An unforgettable island ministry experience

Weekender

By Rev SEIK PITOI
I REMEMBER many years ago as a small boy in the 1970s, I went on a fishing expedition of sorts with my father and grandfather.
I say of sorts because the group on our puapua (locally made double-hulled boat) was made up of some senior public servants at that time. Leading them was my father, then the chairman of the Public Services Commission.
Dad often got some of his colleagues to have their discussions in an informal way out on a boat while fishing in the waters around the harbour. That night, I remember the wind was strong and so we pulled in to wait it out on the shores of Fisherman’s Island, called Moukele by the Hula settlers.
My grandfather was from Hula so he was able to communicate with the villagers who came to help us. He explained that we were fine and would just wait out the strong winds on their beach. A few hours later after a lull, we pulled out and continued on.
That was many years ago and it was night so I didn’t see much of the place. But on Saturday, Nov 28, I spent my first weekend at Moukele. My time on that island was made possible at the invitation of UPNG senior lecturer, Keimelo Gimapau.
Deacon Keimelo, who hosts regular weekly teaching sessions on the island for his congregants on topics of interest, asked me to teach on the origins of the Apiru/Habiru people, the Jews. I gladly accepted to give the lecture, also as a means to escape the noisy city for one weekend!
I was picked up by my host’s daughter-in-law and the dinghy crew after being dropped off by my children at the Koki Fish market. We left for the island at about 5.30pm. The trip was pleasant, and the sea was just how I wanted it to be – calm! The local people are experts on the sea, handling those dinghies like how we handle vehicles on the road. We even stopped and rendezvoused with another dinghy on the way for a female passenger to step across to join her family on the other dinghy. They were on their way to pick her up when we met on the ‘road’! Then we continued on.
We arrived about a half hour later at a long mass of land lying seemingly across our path towards an open ocean. At the centre of the island was the main village with houses side by side, each with their own dinghy anchored off shore – like parked cars in every driveway in a residential area!
Some passengers alighted with their cargo, and we continued further down, pulling in again to drop off another couple. Moving on, our final stop was at my host’s house, towards the end of the island. As I alighted, I was met and welcomed by Deacon Keimelo and his wife and family members.
Sitting at the beachfront at dusk, just a few meters from the sea, with the cool breeze on my face was magic! There was an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity, and I just wanted to remain seated there the whole weekend! But I had work to do so after a lovely dinner of fried turtle meat, rice and vegetables, we were on the dinghy again for the short ride to the village community hall.
Before my lecture, I met the pastor who happened to be a former public servant workmate of mine some 40 years ago, Rev Momoru Hedu. (Ps – an interesting personality, I will feature him in a separate article next week).
Using PowerPoint slides, the lecture I gave on the Apiru/ Habiru people stirred an interest among the small group of people that came. After I finished, Deacon Keimelo and Rev Hedu, who is a Motuan man fluent in the Hula language, added clarity to my lecture in the local language. (I had to give the lecture in English and Motu because I cannot speak Hula). We finished the night off with some light refreshments.
After breakfast on Sunday morning, we got ready and left for the clan or Kwalu fellowship at 8.30am. My host’s clan, Alewai, will be hosting the festive season programme on the island for the whole village so they have fortnightly fundraising events during their fellowship times.
We began with some lovely peroveta singing, and I shared a short devotional. Then, they went into their clan activities. The islanders have a system where each clan helps the hosting clan with a contribution towards the programme. There is a lot of cooperation and they find joy in working together. I was quite impressed with that because we from the bigger villages don’t seem to do that too well!
After some more refreshments, the bell for the main service was rung and we moved off towards the village church.
I was joined by my team at the preparation section at the back of the church, Leva Keimelo and her adopted sister also called Leva. After a prayer by the secretary, we were led in by the minister as we filed up on the pulpit area. I shared a word on “Going all the way with God” on Genesis 11: 31-12:3. Again, we were treated to some wonderful Hula hymns and perovetas sung heartily by the congregation.
My time on the island ended with lunch, prepared by the Gimapau family, at the minister’s house. Fried pieces of tuna steak as well as the beautiful warimo or Long Tom fish was the delicacy we all enjoyed.

Police awareness
While we ate, we saw the police officers come in at the invitation of the village leaders to give an awareness talk on the dangers of drugs and alcohol during the festive season. I felt the talk was a great idea for the youths especially, considering the problems communities encounter at Christmas and New Year celebrations when young people are left to their own devices and abuse alcohol.
Sadly, peaceful communities such as Moukele are not immune to such problems and so it was good to see the initiative taken by the community leaders.
Soon, it was time to say goodbye. Farewelling my brother pastor and his wife, I went to the beach led by Deacon Keimelo and his wife. I was the sole passenger on the dinghy going down so I felt privileged! Thanking my hosts for their excellent hospitality on the weekend, I boarded and, with my young skipper at the helm, sped down to Koki Fish Market in just under 20 minutes!
My weekend at Moukele helped me appreciate the lifestyle of these people. They are a friendly people, respectful towards the things of God and are hardworking, earning their living off the sea.
They face risks every day with some families sadly losing sons and fathers at sea, yet they feed the city with much needed marine protein so vital to our health.
The men work hard bringing in the catch, while the wives and daughters sell the products at the market.
Then they all return to their island home to relax, rest and recuperate for the next day’s work.
I am grateful to the Lord for my first island ministry experience which will be one I will not forget in a long time!

  • Rev Seik Pitoi is a freelance writer.