Nostalgia over carefree Jiwaka childhood

LIFESTYLE

By GABBY MUGANG
AS the sun was setting down the horizon and spreading backs its rays, taking my afternoon walk as usual with my dogs, we strolled along our garden to the small Ambine Creek.
We sat in the little forest along the creek and watched the wonderful sun setting.
On the other side of the stream, little children ran down the hill shouting and singing and then went “splash, splash” in the water as they dived and swam, enjoying the afternoon chill.
While sitting and mediating there, I could hear wonderful melodies of birds filling up the tiny forest, the insects were also giving their alarms signaling that evening was drawing near. They all in their small ways were thanking the Lord and appreciating His provisions over their lives.
I could also hear people talking on the other side of the creek. A lady and her child returning from the market crossed over the stream and were talking to another woman who was digging kaukau in her garden along the river.
Sitting there and seeing the cold water flowing and the afternoon breeze blowing against my face already made me shiver but I was reminded of the wonderful childhood days.
This small Ambine Creek was where we spent most of our childhood days. Every day we would go for a swim. We would swim and play water games until the water turned dirty brownish in color but we never minded that as we loved swimming in the brownish water too. While at the creek, we’d look for tadpoles and little fish in the water. We would try our very best to catch them but every time they would trick us and swim away into the stones and hide.
Another activity we enjoyed was collecting mushrooms in the small forest where now I am sitting. We love competing with each other to see who collected the most. We’ll keep them for the afternoon when we normally fried the mushrooms with spices and enjoyed the delicious mushroom soup.
During the day, when hungry, we would go to our mothers’ gardens and collect kaukau and cassava and roast them on the fire to eat. We would quench our thirst with sugarcanes. After filling up our hungry stomachs we would continue to swim and play water games.
Sometimes when the sun moved behind the clouds and the place lookeddim and about to rain and oh shivering from cold we would line up on the stones and chant “rain rain go away…. little children want to swim and play.”
Oh everyone of us would backup and scream on top of our voices begging the rain to go away. And it seemed that most of the times the nature did listen and respond and of course the rain does go away and the sun would shine brightly again. Oh we’d be very happy and continue spending the whole day at the creek.
In the afternoon, we’d collect our mushrooms and walk slowly home shivering and very tired like we had done a lot of work at the creek. At home sometimes our parents got very mad and bashed us up for spending the whole day at the stream. But who cares, spending time at the river was part of our childhood life while growing up so we still would go there despite the beatings we got from our parents.
While sitting and reminiscing all those wonderful childhood memories a huge smile comes across my face. I couldn’t think of a better thing in my life than my childhood days as that was the best part of my life which really enjoyed while growing up.
There was nothing to fear or worry about, life was free and full of fun and happiness compared to today where there are so many problems and crises going on everywhere making the world around us not safer anymore.
I also realised that time is moving very fast. My childhood days are gone and I am an adult now. Today will never be the same as in the past. As time is moving on more changes and happenings both good and bad are taking place around us and we have to cope with these changes.
In spite of this, our lives and destiny are in God’s hands. He’s in total control over everything in the universe. God is not a choice but He is our life. We need Him now and always.
And as we progress through the different stages of our lives we must live purposeful lives. God created each and every one of us for a purpose or reason, therefore we are expected to identify our purpose and live the lives we are supposed to live.
And as I was watching the sun dispersing back its final rays, this reminded me that if we live purposeful lives we’ll be like the sun giving out its rays which speak of are our gifts, talents and potentials – the glory which we carry inside of us we’ll give out to impact and transform lives around us.
Soon the sounds from the insects grew louder and louder and the darkness started creeping in. The cold breeze from the creek began to blow harder this time freezing me to the nerves.
As I stood up to go a beam of light shone over my face. I looked up towards Kondol Ngamb (mountain) and saw the bright full moon on the sky.
Oh, I thought all these wonderful creations were truly displaying God’s infinite wisdom and creative power.
Within me I am grateful I grew up in the village setting where I have learnt to embrace and appreciate the life and environment around me in a more profound way. This is where I belong and I am always proud to be a village kid.
As my dogs and I were walking slowly home under the moonlight I thought to myself; we must empty all the potentials God placed in our lives for His glory and live life to the fullest.

• Gabby Mugang is an author and freelance journalist. Her first book “Mugang Mugarewec Bitenggere – A Pioneer Missionary to the Highlands of New Guinea” is still on sale. Interested readers can order copies through email: [email protected]