Fifty years on – the United Church of Papua New Guinea – the Legacy lives on

It all started with the roosting of the “Southseas Islands missionaries” from the Cook Islands, namely, Ruatoka, Anaderea, Rau and Eneri onto the shores of Hanuabada in 1873.  (Earlier on they had tried living in Manumanu but disease and most probably, providence, had waylaid them onwards and forward to Hanuabada).  They would be followed a year later, by the Reverend William Lawes, of the London Missionary Society (LMS), his wife, and infant son.

Deacons of the Poreporena United Church, Hanuabada.  When the LMS landed in Hanuabada, the only village leaders they could turn to, to help them with their work, were clan elders.  The elders of the clan, became their obvious choice to aid them advance their mission.  The deacons today, remain the foundations of the church.

The confirmation of the "Seekers' class 2017".  Boni Ako (seated second from right), and Aaron Sidney LAHUI-AKO (standing, first from right), were part of this class.  Their graduation formally confirms them members (ekalesia), and that they can now partake in the holy communion, etc.

Part of the Ekalesia of the Poreporena Lahara United Church of Hanuabada Village

 

Yours truly, posing for an after-church photo with Mr Ben Rima, Secretary of the Poreporena Lahara United Church, Hanuabada

From 1874 right up to 1962, the foundations of what is now the United Church of Papua New Guinea, was developed by these great men and women of the LMS.  But this is another story.

The historical Hanuabada village, with Port Moresby, the capital city of Papua New Guinea, in the background

ON 21 November, 1962, a mere ninety years after the “Misi-tauna, Lou”, Tamate, Ruatoka, and his Rarotongan LMS colleagues arrived in Hanuabada, their dreams of a Church were finally realized when the Papua “Ekalesia” came into being.  Because from the very beginning of the New Guinea Mission, the LMS had longed for and dreamt of the day when there would be a truly Papua church in the Territory.  So, during the 1948 Papua District Committee meeting, they began to put together a plan, which would later result in the formation of the Papuan Church Assembly (PCA).

Two years later in 1950, another meeting was held in Delena.  At this meeting, a pastor and a deacon from each of the Papuan districts were invited to talk about the work of the Church.  The delegates then endorsed plans to conduct regular annual meetings.  But most important of all, they started working on a constitution for the PCA.

For the next nine or so years, the PCA gradually but slowly, developed under wise Papuan leadership, as the local church leaders began to take over many of the responsibilities which had been previously held by the missionaries.  In June, 1959, representatives from the PCA, and the LMS Australia and New Zealand Committee (ANZC) met to draft the constitution for the Papua Ekalesia.  After much consultations and discussions in the Papuan districts, the draft was finally adopted by the provisional Assembly of the Church in October, 1961.

So, when the ANZC met again in February of the following year, the directors finally resolved that “God has now brought us to the hour when, in His Worldwide Church, there is now a truly Papuan Church.  We offer our continuing cooperation as the Papua Ekalesia grows in wisdom and grace, and we pray that Christ may be able to present to Himself, a glorious Church, not having a spot or wrinkle, or any other thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.”[1]

The following year, a “truly Papuan Church” was finally born.  It was christened, the Papua Ekalesia.

On 19 January, 1968, the LMS (New Guinea Mission as it was known to the outside world then) and the Methodist Mission churches finally joined together, through a handshake, and gifts of shell money, and pig tusks, to form the United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

This historical occasion marking the establishment of the UCPNG and Solomon Islands, took place at the Ela Beach oval (where IEA Ela Beach is now located).  After the formal part of the occasion had been concluded, the highly respected Motuan, Reverend Reatau Mea, representing the Papua Ekalesia, gingerly placed a necklace of pig tusks around the neck of the most revered Reverend Saimon Gaius.  In return, Reverend Gaius, representing the Methodist Church, placed a coil of shell money in the hands of Reverend Mea.  After both gentlemen had completed this ceremonial exchange of gifts, Keith McCollen took their offered hands, and on behalf of the United Church of Port Moresby, shook them to signify their lasting unity.  Then these venerable gentlemen in unison, turned around to face another part of the field, and under the watchful eyes of their equally important peers, signed the “Deed of Union” between the LMS and the Methodist, thereby formally endorsing the United Church in PNG and the Solomon Islands.

Everyone then turned their gazes around to enjoy the harmonious singing prowess of the choirs of the New Guinea islands members of the United Church while their Papuan counterparts readied themselves to sing and dance a number of their famous peroveta songs – both legacies of the Methodist and LMS missionaries - the LMS and Methodist missionaries had not come in vain!

Friday, 19 of January, 2018, marks 50 years of the United Church’s formal existence in PNG.  The formal celebrations to commemorate this historical occasion took place at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby on Sunday, 21 January, 2018.

