with Negi, it was decided that
the spirits had worked sorcery on the child. Negi naturally concerned
for his child, asked Waru to help. Waru wasted no time. Outside
he found a fern leaf and began waving it to appease the spirits.
Then going to a nearby mudhole, he began the search for the bundle
of leaves wrapped in vines containing the spirit's "poison".
If only he could find it, and remove it from the mud, the baby
would live.
After a frantic but thorough search through the mud,
his hand passed over a piece of vine. What was it? Could It be
the poison? He tugged. Sure enough, out came the bundle. Relieved
he hurried back to tell Negi. The news was good and now the baby
should live. Waru said goodbye and headed home.
The late afternoon rain was moving in off the mountains
as Waru started out. It was almost dark and he was soon engulfed
in the downpour-soaked and cold he made his way along the steep
trail that by now had turned Into a rushing stream. As he approached
his village, he saw the inviting sign of smoke filtering up through
the thatch of his wife's house. Inside he would find shelter,
warmth and something to eat while he waited for the rain the stop.
As the rain let up, he took a burning log from the fire
and made his way through the darkness to his own cold hut. After
getting a fire going, he settled down on his crude bed and fell
asleep. It had been a full day.
Not exactly a normal day in our way of thinking, but
very normal to these people as they live in fear and dread of
the spirits and sorcery.
Approximately 24 hours after the poison had been removed
from the mudhole the baby was dead and the spirit flutes were
heard playing on into the night, They had found the "cause",
but still the baby died. BUT WHY?? This is the question they ask.
We seek to understand these people and their way of life.
Please remember these people In prayer and us as we seek
with God's help to gain an adequate understanding of their language
and culture so that we can convoy the Gospel to them in a way
that they will understand and apply it to their normal daily lives.
January saw us bring in the New Year here in Papua New
Guinea with a wave of violence. Villagers lined the main highway
in the mountain passes and pelted vehicles with mud stones and
sticks resulting in 15 broken windshields. We were pelted by one
such group of 100 people coming back from the Scott's house at
Watabung where we had spent the night. We had a rock screen up
in front of the windshield because it is common for rocks to be
tossed up by trucks passing in the other direction. This stopped
the rocks and mud clumps but some of the mud splattered thru my
slightly opened window into the back seat on Terasa and Jason.
Jason got hit in the face with a little bit which surprised him
and made me just a little bit mad! We sped through the crowd
spinning rocks and dirt and drove to Chuave where we requested
a police escort the remainder of the 35 winding miles into Kundiawa.
Thankfully we made it without serious damage. Some people who
stopped to complain were dragged out of their cars and smeared
with mud as well. We knew better than to stop!
At this time of the year we are in our rainy season again..
The roads here are not blacktopped and thus our major road is
in terrible disrepair. Due to this and the subsequent vibration
this caused the transfer case on our gearbox of the car to vibrate
loose this month. This happened as we were leaving Mt Hagen after
buying supplies. So here's Tob under the car in a downpour, laying
in water trying to put bolts back in the case. We finally got
it up and on enough to got back home (80 miles) were I did major
repairs the next day. Never a dull moment. Also this month we
went to Goroka for three days and helped them to overhaul the
engine on the church bus there. The congregation in Goroka is
averaging over 175 now. They have moved from the Scout Hall location
into a compound on the other side of town. John Wallace is presently
there in the states trying to raise the necessary funds needed
to purchase the compound for the church. Please pray for them
and their needs. Ann Wellings came from Australia this month to
join with the work in Goroka. Also coming to join the work is
the Sam Kirkpatrick family who will be working in Lae at present.
Sam had been working In Australia.
This month has seen peace and quiet settle in our house.
Terasa and Jason both started school. Terasa Grade 1 and Jason
(3 years) started preschool. As mama says our kids are growing
up.
At the Dumun congregation this month we had 6 people
requesting prayers for strength.
Our averages for the month were: Dumun 33; $2 38 Bima
Piau 37, $2 24. We have been unable to get into Bima Piau for
the last two weeks because the road is washed out due to the rains.
Their new building lacks only the thatch roof to be completed.
We thank all of you who have been praying for us and
making it possible that we labor here by your monthly support,
We wish to extend a Happy Now Year to you as we begin this new
year for the Lord.
In the Master's service
Tobey Huff's
Box 69
Kundiawa
Papua New Guinea
Tele: 75-1193