Reaching the unreached – The National

COVER STORY

Lutheran students of the University of Papua New Guinea and their chaplain take a mission trip into a long-neglected place on the border of Gulf, Morobe and Central

By GELINDE NAREKINE
WHILE other students were taking a breather and a time away from academic activities during the mid-year break of the University of Papua New Guinea, a group of Lutheran students decided to go out on an outreach programme to a remote area of inland Gulf Province.
On June 15, nine students – eight males and a female – from UPNG left Port Moresby by PMV with their chaplain, Reverend Daryl Boyd. The team travelled to Eopoi Bridge, somewhere along Hiritano Highway, near Kerema town, then took a 15-hour journey upstream by dinghy further into inland Gulf. That trip took them to Kakoro, a community of people living in an area which is 133 kilometers from Eopoi, and located somewhere in between Gulf, Morobe, and Central Provinces.
The aim of the outreach programme was to conduct baptismal, marriage, and Holy Communion sacraments, since Kakoro, is a mission area for the UPNG Lutheran Students’ Congregation, and second, to determine the possibility of transferring Kakoro Lutheran Congregation from Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG (ELCPNG) Kotte District to ELCPNG Papua District.
It was also an opportunity for the students to carry out national election, and health and education awareness activities.

**Reading books donated by parents and students of UPNG Lutheran Students congregation were distributed among Sunday school children of Kakoro**

Neglected for nearly 50 years
For almost 50 years, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea neglected the Kakoro Congregation in terms of pastoral services and activities. Occasionally, pastors from ELCPNG Kotte District would visit the remote congregation only to conduct sacramental services.
It was then in 2014 that UPNG Lutheran Students Congregation, started to visit Kakoro, making it their mission area. The student congregation is determined to make Kakoro Lutheran Congregation a part of ELCPNG Papua District, so they could continue to provide constant pastoral services to this remote area.
The outreach team noted that government services rarely reach Kakoro as the local Members of Parliament of the surrounding local level governments of the three provinces have failed miserably to take responsibility in reaching out to the populace. The only tangible service they now benefit from is the use of seven dinghies and 40hp outboard motors given to them through the late Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil, when he was Member of Parliament for Wau-Bulolo electorate in Morobe.
Trekking and boating
It is not surprising that Kakoro is one of those least developed areas in Gulf. Access to vital goods and services is only by foot and boats. Their livelihood is heavily dependent on informal gold mining and subsistence gardening. With whatever little money they have, the people prefer to shop in Port Moresby and not in Kerema Town. Small business trips are costly, and therefore, the cost of available goods and services is quite high. Only few parents who could afford to, send their children to schools in Wau in Morobe, Malalaua in Gulf, and to Port Moresby.
Critical issues
Some of the critical issues faced by people of Kakoro include low literacy, poor family planning, lack of functional school facilities, no up and running health facility, and no water supply system. There are no road links, no internet accessibility, and very poor mobilisation and cooperation in community service activities.
In addition, cannabis cultivation, trading, and consumption are treated just like any other ordinary tobacco products, especially amongst the male population. It is thus, a major contributing factor to social disharmony and instability within the community.
In addition to the church outreach mission, the students also took that opportunity to conduct community awareness on health, education, and political issues in Papua New Guinea.

**Baptism sacrament by Rev Daryl Boyd, UPNG Lutheran Chaplain at Kakoro Lutheran Church.**

Market on abandoned airstrip
On Saturday mornings, people gather at the market place, which is actually, a long abandoned airstrip. That was one of those fitting times to conduct a public awareness activity.
The outreach team was also informed by villagers along the Lakekamu River of foreign companies carrying out oil, gas, and gold exploration. And in the event that an agreement for mining activity is reached, then the protection and conservation of diverse vegetation, insects, and animal species along the river line will be compromised.
With its diverse species of fish, turtles, and crocodiles, the river is the major source of food for the people. It is also their main source of water, and the only means of transportation.

Source of information:
Bogen Mumunu 2022, Report – Lutheran Students Congregation Outreach to Kakoro, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, UPNG.

Gelinde Narekine is a technical officer at the UPNG School of Medicine and Health Sciences.