Today, I, together with my other peers, some, whose parents have passed on, others, still alive, pay tribute to the hard work, devotion, and commitment of our parents, who, through their calling by the Most High God, had gone forth into the wilds of this country to do His bidding.  Together, we experienced the wonders of such a life - constant hunger pangs, sometimes lack of proper shelter and warmth, proper clothing, sometimes hostile locals in the areas they were posted to, and most times, the lack of general basic necessities of life which we, the children, and our children take for grant today.

With mum and dad at the Rarongo Theological College, East New Britain Province; circa 1973.

With mum and dad at Rarongo Theological College in 1972.  Holding me is late Bishop (retired) Nou Oru.  It was also during this time that the foundations of our strong family ties with the Orus' of Pari village, NCD were laid. Dad and Uncle Nou became true mates, right up to the passing of uncle Nou a couple of years ago.  There and then, they promised to cement this with the naming of their sons after themselves.  Nou Ako and Ray "Raju" Nou, both married with children of their own, are the living embodiments of this relationship.

Planting the foundations of what I am today. Mixing it up with people, albeit, children, of different colours, backgrounds, nationalities, and creed.  This is an early Saturday morning 1974 photo of Rarongo beach, where all the kids, including those of the lecturers, streamed to see this great killer fish the fishermen had caught!  yours truly has made sure that he stands faraway from the jaws of this fish...

The United Church General Assembly meeting held at Gaulim Teachers' College, East New Britain Province. Photo circa 1973?  This is a very significant meeting for United Church Women in particular. During the Women's Inter-Regional Conference held earlier in Kabakada, East New Britain province, mum due to her role as a women leader at the Rarongo Theological college attended this meeting.  During that meeting she was nominated to represent United Church women, for the very first time, at this General Assembly meeting.  Of course, she had to bring me with her too, to avoid me missing school and running around the college while dad was away in classes.  To this day, I truly don't know why I was allowed into this official United Church General Assembly photo.  But it remains, I was a participant! (hehe)

I am a very thankful beneficiary of this legacy, a legacy which to this very day has complemented, supported, encouraged, guided, and most of all, inspired me through life’s turbulent roll.  I praise God almighty for making it so.  Therefore, I stand today, in awe, of my parent’s humble achievements for the Church. 

I left Hanuabada and Port Moresby, for that matter, when I was four years old in 1972, to follow my father’s dream of becoming a religious minister of the United Church.  From the picturesque beaches of the Rarongo Theological college to the beautiful jungles of Siwai, with a brief year’s stint in between, in Adelaide, South Australia, then on to the PNGDF establishments of Lombrum, Moem, Igam and Taurama barracks to take over from the departing Australian Army Chaplains, me and my siblings became part and parcel of the LMS legacy that goes back to 1873. 

At Dad's ordination service where Bishop Beaso officially ordained him as a United Church Minister and conferred on him, the title of Reverend Ray Ako.  This occured on Sunday, 5 December, 1976 at the Tonu United Church, Siwai, in what is now the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Mum, with well wishers after Dad's ordination service at Tonu United Station, Tonu station, Siwai, AROB.

Nou Ako having a bath at our backyard at Hurai, Siwai. We lived in one of the dilapidated teacher's houses at Hurai community school, Siwai in 1976. 

Dad, with his Catholic counterpart, Chaplain His, in Vanuatu during the Jimmy Stevens uprising.

An after service picture at the Small Northfield Church, Adelaide. Mum is standing in the foreground, circa 1975?

At this morning’s family devotion, Dad, who is now 75 and retired, led the devotion (as we were not able to attend the 50^th anniversary church Service being held at the SJG stadium).  He spoke about Micah and Micah’s advice to his people to be just, kind, and most importantly, walk humbly with God.  

Despite our many shortcomings as humans, this has always been our family motto, and will remain so for generations to come. 

The actual reading from the Book of Micah (Chapter 6: 8) says:

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God? (Mic 6:8)

May God continue to bless and guide the United Church of Papua New Guinea, and its faithful members, to complement, promote, support and advance the spiritual, social, economic, and political development of this beautiful land of ours, Papua New Guinea.

 

Mum and dad, me and my little champ, Nou Ako Jnr, after church service on a Sunday in 2017.  We remain, devoted followers of the Most High God, in Whom, I place all my trust and belief, that He will continue to richly bless me and my family,  and guide us through life's wilderness, and that may He continue to confuse the thoughts and minds of all those who think evil of me and may want to hurt or kill me or my family, but that He also blesses them richly and show them the true art of friendship, kindness, and humbleness among mankind, AMEN.
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Note to the readers: The above is but a very very short summary of what I wrote in my first book.  For sales enquiries, please email me on lahui.ako@gmail.com.  Cost of a copy is K100.

