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Serving with all their hearts
BY ZACHERY PER
When one commits almost forty years of their life to a certain
job, it can only be described as a labour of love.
This description encompasses the lives of Francis and Lucy Gahare,
a couple who spent over 40 years serving the Wantrifu community in
Asaro district.
The couple recently retired and were tearfully farewelled at the
Tafeto Catholic Mission by people whose lives they had touched,
healed, educated and changed during their time there.
Primary school head teacher Francis Gahare and his wife nursing
sister Lucy Gahare were highly commended by the Wantrifu community
for providing health and education services to them since the
early 70s.
Lucy originally from Yagle village in Kerowagi district in Simbu
province came to Tafeto in the early 70s as a young nurse.
She met Francis from Korekoreto village near Asaro Government
station in 1972.
They became acquainted and through working together at the mission
station, they developed a relationship that led to marriage.
At that time Francis was a teacher at Tafeto St Therese Community
School and Lucy was a nursing sister at Tafeto Catholic Mission
Health Centre.
He later became head teacher and spent some years serving in other
schools in Eastern Highlands.
He also taught at Kerowagi community school in Simbu province in
1976.
Lucy spent all her life as a nursing sister at the Tafeto Health
Centre eventually becoming Sister-In-Charge and has trained a good
number of young nurses in the area.
Her clinical area included the most western part of the Goroka
district and parts of the Daulo district.
The Wantrifu community have benefited a great deal from the
couples hard work, commitment to the duties and tireless efforts.
The farewell they received from the community was befitting their
contribution to them.
The villagers gave cash, live chickens, a live pig and garden food
to bid them farewell.
Catholic Education Secretary of Eastern Highlands province Patrick
Iyeho thanked the couple for their dedication and commitment in
serving the people for almost four decades.
He told them that it was the call of God that they devoted their
prime years of their lives to serving people.
"God has blessed you for serving his people and will continue to
pour his blessings on you and the rest of your family members in
the years to come," Mr Iyeho said.
Wantrifu community leaders and the people were full of praise for
the couple saying they would always treasure their contributions
and the difference they had made in their community.
The couple also participated and assisted in all community
activities like bride price and compensation contributions.
The couple also acknowledged the input of the community that made
them to become who they are.
The Gahare's will spend their retirement at Francis's home village
Korekoreto, near Asaro station.
They have three sons Harry, Christopher and Benny and five
grandchildren.
Harry, a local catholic priest is currently studying in the
Vatican City of Rome, Italy.
Christopher and Benny are married and live at Korekoreto village.
 
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