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Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea, a remote area on the Indonesian border

Mission Trip to Vanimo,
Sandaun Province, PNG

Uploaded 25 March 2007

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by Sister Thecla Sinakadi, Ladies Auxilary President, PNG

Report on the visit to Nuku (Vanimo) Saudaun Province, Nov 2006

Below is an account of the visit by the Ladies Auxilary to a remote area of Papua New Guinea. This was a historic visit in many ways as it is the first time the Ladies department has funded such a home missions endeavour to a remote area. The Ladies president, a regional head and a lady preacher made this trip. They went by truck, boat and on foot for 3 days to get to the venue. The area they travelled to is one of the most remote in Papua New Guinea. The great Sepik river winds through here. There are very few roads. The two main towns of Vanimo and Wewak were devasted by the tsunami of July 1998. Vanimo is a frontier town with the Indonesian West Papua and is a volatile area. Some 12,000 or more refugees live in camps around the area. The ladies team consisted of Sis Sinakadi, Onga Kambu (Chimbu region) and Naru Boyope (Northern region). Bro Sopa and his wife Sis Mary also did this trip but a few days afterwards, joining us for the Crusade.

The Ladies Team who made the trip

Our first stop over was in Madang where we were welcomed by Pastor Woma and the ladies from the church, with a great meal. On the Sunday the ladies team had the privilege of teaching and promotion of the work of God. God blessed the service with 3 being filled with His spirit.

Our journey from Madang to Wewak was by ship and we left the Madang wharf at 5.00pm and arrived at Wewak at 6.00 am the next morning. We spent the day in Wewak and left the next day for Nuku by Toyota Land Cruiser at 5pm in the evening. The drive to Nuku took 11 hours. On our arrival Brother and Sister Timothy met us and took us to their house for rest and refreshment. After 2 hours we started off for Wulbowe where we were to hold the Crusade and Ladies teaching seminars. We left that morning on foot and arrived 13 hours later barefoot!

We were completely exhausted with pains and swellings all over our bodies, waist, legs and feet. In fact we were unable to walk for the next 2 days. Brother Levis, the host pastor and his wife and the ladies of the district worked hard to restore us back to our normal condition. Despite all of the hardships we encountered on our journeys, the Lord was good to us and helped us make it through!

Many ladies walked for hours to attend the ladies meetings

Our seminar for the ladies was well received and we covered many topics as the ladies had many questions. We especially taught on the Ladies Auxilary department and the raising of funds for our Mothers Memorial.

After this time of teaching we stayed on for the Crusade. Pastors, leaders and congregations came from Vanimo, Aitape, Drekeke and other near by areas to attend. Some of them walked for three days to get to the Crusade, spending their nights sleeping on the road. It is hard in Papua New Guinea where there is a lack of transportation and road problems in many of these remote areas.

While we were there the Lord impressed me that this place can be a bridge where we can build a revival spreading from Vanimo to West Papua. (Indonesia)

The meetings were special, and the first of their kind for many people in this remote province of Papua New Guinea

God is good and blessed the work of the ladies and the Crusade with 14 receiving the Holy Ghost and 12 being baptised in Jesus name.

The journey was tough but the Lord was there with us every step of the way to strengthen and accomplish our mission for the glory of God. As we departed from Wewak the tears were running down from my eyes, not only for sorrow of leaving our brethren, but in remembrance of Jesus words “The harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth laborers into His harvest” Matthew 9:37-38

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Reported by Sister Thecla Sinakadi
President Ladies Auxilary PNG

- 12 September 2008

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