 

 

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[1] Lockley, G. Lindsay (1972), p35-36

How a person half my age changed my life forever:

How a person half my age changed my life forever:

 Between September and November 2015, I had recurring HBP of 190/100.  A couple of checks at the PIH found nothing that could explain why this was so.  There was already talk by the Dr for me to consider some serious examination of my heart.  My one and only bestie Daera Ako gave them a blunt “NO” and bundled me off, cap in hand, to Prof Kevau’s clinic.

After some ear-bashing by uncle Isi for rushing off to the so-called experts at PIH when the real helpers were at POMGEN, he told me to stand on the weighing machine and grimaced as the needle pointed into the void at 126kg.  (Void as in going past the “obese” category on the machine).  There and there, he started laying down the law.

 That December, (in the first week, I think), me and my colleagues Marie Eorage-Vele and Julie Wapo were in Canberra to pick up our Peruvian visas to attend the APEC ISOM in Lima the following week.  A couple of days later I receive a text message from a mate of mine from our Defence Rugby League days, Robert Ilu, asking me if I was available to have a short talk with the shyly spoken Kato Ottio, who was feeling homesick and was already thinking of packing it in and going home.  I jumped at this opportunity to meet this champ and do my best to talk him out of it so that he can go chasing his dream.

The following day, the ladies and I drove to locate where GIO stadium was (and nearly getting booked by the police for driving up a wrong lane).  Finally locating it, we met up with Rob and Kato at the GIO car park.  We all then drove off to the nearest coffee shop to have a yarn.

 

Forming the Canberra Raiders "frontrow" at the carpark of the GIO stadium, with me as hooker, Robert as prop, and a visibly shy Kats as the other prop

 

The first time I met this champ who would change my lifestyle for the better.

Sitting down, I asked him in Motu, “Ede bamona, be Rob egwaumu hanua taudia olalo dia mu?” (Whats this Im hearing from Rob that you are feeling homesick?)

 

He looked up at me shyly and replied in the same language, “Its just that everything here is new and Im finding it a bit different from my time at the hunters. I also worry about my mum because I'm here now and Im not sure how she is coping in my absence.”

I nodded my understanding and asked him to communicate in pidgin so that Rob could understand and also give some helpful advice too. 

So, over a couple of capuchinos and blueberry muffins, Rob and I did our best to convince him to stay strong to his dream, which could only be achieved at GIO and not in Port Moresby; and to forget about home for a while but to concentrate on the job at hand - which was to secure for himself a contract with the Raiders.  Most important if all, we told him too that there was no turning back from hereon, and that he could kiss his dreams goodbye if he packed it in there and then. 

 

As we left him standing outside his apartment, I leaned out of the driver's seat and told him that for whatever the reason, he carried the hopes and dreams of all Papua New Guineans; that if he was to succeed in playing top grade for the Raiders, we would rejoice with him for his success; as such, he was not to do anything that would bring us sorrow instead. (How was I to know that in less than three years down the road, he would do exactly that?).

I told him that I would be returning back to Canberra again from Peru in a week's time and that we would catch up again. 

We returned from Peru a week later and I made a beeline straight to Queanbeyan to see my sister.  Tina was having her Xmas BBQ that Saturday and we invited Kato to Tina’s where he met Tina’s family and got to know them too.  During the next 7 or so days in Australia, I made sure we (my wife, Daera, daughter Boni, and sons Aaron-Sidney and Nou) visited him every second day in the evenings, just to keep him company and to support him get over his trial and train sessions; and most of all, to give him that family warmth he was obviously missing. 

 

Tina also told him to visit her now and then and to call her if he needed anything.  I was surprised when Tina informed me later that Kato had gone to her place one day, of his own accord, to weed around her hedges and do general cleanup, etc.  He also called Tina during his very first winter in Canberra for blankets which Tina hurriedly rushed off to him...

Visiting Kats at the AIS where he was staying during his Trial and Train at the Canberra Raiders in December, 2015.

With Mr Rex Nou of the Department of Defence, cleaning Tina's garage out in Queanbeyan

  

Catching up again at the Port Moresby Waterfront shopping centre that December 2015

 

As we developed out relationship, he started opening up to me and telling me about his training regime at the Raiders, the type of food to eat or not to eat, etc.  Taking this opening, I asked him how an "old man" like me could use some of his training tips to cut down his weight and beat the HBP hovering over him.  The first time I asked this, he gave me one of his shy smiles and just for the sake of it all, he provide me a tip or two, but couldn't elaborate further.  I knew why he opted not to venture further with his unofficial tutorial.  Been the respectful young man he was, he was conscious of the gap in our ages, and most importantly, Motuan protocol decreed it disrespectful to talk openly about an elder’s health and lifestyle in his presence.  I knew there and then, that he was destined for greatness.

 So, I asked him one night. 

“Kats, when you return home for your break, which gym will you use?”

“I don’t know,” he responded.  “Why? Do you have one in mind?” he asked.

