By DAVID GONOL
The last day of examination week at the University of PNG is always a relief for students. The pressure that built up to unbearable levels before exam week is a thing of the past, a burden seems lifted off weary shoulders. Students walk out of examinations rooms after their last exam, feeling free, like eagles gliding over storm clouds. They feel at liberty to do anything to unwind. Some students resort to alcohol, others go to night clubs to have a good time. But for many, like the Lutheran students of UPNG, it was a time to thank God for seeing us through the semester. And what better way than to go on a retreat out of the city to better appreciate God’s love and creation. We decided to go to Barakau village in Central province at the end of first semester. Two buses picked us up from the UPNG forum car park area late one afternoon. After a two hour ride we arrived at Barakau. Since the village was located some distance out of Port Moresby I pictured it to be like any typical rural village in this country with bush material houses. My expectations were proven otherwise when we arrived at Barakau at around 10pm. The whole village was illuminated with electricity and it was like a small sea-side town. Families own large, permanent material houses and the people are very hospitable. They greeted us with hugs and made us feel so welcome and special. We were led further down to a beach where we were to set up camp for out Gospel retreat. It was dark but there was a full moon, its light cast a beautiful silvery glow over mangroves, breaking waves and the sandy beach. The air was much fresher than that of Port Moresby; the environment was very welcoming; we felt relaxed and relieved of examination pressures. We woke at the crack of dawn, the next day to pray. We thanked God for His creation, we felt the presence of God in the stillness of the morning. Our stay there was like a garden of Eden experience where we enjoyed God’s creation to the fullest. Cool sea breeze, crystal clear sea, mangroves, crabs, sea shells and fish. I enjoyed the white sandy beach of Barakau the most. It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. The beach itself and everything found in the sea and the surrounding area spoke of the splendor of God’s creation. I thought of how happy God was in the beginning when he created Heaven and Earth and saw that everything was perfect form and splendor.

* The writer is a third year law student at the University of PNG

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