Tyler and Emily in PNG

When I was in Dallas for Pioneer Mission Institute (PMI) during June 2010, I met a Moody Bible Institute student from Washington. He introduced himself as Trapper John. ‘Trapper’ or known otherwise as Jonathan was a linguist student at Moody with the intentions of graduating and becoming a linguistic surveyor with PBT. I told Jonathan my plans of coming to PNG and he told me his plans of coming to PNG in the summer of 2011 to tour the Sepik River in northern PNG.

I got a Facebook message that he bought his ticket and was leaving USA first of June for PNG. He told me he would be coming through Madang the first of August and wanted to know if I was around. I told him, just come by the PBT office and ask for me, I will be here. Well, fast forward to Wed of last week, and here comes Trapper John (see picture). He was accompanied by his friend, Maestro and holding his bow-n-arrows along with crocodile teeth necklace. He only lacked the crocodile dundee hat.

Jonathan just arrived from Wewak, a north coast town, by overnight boat. We storied in the office for a while and got a brief introduction to Maestro and his spears. He showed us on the map where he started and finished. He trekked over mountains and canoed many Sepik river miles. One of his stories includes loosing his camera during a canoe crash and also having to face tribal men. His experiences were epic and adventures displayed no fear.

Jonathan stayed with me for 4 nights and was blessed by great greasy, fatty foods. He mentioned over the previous 7 weeks he lost 25 lbs. He did not eat ‘white man’ food but took to the local culture of taro and sago. He drank kalaus and chewed bettlenut. Jonathan was the indigenous white man canoeing the Sepik River through the heart of Papua New Guinea.

Friday, I took the day off and entertaining him with an kayak trip to Krangket Island. A very similar experience that I blogged on before on the Queen’s Birthday. We rented two single kayaks and headed off with a spear in hand to spear fish. Fishing by spear was not happening and a skill learned by native boys. Jonathan did kayak to another nearby island and found favor is the boys there that he gave his fishing spear to them. He mentioned there white teeth and grand smiles were a lasting image of Papua New Guinea.

As I was glad to see Trapper John, I was glad to send him off on his adventure back to the capital then out of country to Australia for his Trans-Pacific flight to LAX. I am sure Trapper John and I will meet again but until that days arrives, let the grace of God fall on him.