Ragiampun School June 16

Last Wednesday afternoon the education directors of PNGUM (Joe Ponduk and Jim Yawane) and Morobe Mission (Lamech Sokoripa) took me to see two contrasting primary schools in Morobe Mission whose office is in Lae. One school, Ragiampun, was needy and poorly resourced while the other, Gabensis was comparatively well resourced. It was a fast ride in the mission van because the poor school, Ragiampun Adventist School was 150 kilometres from Lae.

First the students gave us flowers. For me it was a bamboo vase of magnolias thrust into my hands by a nervous girl. Then the school choir of all 200 Grade 1-5 students welcomed us in a well rehearsed a cappella number that summarised the occasion. Following the item the students sat patiently on the ground watching the mysterious party of dignitaries for the duration of the visit. After the speeches we posed for photos with staff, and inspected the classrooms. As you can see the rooms were bare, showing scarcely any books. Students sat on thin wooden slats attached to ancient desks, if they were lucky. Class 2 sat on the floor. There were at least chalk and boards, chalk covered with neat writing of maths tables, spelling and other matters.

I was moved by the support of school board members and parents who gathered, smiled continually and occasionally drew close to chat with us. One mother photographed the occasion, while a teacher sidled up and whispered “we really need readers”. They sure did. Then there was the table spread with their refreshments consisting of water melon, pineapple, raw peanuts, mandarins and coconut drinks. As we chatted and ate I had a feeling that beyond the ceremony we were all here cast together in a precious moment in time. Students, teachers, parents and board members had all gathered around the visitors in close community, in desperate need, and in high hope. It felt as if they were saying “we have done our best and now we are here together to honour you, and we are hoping you can do something for us”.

As students, teachers, parents and friends watched me intently I felt God watching through their eyes for I was here as the shepherd. Here I stood with 42 years of experience, with some resources, with the good will of hundreds of able teachers in the home unions behind me, and with an aching heart. If God had spoken aloud I am sure He would have said “Barry I brought you here for a purpose. Can you see it?”

Barry HillDirector of Education SPD

News about the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific.