| Sports |
Melpa Church
invests in David
By LUCY KAPI
In 2001 the Melpa Lutheran Church in
Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) in Western Highlands province decided
to support David Ketepa Ulg to do further studies in the United
States.
David, 32 is from Minimp village in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands.
David's parents were committed members of the MLC, and he and his
two brothers and a sister were raised under strong Christian
principles taught by their parents.
David completed primary and secondary education in his home
province and in 1992 was selected to attend Balob Teachers College
in Lae, Morobe province where he graduated with a Diploma in
Teaching in 1994.
He taught for six years. In 2000 he decided to become more
involved with church activities, committing himself to planning,
worship, stewardship and preaching.
The church was confident that sending him for studies overseas
would equip him with new skills and knowledge that would benefit
the church in future.
The MLC recommended David for a scholarship in the US to the
German Lutheran churches in Hannover, Germany.
The trip was made possible in Aug 2001 with all expenses for the
first four years of his study at Waldorf College in Forest City,
Iowa, USA to be paid by these churches in Germany.
David's graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Financial Management
in 2005 from the college.
He currently is living and working in Savannah, Georgia, US and
working part-time as a financial analyst as well as taking classes
for his Masters in Business Management (MBA).
Describing the experience of living in one of the world's
wealthiest countries, David said all material things that one
needs is here.
"The US economy works 24-hours a day seven-days a week. The only
hard work is putting the food into your mouth but everything else;
you can sit in your room using the computer.
"Technology plays a vital role here and people sit back using the
comforts of the internet."
His main problem is being homesick.
"I miss my family, friends, and PNG dishes and of course my sweet
home Mount Hagen - as they always say home is where your heart
is!"
David is thankful that there is a programme for international
students known as the "host family".
Through this programme the college arranged with the Dyste family
to take David into their family.
His host dad Pastor Jerry Dyste is a retired pastor in the
Lutheran Church. His wife, Sonja, retired in 2004 as a librarian
from the Waldorf College.
He described the Dystes as caring and loving people who provided
the best for him.
The couple have two children, James, 38, Melanie, 45 and three
grand children.
"They came and picked me up for places to visit, invited me for
dinner, took me out to church, and provided accommodation for me
during the long school holidays.
"They helped me financially too for my books, personal expenses
and other stuff that I needed during the course of my studies."
He recalled some of the best times with the Dystes were during
Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving Day.
"The very fun part comes during Thanksgiving Day - where we cook
huge turkeys and all kinds of food to celebrate this with all
other family members, their children and grand children.
"During this time, we have many games to play and lots of stories
to tell and of course, I do more storytelling for them about how
life is like in PNG which they are so interested in hearing."
Other activities David is involved in include the Toastmasters
meeting to learn public speaking and English improvement skills,
the men's choir at the Evangelical Lutheran church of Ascension,
and teaching at Sunday school.
David attributes his success to God and people at the MLC that
worked to make this dream come true.
"After living, working and studying here for seven years, I have
broadened my knowledge and acquired a lot of skills that I think I
can utilize within the MLC.
He thanked his family and friends for their support and prayers.
To the young men and women who want to continue further studies,
his advice is "to look beyond the horizon for opportunities to
enhance your knowledge and skills".
Education, he says does not end when one is considered a dropout
or when working for a living.
"Always have hope and tell yourself that you can do it but most
importantly, have constant relationship with God and show Him what
you need and like to do in life. He will show you awesome and
marvelous things and take you to places where you knew nothing
about."
 
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