Oro group treks to synod

By LULU MAGINDE
A GROUP of 42 students and women from Northern walked for a week from Popondetta to Port Moresby to attend their first Lutheran synod.
Led by team leader and student vicar Henington Orevo and trek leader and Kokoda expert Lemeki Dimuda, the group walked over rugged terrain through the Owen Stanley Range to come down to attend the 33rd synod as it was being hosted by Papua.
“Some of us are students while some have just been at home and some are from different church youth groups,” Orevo said.
“We’re all either part of the Owen’s ministry, youth ministry or students from Popondetta Secondary School.
“We started walking last Tuesday when we were dropped off at Kokoda, and slowly made our way down the range, sleeping when it was dark and eating whatever we brought along with us.”
The group arrived on Friday but could not make it into the city due to heavy rainfall and lack of transport to take them in, so they waited until transport could be arranged for them to finally arrive at Marimari church in Gordon.
For two women in the group, the journey has been long and difficult as one had to be carried half way across mountain range because she had injured her leg.
The other woman said she injured her foot after slipping on the track and could only walk slowly but was just happy and proud that she had made it. Orevo said he had used his own money and resources to help the group make the trek into Central and finally the National Capital District.
“I paid out of my own pocket to help my youth group, we didn’t receive any financial support but it was a team effort, we supported ourselves to get here,” he said.
The group faced challenges on their journey down, from strong winds, cold temperatures, heavy rain making footpaths muddy and slippery, and food shortages but that did not stop them.
“We were here waiting at Ower’s corner to come into the city but because of the difficulty in finding transport, we missed out on the opening ceremony on Sunday,” Orevo said.
He said the group had come prepared to perform and participate in the synod, they were waiting to hear from the central committee when they would be given the chance to do so.