March-April 1996

Dear Brethren and Friends;

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We thought we would let Kathy share with you her trip to the Waria Valley Ladies' Workshop in April. Sit down, fasten your seat belt and get ready for take off. Here's Kathy.........

LADIES’ WORKSHOP - WARIA VALLEY

FRIDAY, 12th April...I’m up before the alarm for a last warm shower before heading to Nadzab Airport (40kms out of town). Velma Foreman is driving her van out, so we have 6 going out and Tobey will drive the van back. There are 4 from Goroka, 3 from Wau, 2 from the Markham, and Julie Mesa (Jab’s sister) from Tami Island going with 17 of us from Lae (plus 2 guys, one a student going in to do his year of practical). The first 15 weigh in with the cargo and then are told that’s all that can go! (We had been told there would be two flights for us.) So, much discussion as to who will go. Finally it’s decided that Velma must go since she is one of the speakers as well as a nurse and is taking out a footlocker full of medicines. Those of us who are speaking are to go. There is hope that the other pilot will be able to take the rest out in the afternoon. (And so the Lord worked it out.) After a 45 minute flight over God’s beautiful creation, we landed at Kira Station (on a grass airstrip) and found over 150 people waiting for us. Dogo, who had lived in Lae for 2 years was there to meet us. Tears ran like rivers. They handed out bananas and peanuts, picked up bags, bedding, backpacks and medical boxes (metal) and put them all onto their backs or heads and away we went. Now let me tell you, I was told that it was flat and only a couple of small hills. WRONG!! I knew I was in for a lot of hard walking 100 feet out of the Station. There was the first “hill”. From then on for the next 2 and a half hours, it was either down or up! We saw a lot of beautiful country, but it’s hard to appreciate it when you are so hot and dripping wet. We stopped at two rivers to cool down and a small steam. (Just put a towel in the water and pour it over the head.) Davis’s brother who walked with us, cut a walking stick and held my hand for the most part so that I would not fall. They were afraid that Tobey would be "cross" (angry) and never let me come back if I got hurt in any way. We finally made it to the village of Orouba and were met by the rest of the ladies and they sang us in but we didn’t stay there; we got to the church’s building but we didn’t stop. The part of the village that we were to stay in was further up the mountain (all the while they are walking us in, singing songs of welcome). Finally Dogo’s house is in sight. So at 1:30 we finally arrived. There, too were many tears of joy. There were Name, Gemu, and Saoba who came up to me to shake my hand and welcome me. They all asked about Tobey, since he was their teacher last year in the Bible college. We were left to get ourselves organized and the ladies went back to the airstrip for the second load! So while they were gone, we put up mosquito nets, unpacked bedding and later went to the river below to wash. The Christians had build 3 temporary houses and 3 new toilets (“smol haus”) for the ladies. The second group arrived at 5:30, so there was no worship that evening as everyone was too tired, but there was singing around the fires and everyone caught up with news of each other.

I must tell you that this is a first for the congregation in the Waria Valley. Everything from rice, tinned meat, tea, sugar, milk and anything else they needed that they can’t grow had to be bought in Lae, flown out to the airstrip and then carried on backs into the village. How many of us would go to so much trouble? They counted it all a blessing so that the Christians could be together! The congregation was started in 1972 by Joe Cannon and Reg Coles. Reg and his wife, Ruth moved from Lae and lived there for over 11 years (after they were into their 50’s and when they had to walk two days into the place). Last year, Ruth came back for a visit and walked in to see the brethren there (she’s a very young 72!).

SATURDAY, 13th April...The 5 ladies from Popondetta came into the village at 1:30pm. That means the ladies went back to the airstrip and carried everyone's cargo and sang them in as well. No one was able to come from Pt. Moresby. I found out that the school age children go to the Station every morning to school and come back every afternoon since that is the only school in the area, also the only Aid Post is there so if someone is ill or has an accident, they have to go the 2 hours to get treatment. Not only did Velma bring medicine, but so did Mongupe and Rose knowing the need here. Gabine, Anna came by to welcome me. They were in school last year and are in their own place for their practical work for MBC Everyone had a big supper (the men of the congregation will be cooking this week so that the women will be able to attend each session and not have to miss anything) and then down to the building for worship.

SUNDAY, 14th April...We have over 190 adults in worship this morning. We had several of the ex-students of MBC conducting the services. They had asked the “Kiap” (policeman) of the area who lived at the Station to welcome us all. The singing was beautiful. It was in “tok ples” (their own tongue), in Pidgin English and in English (most are educated in English). That afternoon Velma saw 30-35 patients and I was given a small string bag (bilum) by Sapo that is made of bush fibre and colored from bush dyes. It’s beautiful! That night started the Ladies’ Workshop and we had over 150 ladies gather. We had several ladies from 4 different “missions” (denominations) come as well. I thought that I’d sneak off to bed early (9:00pm) but just then everyone decided to come and “story” for awhile.

