The typically quiet and cold misty September morning in Banisu Adventist Mission compound in Wau was interrupted by the bustling noise of enthusiastic people humming hymns and choruses as they readied themselves to head for Garaina in the Waria Valley.
Wau/Waria District of Morobe Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist church will be hosting an evangelistic meeting in Garaina and also helping the Bisenanga church family to build their church.
As the sun rises, three loaded Toyota Land Cruisers left the mission compound in Wau, leaving one after the other as they set out for Biaru, carrying a total of 46 people. The road was wet and a bit slippery as it just rained the previous night. Along the way, the three trucks started to draw away from each other with a fair distance between each other because of the bad road conditions.
Back in Garaina, the Adventist church families of Bisenanga Adventist church gathered together, with the help from non-Adventists in the surrounding community. Some went and collected stones and rocks from the nearby streams and creek beds while others helped in shifting the newly sawn timbers from the as they prepared for the incoming delegates from Wau and Kira.
Bisenanga Adventist church in Garaina will be hosting its first ever district camp meeting after 38 years since its establishment in the early 1980’s. Bisenanga church, is like many other Adventist churches in Papua New Guinea. It is located in a remote area in the heart of Waria Valley. The only way to reach Bisenanga is via aeroplane, or three days walk starting from Biaru, as the only road leading to Garaina has deteriorated over the years.
The sun was almost overhead, when the second truck having passed the Wau/Biaru landmark and making its way down Mount Waria (as the people here called it). As they were going downhill, the truck started to gain momentum. The driver, without saying a word to his two passengers in the cabin, started stepping furiously on the break paddle. Having seen what was happening, the two passengers inside the cabin started praying silently in their hearts.
The truck was dashing downhill at an unusual speed coming closer and closer to a bend on the road when all of a sudden, the first truck appeared around the bend. Having dropped off everyone and was on its way back. Seeing this, the panicked driver released his seatbelt, opened the door and leaped out of the speeding vehicle. The first truck slowed down and swerved to a halt, giving enough space for the second truck to dashed by and up the mountain wall before flipping over, throwing out everyone onboard except the other two who were still trapped inside. Among those who are involved in the accident, is a few months old toddler, who was also thrown out of the overturning vehicle with not so much of a scratch on him.
“We had to send six of us back to Wau, for medical attention,” said Elder Lami Yasi, of Banisu Adventist Church in Wau. “Most of us sustain minor scratches, but that did not stop from continuing our journey to Garaina,” he added.
Six people with cuts, flesh wounds and suspected fractured limbs were sent back to Wau for medical attention.
The other 40 people got off at Waria where they found shelter for the night before setting out for Garaina.
A soul was baptized on the sabbath after the week of evangelism. With the help provided, concrete boxes were laid out as floor for the church. “We ask for your prayers,” said Elder Timothy Joe of Bisenanga Adventist Church, “We still have a lot more to do with limited time before its dedication next year,” he added.
“We had to send six of us back to Wau, for medical attention,” said Elder Lami Yasi, of Banisu Adventist Church in Wau. “Most of us sustain minor scratches, but that did not stop from continuing our journey to Garaina,” he added.
Six people with cuts, flesh wounds and suspected fractured limbs were sent back to Wau for medical attention.
The other 40 people got off at Waria where they found shelter for the night before setting out for Garaina.
A soul was baptized on the sabbath after the week of evangelism. With the help provided, concrete boxes were laid out as floor for the church. “We ask for your prayers,” said Elder Timothy Joe of Bisenanga Adventist Church, “We still have a lot more to do with limited time before its dedication next year,” he added.