I nodded.  “Listen, I'm a member of the Aviat Club, and I know that they have a gym there with new equipment.  You could train there?”, I hinted.  I knew and I knew that he knew that for him, the High Performance Training Facilities in Port Moresby were available to athletes of his calibre.  Again, with God driving our relationship, he opted to "train with me" instead.

So, commenced a training program built upon the foundations of a very strange relationship between two very unlikely training partners: A 22-year old professional Rugby League player trying to secure his first ever rugby league contract in the world’s toughest rugby league competition; and a 47-year old wannabee trying to do the impossible.

 

During our first training session at the Aviat Club gym. Here we are posing for a pix with the gym attendant.  This was when Paul Taumik Jnr also interviewed him for the News coverage that evening.

Kats showing me how its done at the Raiders

After-gym visit to Nese Heights as he wanted to meet my family, especially my parents in particular.  Here he is posing with my mum.

By the time Kato left the following year, I promised him that the next time he saw me, he would see a totally different me.  I visited Tina again the following December and he congratulated me on looking much more “trimmer than the last time I saw you, kaks”, he said.  I told him yes, from 121kg I was now down to 107kg.  He smiled approvingly.

That December after he had returned home in September due to injury, he joined me at the gym, this time with Kohu "Kouchy" Dai.  We would do marathon gym session under his guidance and mentoring (rowing machines, and other cardio exercises, etc) to assist me get to 100kg by 31 December, 2016.  We all cheered loudly, with him giving me a couple of high fives, when I made 98.6kg on that last day of the year.

Kato calls a "break" in training for a selfie shot..

The end of another workout session, as both youngsters congratulate the old man for successfully completing gruelling high-speed 8 x 20-seconds rowing session

Keeping time as the champ rowed for his contract...

Kouchy Dai going at it...

...and the one-minute plank sessions...

Pushing and pushing...rowing and rowing...

..under the watchful eyes of Aaron Sidney LAHUI-AKO

He returned back to Australia in the beginning of 2017 for his second season with the Mounties, and the last time I would see him and talk with him would be in July that year.  Both Ambassador Pomaleu and I were guests of the Australian APEC team in Canberra (and also to observe the ongoing training of the 52 PNG public servants on APEC-related policy initiatives in Australia).  that night, Tina invited the both of us to dinner.  Being the person she is, she also instructed me to check on Kato and to see if he was available to eat with us.  He was.

 

Kats came to my hotel at the Mantra on Northbourne and was quietly sitting at the corner, trying his very best to look inconspicuous.  Too bad for him. The hotel was full of Papua New Guineans - all 52 of them.  They all crowded him, wanting to meet him for the first time, and just to talk with him, get to know him better.  He got photos with a few of them too.  Which was the reason why he quickly but apologetically got up from where he was sitting when he saw me walk out of the lift...  The rest of the team, sensing his distraction from their queries, jokes, etc, made way for him as he slowly strolled towards me.  Hugging me he apologized for intruding like this. I shrugged off his apologies and quickly introduced him to Ambassador Pomaleu.  In the car, on our way to Tina’s, he quietly asked me in Motu, “Kaks, you’ve lost a lot of weight now.  How much?” I replied, “I'm 94kg now.”  He nodded and smiled to himself, the smile of a person knowing that one's success was also his success.

Our God is an awesome God and He works in very mysterious ways, and I believe that people come into your life for a reason.  God almighty, in His ever lasting wisdom, put Kato into mine - purposely to bring me back to health.  Our God, in turn, put me into Kato's life during the early days of his "Trial and Train" outing with the Raiders to support him and encourage him to reach his goals, and not to lose hope.  I praise God because we both carried out His will to the letter.  You see, both of us needed something which the other had.  And we could only obtain them through no other way but by "sharing" our expertise and God-given talent and gift with one another.  

 

When I reflect back on his passing, I know that he is now reporting to our God that "Yes, Father, Your will was carried out and your servant Lahui is now rolling on with what You had task me to teach him..."

 

Well bro, I am well now, and I exercise regularly for someone my age.  I tipped the scales at 87.7kg today (Saturday, 6 January, 2018), I walk 5km in under 40-minutes now, and I row 2,500m in 10 minutes now.   I no longer have those health issues I had before meeting you in December, 2015.  My BP is normal, and so as my sugar level.  All because you rubbed your youthful exuberance, enthusiasm, and your great need to succeed at the Canberra Raiders, off on me and pushed me on to regain my wellbeing. 

 

Kats congratulating me for achieving another milestone in our training sessions in December, 2016.

Today, I pay tribute to you, my brother, Kato Ottio. You have changed my life forever.  My family and I will never forget you for as long as we live.  Today, the Akos of Nese Heights, Hanuabada mourn your passing and Remember you as a Game changer and Legend!

“Rest in peace, Tadigu lalokau na.  Aola, eda Dirava ese emu noho gabuna na vada e ahegaegae a. Aola, mai maino mu ida…”

 

https://www.facebook.com/lahui.ako

Southern Region League 9s - What direction?

