Tyler and Emily in PNG

Last weekend, I made a trip to the Eastern Highlands Province to visit friends from the Pacific Orientation Course (POC) that I attended for the first 3 months I was in country. The small town of Ukarampu in the Eastern Highlands is the headquarters for Wycliffe in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Wycliffe is a large Bible translation organization which home base is in Orlando, FL. The centre in Ukarumpa is the base for all support related roles for translation in PNG. Pioneer Bible Translators (PBT) and Wycliffe work very closely with one another to accomplish the mission which we both share in providing God’s word in their heart language.

Ever since I been in PNG I have heard of this cool place in the highlands called Ukarampa. PBT actually has 3 flats there for us to use if we have to go there for any reason. None the less, this place sparked my interest and I wanted to go check it out and visit my friends. I inquired about the local means of travel on Public Motor Vehicle and found for 30 kina ($13) I could make the 4-5 hour trip.

As I was making arrangements, I ran into a group visiting Madang that week from Ukarampu and was able to hitch a ride back with them to the highlands. The catch was I had to ride in the back of a pickup for 5 hrs with 2 other guys. It was a very tight and not so comfortable trip through the mountains and the valley. Plus the heat and full sunshine had for a long and tiring journey. As you could imagine, what they call a highway in PNG is not your typical highway at home. One part, we passed a road sign ‘Ford’. Not your car manufacturer but a Ford in the river. Yes, we had to cross through the river. Luckily it was only inches deep at this time.

I left Madang at 10:45 am on Friday and arrived to the highlands at 4 pm. Ukarumpa mission centre is located approximately 5000’ ft. Leaving the hot, humid temps of Madang and going to a place where the temp is now in the low 70s is quite a change. In fact, on the morning I left to come back to Madang it was 62 degrees in the house. That is 20 degrees cooler than my morning temp in Madang when I wake at 6:15 am. It was different to see men and women walk around with long pants, sweaters, stocking caps, and even some with coats on when it was in the upper 60s. We even had a fire in the fireplace on Sat. night when we were watching a movie. Being 6 degrees from the equator and being cold just doesn’t jive in my mind. You do have to remember the elevation of 5000’ does play a huge factor. I suppose temperature and being cold is a relative concept.

During my time in Ukarumpa I stayed with my POC roommate and the person I shared my village living experience with for 5 weeks, John. On Friday night, we had a small party and a few girls from the course made three pizzas and an awesome dessert which I enjoyed. We played dominos and shared stories. On Saturday, the same girls had scheduled John and I over for breakfast which I could not miss the opportunity for coffee and eggs. Afterwards, John gave me the tour of the centre and a stop by the horse carrel where John is helping out. Later in the afternoon into the evening, John hosted a BBQ for what he called ‘The Crowd.’ It was designed for singles but a few couples infiltrated the gathering which was accepted. 26 people in all came to fellowship, share and of course eat. My last day, Sunday I went to two worship services on centre. The first being Tok Pisin and the second being English. I enjoyed them both and was nice to worship in two languages. I was invited to the youth hostel where the hostel parents went to POC with me so I ate lunch with them and shared what was going on in my life. Sunday evening we once again gathered to break bread and fellowship. Yes, the same girls prepared dinner for John, Daniel, and me yet again. They even made homemade ice-cream which was spectacular. After a fun game of Phase 10 dice we had to face Monday morning was fast approaching. I said my good-byes and many thanks.

Monday morning, John drove me to Kainantu (short 20 min drive) where I could hail a PMV back to Madang. As soon as we pulled up to the stop, right away a PMV showed up yelling, “Madang, Madang, Madang, Come, Come…”. I made eye contact with the boss crew and I was given the white man royal treatment of the front seat. I told John bye and off I was back to Madang. This time it was much more comfortable and a little bit faster. I left the highlands at 7:20 and was back to Madang at noon.

The drive through the mountains, Ramu valley, and back to Madang is beautiful. Going from mountain elevation, passing through rich farm valley ground, back to the coastal water of Madang is scenic wonder.

We had multiple stops along the way to pick up and drop off passengers and plus the boss crew wanted to make sure the van was completely full. We had one important stop at Ramu. Ramu is in the middle of the valley and a place where much of the PNG sugar is produced along with palm oil and beef cattle are raised. As we circle and drove around trying to pick up more riders a man noticed me riding in the front seat. This man yelled out, “A, nupela, whit skin boss krew i kamap nau.” The man was making a remark that I was the new boss crew of the PMV. So I started yelling out the window, “Madang, Madang, Madang, Come, Come…”.  Of course the driver and the real boss crew all got a kick out of this white man acting like a crazy local.

One thing I have learned about this culture and how to be accepted is, just be yourself. People love to laugh and love to have fun. If they see you having fun and enjoying yourself they will more feeling express themselves and welcome you.

I had a great weekend and I great holiday. It was a wonderful reprieve from hot, humid Madang. I plan on visiting the highlands again and hopefully have the chance to fellowship and laugh with my friends in Ukarampu one more time.