MONDAY, 15th April...The men have been getting up at 4am to start heating water for tea every morning and so long about 5am each morning they start singing in 4 part harmony and it’s lovely to be awaken to songs of praise. It’s almost like a radio alarm clock! We have a small boy who is sleeping in the house who is terrified of Velma and me because we are white and he’s never been around any before. He starts crying as soon as he wakes in the mornings realizing he’s in the same house as us. It makes us feel terrible and helpless. This week’s lessons are on what the Holy Spirit’s work is and how we can grow in the fruit of the Holy Spirit if we let Him work within our lives and help others. We had 171 gather this morning. Very uplifting. After lunch I went to the river to wash clothes. Grace helped and then carried them back and hung them up while I washed me. Velma and Rose are seeing patients on the veranda again. They’ve seen patients for only three days and already most of the medicine is finished. Back to the building for another class and many reports from the different congregations around the country.

TUESDAY, 16th April...We have 194 this morning in class with 7 responses for either prayers or repentance. Each morning there are two lectures and one class (married and singles). At lunch my plate is always heaped with rice, sweet potato and greens and some tinned meat so I give half to one of the small girls of the village who has no meal ticket. Later that day I went on top where the helicopter pad was (Reg had built) to watch the volleyball game (the only flat place for miles). That night we had over 180, Julie Mesa (18) was the speaker. She did an excellent job as have all the ladies. There have been questions written and so Marika (Yusi’s wife) and Rose (John’s wife) were asked to answer them. This is really good. They are having to deal with the other groups (missions) and stand up for the truth. More reports and then cups of tea.

WEDNESDAY, 17th April...One of the young men helping with the cooking was bitten by a centipede just by his eye at 4am so no siren or singing this morning since Velma told them not to make noise so Jacob could sleep and let the swelling go down. Another 187 in class this morning. More questions (Marika asked for assistance so I shared my notes from Tobey’s class on the Holy Spirit) and 17 responses to the invitation. One, Bessie, Dogo’s sister wants to be baptized. So down to the river they go. Six of the men (ex-students) come to help. All of the ladies have used down to earth illustrations to get their points across. It’s marvelous to see the growth within the church and in individual's lives. Major storm hits around 5pm with winds, thunder, lightning and heavy rains. No class tonight. The path is too slick and we would not be able to hear the speakers. So most of the ladies met under the house (it’s on poles) to discuss who will have next years workshop. Somewhere around 11pm they leave.

THURSDAY, 18th April...Last day of classes, 156 this morning. Lots of singing, and more great lessons. This morning the “bilum” was given by the Waria ladies to the Lae ladies as a mark that the Lae ladies will host the workshop next year. There were many tears in the exchange. This is to show what an honor it is to have the meeting, the hard work that has been done and the hard work that will take place in the year ahead, like birth pains. There has been put into the ground a “mumu” with 3 pigs, several chickens and vegetables for later in the afternoon. More questions were answered. I spoke to the singles class on I Cor 12:11 and later Velma spoke on I Pet 1:2. There was a song of good-bye that was hard to get through because of the emotions. Later we went to the river to wash and as I got up, I lost one of my canvas shoes into the water. (So she left the other shoe with one of the girls and said she would have a pair if she found the other one. ed)The mumu was opened and divided up among the different places represented. Velma and I got our own dish of food. The food was really tasty and well cooked, Mom! I was given another bilum and a necklace from one of the evangelists wife in Popondetta. The rains held off until 8pm. Packed most everything since we are to leave at 6am tomorrow.

FRIDAY, 19th, April...Up at 4am to finish packing mosquito net and bedding. Everyone out in a line to say good-bye. More tears. Another walking stick, but somewhat cooler until about 7am. I am drenched with sweat again by the time I arrive at the airstrip. It is a bit easier going back until the last “hill”. They wanted to carry me across the river that was swollen. It would be better if I let them, they assured me, "so that I wouldn’t have wet shoes". I still got wet shoes. You should have been there! A small (9 passenger) airplane came at 1:30pm. Who to go? Those from Goroka, Julie, so she could catch the boat back home Saturday morning and 3 others because of the cargo. So the rest of us went back to sit under the trees to wait and see if the plane would be back that afternoon or the next day. Then the pilot called out to me to come also. (Thank you, God!) So off we went. Oh it was wonderful to see Tobey standing there waiting, but hard to tell the many others that their wives would be in the next day on a larger airplane (a 20 seater).

A warm shower and a soft bed! Needless to say that I will have to get into better shape before I go again. Tobey put down lino in the dining area and kitchen/laundry room. Wonderful! Tobey handed me a fax from Terasa and Chris saying we are to be GRANDPARENTS, were we ready? You bet! Somewhere around December 25th.

In Christian service, your co-workers for the cause of Christ in the South Pacific,

Tobey & Kathy Huff