It is a very good initiative by the 9s organizers to come big in 2010 with more than 96 teams taking part in the southern region 9s. The reward: a tour to NZ in 2011 to play a side there. From a rural villager's point of view this is great news. A chance to show my best in the hope of getting selected to go overseas and see the world.
However, a player's chances of going on this tour is 1/1440 i.e, if the teams are restricted to 96 teams of 15-men squads.
However, I assume a sportsperson's ultimate dream is to wear his national colors in the game he or she loves best. For the Rugby League player, is the Kumul jersey. I assume this will be on the minds of the 1,440 plus youngsters who will be strutting their stuff out in the next 5-days. How can they wear this prestigious jumper if there is ongoing in-fighting among the PNGRFL heavies and if selection into this elite squad is limited to overseas-based players and inter-city Cup players?
One first thought will be to put one or two franchise teams in the inter-city competition using the 9s concept as a player-base. However, more questions will continue to arise from this:
1. Do we have the calibre of players in the southern region to play in the inter-city Cup week-in, week-out;
2. Do we have players who can absorb the pressures of countering the aggressiveness of the highlanders in this competition week-in, week-out without chickening out? The fact of the matter is that all the teams in the inter-city cup are dominated by players from the highlands region so there is no way out of it.
3. Or because of point (2), the selectors and franchise owners will be forced to buy players from the highlands region to counter this aggresiveness, and in doing so, defeat the whole purpose of developing League in the southern region area?
This brings us back to the question: So what then is the purpose of the Southern region League 9s?
It is true that for the two months leading up to the 9s in December the youths of the villages in Central Province and NCD limit their un-social activities to attend training sessions, etc. So whats going to happen to them now after the 12th of this month when the tournament is over? Revert back to their anti-social behaviours when they dont hear their names called out for the NZ tour? Obviously, no one is taking 1,400 players on a tour to NZ.
Having 7-10 teams from the same village in this competition defeats the competitiveness of this tournament. One would have thought that this 7 teams would have played themselves out to pick their best for this tournament, and in doing so, lift the standard up abit unless the whole point of the tournament is to give EVERYONE an opportunity to play League, albeit in whatever level and form. If this is the case then the team that is picked for the NZ tour will also be weak simply because they were picked from a tournament that had below-average to average players. So for player X selected to go on the NZ tour, who was used to making numerous breaks during the tournament against below-average defenders, he will truly find the going tough when he comes up against a Kiwi bloke who wont budge an inch.
Further, between now and the next tournament in December 2011, what do the organizers expect the players to do? Stay off the streets by asking them to go fishing or gardening until they hear the call for the next tournament? The chances of a couple of them making their way into the established Rugby League teams in the tough Port Moresby League competition is very minimal. And if they did, their chances of actually taking the field will be like counting sands simply because the PRL only has an "A" Grade competition and a Under-19s competition. These limits clubs to not more than 50-players per year. So what then?

My simple solutions will be as follows:

1. Organizers must have a year-long program for all villages to abide by until the next tournament. Now the funding issue will surface...but again, one needs funds to run programs. So the onus is on the organizers to look for the funds to run their programs.
2. Get the village councilors and local MPs to be involved in these programs; and
3. Provide the opportunity for PNG Rugby Union to promote Rugby in these villages too. with the limited opportunities available in League, I am sure that village boys will jump at the chance of passing the oval-shape ball in the other code.

If you look at the Rugby Union option, it is not a far-fetched one but a very valid one. One should therefore consider these options thoroughly and consider the Rugby option seriously, if he wants to excel right up to the top!

My email is: lahui.ako@gmail.com Please dont hesitate to email me to discuss options.

The Plight of my people - the Motu-Koitabuan

Why is a Motu-Koitabuan regarded in PNG as a lazy, good-for-nothing, timid person, who cannot even live properly in his own surrounding?

Why has all the social ills known in the modern world - hunger, poverty, malnutritition, alcoholism, prostitution, pimping, drugs, disease, tao-tore, and the list goes on -found and rife in our villages? Why is a family now nursing a 16-year old patient living with HIV? Why are we living in filth? Simply, what have we done to deserve this? Is the Good Lord punishing us for not living according to His wishes? Mind you, we did recieve the first LMS missionary, didnt we?

All these questions, and many more are going through the minds of all concerned citizens. This morning, on Kalang, Chairman of the Motu-Koitabu Assemby (MKA), Hon Miria Ikupu raised his concerns against the NCDC for not supporting the MKA with funds besides the K10 million allocated to the MKA by the Government. His plight is this: he needs these assistance to answer the questions raised above.

