Wokabaut i go long ples Yaringi

(Walking to Yaringi village)

I was in Telefomin recently for a four-week tour, and took the opportunity to go for a couple of walks with some local ladies. The first was just half a day, to the top of the road heading towards Eliptamin. While we were there we happened to meet a lady whom I had flown from Gubil earlier in the week. She had given birth and was walking home, only four days later!

Following that walk, I talked to the ladies about possibilities for doing a longer walk and staying overnight somewhere, like we had done during my bush orientation. I said, if possible, I would like to go somewhere with a nice view (sampela ples mi inap long tromoim ai i go longwe tru). They discussed for a while and suggested going to a village that overlooks the Sepik gorge, where they had relatives.

Having seen the Sepik gorge from the air, I was keen, and we all made preparation. Joyce walked to the village on one of her days off to let them know I would be coming, and I purchased some gifts (rice, salt, soap etc.) during a trip back to Hagen.

The day arrived, but unfortunately Joyce’s son was sick and she was not able to come with me, but Vero and another lady, Menik, were happy to take me.

We retraced our steps to the top of the first hill, then took a left turn and continued following the bikrot (big road) to the village of Ufek. Past this, the bikrot became a bus rot (bush road - what we in NZ would call a tramping track) and the going got much, much harder.

‘This is the road that goes to Miyanmin,’ Vero told me, pointing at a barely distinguishable track that branched off to the right. Miyanmin would have been an overnight stop for the mama on her way to Gubil. I marvelled even more at the strength and stamina she would have needed.

We passed a couple of lookout points, got our umbrellas out as the rain started to fall, negotiated slippery logs, tree roots, and boggy sections. The sun was getting noticeably lower in the sky and I was starting to get concerned that we might not arrive at the village before nightfall. Vero and Menik didn’t know for sure how much further it was.

Finally we heard voices, and then saw the village. We had been walking for nine hours. The people came to greet us and escorted us to a house that had been recently constructed but not yet used. It had been decorated with flowers and we were encouraged to settle in while dinner was prepared.

I presented the gifts I had brought to one of the community leaders to distribute. Then I pulled out some Bible comics and a calendar that I had recently received from a supporter that had photos of NZ scenery with Bible verses, and everyone was intrigued to see what my country was like. ‘It has mountains, like PNG,’ I explained, ‘but it’s much colder, so there is ice on top of the mountains.’

We had planned to spend a whole day at the village. The next morning, I suggested that I could teach them something from the Bible. They were overjoyed at the prospect and immediately set about gathering everyone together. I considered what to share, and decided to read through Hebrews 11 and give a short commentary on the various stories about faith. I concluded by saying faith is not about what we can see and touch, and having faith doesn’t mean life will be easy for us, but it does mean we will receive the things God has promised us in heaven, which is the most important thing.

After I had finished speaking, and leading the community in prayer, a man stood up and introduced himself. He was from the next village over, and was training to be a pastor. ‘I heard there was a white lady staying here, so I came to see her,’ he said. ‘I listened to what she said and I was very encouraged. I’m going to go back to my village and share this with everyone there.’

I was humbled by this. I had just wanted to go for a walk to a place with a good view. In doing so, I had gained a new appreciation for the lives of people living in remote villages without an airstrip, encouraged them just be being there, and taught them something from the Bible that would be promulgated even further. Indeed, ‘the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps’ (Prov. 16:9).

The bikrot heading left from the junction

Ufek village, end of the bikrot

Vero leads the way on the bus rot

Sometimes the rot was a tree trunk!

Sun after rain

Vero and Menik take a break and tromoim ai

The house we stayed in at Yaringi

View over the Sepik gorge the next morning

Sunshine at Yaringi village

Saying goodbye

Walking back to Telefomin

Our group stops at a lookout

Reaching Ufek and the bikrot again