On the 14th of September, the day of the new church building's opening, I was all dressed in PNG costume and was taken by surprise, when I was approached by a group of church women who then picked me up bodily and carried me to the sheltered platform where I was to sit. I don't think they reckoned on my being as heavy as they found me because they very nearly dropped me! It was the first part of their ceremony. I was longing to put my feet on good old "Terra Firma," instead of them pointing gradually more and more toward the sky!! Well I had to laugh - everyone else was!
The Opening Ceremony of the new church building in the local village near the station went well, although it was drawn out to be very long, due to all the special dances and performances (in the usual PNG style of ceremonies). There was also my song in the local Fore language, my talk outlining the history of the Famia/Ofafina Church, and emphasising that it only happened through the enablement of our wonderful Lord Who strengthened all who had anything to do with the planting and growing of it (all Glory be to Him). There were other speeches by local and visiting dignitaries, as well as the American Missionary, Reverend George Butron from the Foursquare church in Kainantu.
George delievered a challenging message to alert folks to the fact that the attack on America marked a new time ahea for the whole world which may bring very difficult times for all of us and that this means there is a greater need than ever before to pray and seek the Lord! Instead of a ribbon to cut, to declare the church open, the Highlander's style is to have a sugar cane across the door which has to be cut with a sharp bush knife. George had the honour of cutting the cane! The celebrations lasted a week, and then it was off to Goroka to set up an appointment with Provincial Planning Board of the Eastern Highlands province to discuss our proposed community projects and to ask their written approval for us to go ahead and apply for the funding fromt the appropriate sources. |