The Motu-Koitabuan villages are situated within and on the fringes of the city gates. All have lost their fishing and hunting grounds and gardening land. Unemployment is rife. For instance, in Hanuabada alone, there is a 95% unemployment rate. 70% of these are youths and teenagers and most have turned to crime for support. Seeing young girls, some as young as 15, stepping out off high ranged, tinted cars, during the day loaded down with plastics of food for the family is now a normal part of life in these villages as their parents shamefully pretend to look elsewhere if only in order to have a good feed. Some of these girls are even escorted to "work" by their relatives (mothers???). While the girls earn money this way, their "brothers" line the main streets of this most famous (because of hosting the first LMS missionary, the raising of the taubada's flag on Metoreia Hill, and the Hanuabada Hawks RFLC) and infamous (because of the above ills) village in PNG to sell "steam" and the spak-burus to clients, who also come from as faraway as the outlaying surburbs of NCD. This is a rot that is killing the very fabric our ancestors set for us.

The simple question is this: How can we help ourselves out of this murk? Those with the correct papers and birthrights have already shifted residence overseas. They are safe from these problems.

Remember also that beneath our "neses" lie millions of potential virus and microbes which, in the not-too-distant future, can turn themselves into diseases which can result in an outbreak of epidemic the size, which could kill thousands of residence in the city. It doesnt end there, rising sea levels can only mean one thing - that in the future, there will be no more "neses" to build houses on as the sea level will prohibit this. Where then, will these people move to? Inland? ok, inland, but to what land? None of them own any land inland? This is another problem in itself and will cost the Government Billions of kina. Try asking the Madang provincial government.

As you read this, remember that there are families in these villages who have woken up today to a very cold kitchen. Most will come out to the main street and await opportunities, others will go to visit relatives in the other parts of the village, if only, to drink a cup of tea to warm their grumbling bellies, while others will just sit outside their varendahs and dream. There are no gardens to go to because all gardening lands have either been sold off to investors or have other enterprising Papua New Guineans squatting on them; there are no fishing expeditions to go to because the price of zoom soars beyond their dreams, and yes, there are not even canoes to paddle out to sea with because all they have been chopped up for firewood.

Why and how have we come to deserve this?

May God Almighty, bless the Motu-Koitabu villages and hear our humble prayers for deliverance from all these, Amen.


LA

Tribute to the late Idau Nafuki (nee Arua)

On behalf of my parents Retired Reverend Rei Lahui-Ako, my mother, Kari, and my family, I would like to take this opportunity to convey our heartfelt sorrow and condolences to Reverand Allan Nafuki and his family, for the loss of their beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Mrs Idau Arua.

Rev. Nafuki of Vanuatu and late Idau Arua of Hanuabada, met during their time as students at the Rarongo Theological College in the 1970s, during the same time my parents had heed God's call too, to train there as his messengers. Both met, fell in love, and got married...with the good Reverand bringing his bride home to Vanuatu to live.

It is always a tragedy to die in a foreign land...however, the late Idau chose to follow her husband to his country to share his life there. That ended a couple of days ago, after nearly more than 30 years of love, laughter, hardships, trials and tribulations ... when God All Mighty called her to be with HIM forever.

"REST IN PEACE"

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Above photo shows Allan Nafuki (left), Rei Lahui (middle) and Idau Arua (right) during a happy "social night" gathering in Rarongo, East New Britain Province, PNG, 1973.

Educating Social Transformation through Outreach and Evangelism

The title of this discusion is the theme of the Roundtable meeting that was convened at the Poreporena-Laurabada United Church last night (Wednesday, 24 March, 2010) by the Social Concern and Justice Committee of the congregration.
The Meeting was attended by heads of sporting organisations in the village (although only Rugby was represented by yours truly and CEO-Rugby Central Foundation, Jack Kariko. League, Volleyball, Netball, and cricket did not attend), village councillors, clan elders, church reps, and community leaders.
The main purpose of the meeting was to gather information and data and identify the social problems that are now existing in our society today, particularly in the Laurabada side of the village - and then provide solutions to the problems of alcoholism, gambling, prostitution, unemployment, vagrancy, non-attendance at school by students; and simply living disciplined lives and respecting and adhering to the rule of law in the village.
Jack Kariko, President of Motuans Rugby Union Club and CEO-Rugby Central Foundation had the previlege of being invited to discuss the club's and Foundation's aspirations and goals for the future. (Please refer to my first blog on this).
The SCJ Committee has now been tasked to conduct further consultations with the greater community before an Action Plan is drafted for implementation in the village. However, there were three (3) main points agreed to by the meeting which will be immediately implemented from today onwards:
1. Curfew will come into force for all school-age children to be indoors by 8pm every school day;
2. Voluntary cleanup of the village by all families; and
3. Two meetings to be held in the village square to further discuss this issue.
Also discussed was the entry into the village (not by genuine visitors) but by those entering to buy homebrew, drugs, and picking up girls. These particular issues will be discussed in detail in upcoming meetings. However, the possibility of banning all non-Hanuabadans on illegal business in the village was sounded out and supported.
At this juncture, I raised concerns that it was the mandated responsibility of the Committee to consult widely before an Action Plan can be raised because convening only two meetings before drafting of the Action Plan means that a majority of the stakeholders will not have been consulted and therefore will not own this initiative. HOwever, it was resolved for the three resolutions to be implemented.
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Assessments:

We Hanuabadans (the biggest village in PNG, population 9,000 plus; unemployment rate: 90%, natural resources - nil!) are now at the cross-road of prosperty OR poverty. The fact that only 0.001% of all University graduands per year are Hanuabadans portray the dillema we are in. It is therefore in our interest to consolidate our future through education or else we will continue to be marginalized in a land we call our own. We must make all haste to come up with a workable strategy to ensure that:

1. All children ATTEND schools (and not loiter outside the school grounds before returning home at 3pm every day;
2. All school teachers MUST be at their stations to teach!
3. ALL parents MUST ensure that their children attend school;
4. All parents MUST assist their children with their homework and ensure that they do their homework NOT loiter around the village;
5. It is the responsibility of all villagers to ensure that our children go the school;
6. Motu-Koitabu Assembly ensure that ALL children must GO to school and support them all the way to National High Schools and Uni.

My fear is that in 20 years time, if we do not address this issue, 99.99% unemployment awaits us! And with this, will come all the social ills under the sun turning my beautiful village into another city slum!
It was said that we Hanuabadans saw the light first (with the arrival of the first LMS missionaries in the 1870s. It would seem that from this light, we are moving fast into darkness!

The SCJ committee will be convening two meetings in the village squares in the next two weeks. I urge all concerned Hanuabadans to attend these meetings and air your views on how these problems can be looked at and rectified. For the vara-varas living abroad, I would appreciate your comments and assistance on this too.

n saying so, I also understand and appreciate the fact the social problems that continue to plague Hanuabada cannot be resolve by tomorrow as problems of overcrowding in houses, communal living, etc, must be taken into consideration. Still, it is a problem and must be solved.

It is therefore my humble plea to everyone (even non-Hanuabadans who have the heart for social development in PNG, etc) to help us save our village from social disintegration.

God save Hanuabada,

LA

Need to have a Motuan Rugby team at the Bava Park

Rugby league has always been the No.1 game in PNG, particularly so among the Motu-Koitabuan villages in NCD and the Central Province of PNG, especially, Hanuabada, where it is said that the "oval shape ball was first caught when it was kicked from Australia, and from where it was then kicked to all parts of PNG." to date, this ball has been kicked away forever, and the Hanuabadans are yet to produce another home-grown PNG Kumul ever since Philip Boge took off his Kumul "Fullback" jersey in 1998. Still, thanks to the Peters, Extons, and Bonds, other Hanuabadans of mix-parentage have taken on this mantle and carried this honor in the current Kumul team.

Our very own Hanuabada Hawks RLC, which I had the honor and pride of playing in in 1993, then later on in 1997/98 is not doing too well to make us all realize this dream. Even the Kumuls production lines at nearby Porebada and Boera villages have also stopped producing their best since Dairi Kovae came back from the Newcastle Knights and Kini Tani retired in the late 1990s. So where then, do we, Motu-Koitabuans stand in this spectrum? Do we blindly follow our hearts desire and continue on to play the game we love, despite knowing very well that the opportunities to play League at the international level is diminishing fast (or gone forever?)? Or do we attempt other alternatives which are staring at us right in our faces? We only have to look at our relatives in Vabukori village to realise how the game of Volleyball can unite!

I for one, personally think that the time has come for a change of focus on League. We Motu-Koitabuans must now seriously consider the opportunities available to us in the game of RUGBY (union) to now make our mark now in this sport! Yes, we did have persons who reprepsented PNG in Rugby in the past, although only four come to mind - Oala Reva (1970s), Morea Kauna, Dai Boe and John Kabua (1990s), and currently, a host of junior Pukpuks. But this players did not use a Motu-Koitabuan team (like the Hanuabada Hawks RLC or Porebada DCA RLC) as a vehicle to make it to the top. No. They joined other city Rugby clubs to fulfill their heart's desire. Today, there continues to remain a lack of interest (or fear of the unknown) when the topic of Rugby is brought up, despite knowing very well that others now dominate in League.

In order to change this mindset and seek the other alternative (amidst a host of criticisms, etc, from our Motu-Koitabuan peers, even one from a former Pukpuk who bluntly told us that such a program would not be sustained, etc, etc, etc and the lack of support from our beloved MK Assembly), we decided to put the money where our mouth was. So in October 2009, former Port Moresby Brothers RFUC strongman Jack Kariko and I registered a not-for-profit organization, called the Rugby Central Foundation (which denotes the centre of rugby development in PNG) - to pursue our dream of promoting "the game played in Heaven" in PNG, particularly, among the Motu-Koitabuan villages. We chose Hanuabada village as the starting point simply because it has the numbers. In fact, in 2009, this village boastednearly 700 players (694 to be exact) between the ages of 14-28. Unfortunately, of these, only 50 make it into the Hanuabada Hawks RLC each year to play in the tough Port Moresby League comp, while the rest are left to fend for themselves playing social League in Philip Boge's League comp, or if not, loaf around the village doing nothing.

So we got together a core group of individuals to start this program. First, we convened two meetings: one at Elevala and another one at Hanuabada to gauge the interest of the youths and to see whether or not we could sustain such a revolutionary program. Persons who were instrumental in gathering the boys together were former Pukpuk John Kabua, church elders Puka Tau and Erue morea, current Hawks RLC half-back Sere Hens, and Kone Sharks Rugby player, Rarua Alei. Together with current junior Pukpuks Alex Ikupu, Ikupu Tamarua, Boe Vaieke, and Raphael Martin and others, we comence our rugby development program at Hanuabada.

We were also assisted greatly by Sidney Wesley and Frankie Makanuey, both top class coaches of the premier Defence and Wanderers sides. These men spent a couple of weeks to impart alot of their experience and knowledge to a group of starry-eyed kids, most of whom had never been a lineout or maul - but all came because of the opportunity to learn something new, or simply, were league outcasts. Former Pukpuk Dai Boe also ran a few training sessions. We also had one unlikely trainer in Kavieng-based Pukpuk Eremas Simba in November 2009. By the grace of God, the son of the current Misi-Tauna at Metoreia, Terence Kedea, a former PNG international himself, was on hand to take over the coaching responsibilities on a full time basis. Into the management fold also came Reverend Nou Douna, current minister with the Laurabada congregation of the Poreporena circuit. Him, we entrusted the spiritual development of the team and gave him the title of "Chaplain". Chaplain Douna then led the devotion and prayer after every training sessions.

By December 2009, our numbers had increased to 30 (from the original 10) and continued to grow. Membership now included the brothers Nou and Lari Asigau of Gabagaba village, and David Bau of Papa. these were Rugby boys who brought with them their experience. We now had the semblance of a team. To keep to our objective under Rugby Central Foundation, we called the club, the MOTUANS RUGBY UNION CLUB with the motto: "Egu Dirava, Egu Hanua"

After a couple of 7s and 10 a-side trial matches among ourselves, the Motuans first baptism of fire came int he form of the Kone Sharks Rugby 7s tournament on 18 January, 2010. We fielded a senior and a Under-20s side. While the U20s gained the much needed match experience during the tournament, the senior Motuans did themselves proud on the day by bowing out of the Cup semi-finals play-offs, thereby, earning themselves a place in the 2011 tournament.

In the first week of February, 2010, livewire Pukpuk 5/8 Douglas Guise ran a weeklong rugby clinic at the Hubert Murray Stadium for the Motuans. Then on Saturday, 6 February, 2010, the Motuans played their first-ever 15s a-side trial match at the Bava Park against a development side from the Port Moresby Brothers RFUC, beating the Brethrens 47-38. the Brethrens were then invited back to Hanuabada where they were hosted to a feed and entertainment. The following week, the Motuans took on the might of a fully-fledged Defence RUC (DRUC) side and drew, 15-15. From this match, 5 players were recruited by DRUC to trial for spots in their 2010 side. Of these five, Danny Mea and Lakani John opted out, while Sale Doura, John Sukope and Aloysius Taurina have made an impact with DRUC during the POM RFU Pre-season competition and are set to play a big part in the DRUC's 2010 campaign. Allan Gabutu and a couple of others have also been accepted to play in the DRUC junior grades this season.

After the DRUC trial, the program immediately went into recess. It was also the aim of the Motuans management to get as many players as possible aligned to existing clubs in POM RFU simply to learn as much as they can in RUGBY and to develop themselves as Rugby players. To date, there are now : 8 Motuans playing with DRUC and 7 with Kone Sharks RUC. It is our hope that when we regroup in October 2010, we should have up to 20 hardened rugby players to form the core of our programs. Under this program, we will also be bidding for a place in the 2011 POM RFU competition. If this bid is successful, then all these Motuan players (and others who hear our call) will form the core of the innaugural MOTU-KOITABU Rugby side to play AS A CLUB in 2011.

When the program resumes in October this year, the Motuans will make a tour abroad to raise funds for its entry into POM RFU in season 2011. We will also host a Motu-Koitabu Rugby 7s tournament in November, 2010, participate in the Kone Sharks Rugby 7s tournament; and play a home-and-away series with Lalaura Rugby (tbc).

With this short brief, I would like to take this opportunity to ask all loyal Motu-Koitabu supports of rugby to put all your support behind the MOTUANS RUC and its rugby development programs in the villages and we hope to see you all shouting your voice off for the MOtuans at the Bava in season 2011, as we play for God and our homeland!

LA