Mission improbable – enlighten dark kingdom of Kol

*Solar lamps lighten up the lives of Upper Jimi villagers, reports DAVID MURI of The National*

When Rev Karl Albani first travelled into the dense jungles of Kol, Upper Jimi, in 1994, he thought he had made a massive blunder. The Lutheran missionary thought he was walking into an uncharted kingdom dominated by untamed dwellers.The German disciple was on a mission to spread the word of God in what was regarded by many as the last frontier of Western Highlands. Rev Albani lived there for three years and found the people’s introverted lifestyles to be unbearable. He entered many neighbourhoods by trekking through thick bush and crossing fast-flowing rivers to face waiting challenges. He found that, in the decade of the emergence of mobile phones capable of taking photos almost everywhere else in the world, hardly anything modern had penetrated where he was. Rev Albani saw that the people were still living their primitive lifestyles despite the forthcoming new millennium.

He saw them endure severe trials and tribulations. He saw that they needed... well, practically everything that the outside world took for granted – roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, churches ... the list seemed endless.Most of all, Rev Albani noted, they needed the basic necessity after sunset: Light. As the entire Jimi people were and are still constant trekkers from hamlet to hamlet into nightfall, Rev Albani thought light was the biggest need than anything else. Because he witnessed that that evening fellowships and prayer meetings were held in the cover of darkness.He learnt that the populace still held onto traditional methods of fire-making and lighting. Rev Albani was stunned and more troubled. He thought he had more to do than just preaching the message of love, peace, salvation and redemption.

When he returned to Saxony, Germany in 1997 he immediately revealed his findings to church congregation in the entire Leipzig mission. He had tirelessly prayed and found ways to assist his lost brothers and sisters back in the wilderness. His revelation had troubled many hearts and touched countless souls in Europe. A fund raising drive was immediately organized and the entire Leipzig mission had raised well over K800,000 . Most of the money was raised by school children who had committed their lunch hours and weekends to do odd jobs like car washing and cleaning flower gardens. The funds were given to an energy manufacturer called Solux which had invented handy solar lanterns specially designed to fit rural settings.

Volunteers Evelin Schwarzer (right), Andre Michalczyle (second from right) and Klaus Neumeier (left) with locals lighting up a hut with new solar lamps. – Pictures by DAVID MURI

Last Sunday, this outlying district was the first in Papua New Guinea to benefit in this pilot project. One thousand solar lamps were assembled locally and distributed to households in Tabibuga and Kol under this partnership program between ELC-PNG Kol/Tabibuga circuit and Leipzig mission. The Tabibuga people received 500 of these solar lamps while hosts Kol got another 500 units. Volunteers Evelin Schwarzer and Andre Michalczyk flew in from Germany two months ago to train locals on how to properly assemble and service the lanterns. Another German, Klaus Neumeier who is an adviser of the Lutheran Development Service in Lae has accompanied his two friends at Kol to ensure the project ran smoothly and up to expectations.

The 1kg solar lamps provide between four to six hours of continuous light nightly and decreases afterwards. It is rechargeable using a solar module where the cable from this module is plugged into the charger socket and placed in the sun. Mr Neumeier said the lamps are environmentally friendly and very handy. “It is very handy. By purchasing a Solux lamp you are now avoid buying consumable supplies like kerosene for lanterns, batteries for flash lights or candles. It is suitable for remote places like Kol and Tabibuga where these things are non-existent,” he told the proud recipients.

One unit of the Solux product costs around K450 but he added the Jimi people only paid K50 because the balance was subdized by the K800,000 raised by the Leipzig mission. Most families revealed that it took them about five months to save this money as the cash-flow there is very minimal.Even though the architect of the entire project was not physically present to witness the fruits of his efforts, Rev Albani had sent his message via the email. His touching speech was delivered by local circuit president Rev Paul Siwi to thousands of weeping families.

Through the letter, Rev Albani urged recipients to use the lamps wisely and for the purpose it was specially meant for.After Jimi, Rev Albani said 1500 of these portable lanterns were on their way and would reach Ogelbeng near Mt Hagen later this month. Jimi MP Wake Goi who was asked to officiate at the launching said he was prepared to fund more of these lamps if the project proved to be productive. Mr Goi, however, said the lamps must not be used for social activities like dancing and gambling in the community.“Your kids must use these lamps for study.

Lighten up your home and see your children’s faces. It has never happened since creation,” Mr Goi said.“We’ve been in the dark for ages and I thank the Leipzig mission for these lamps that will serve my people for a long time. I stand ready with the Lutheran church and any other denomination to fund more of similar projects in the electorate,” Mr Goi added.Mr Goi asked the recipients not to sell the lamps.“I don’t want to see the lamps ending up in other centres like Mt Hagen or Banz. Use it wisely and it must remain here,” the MP said.Mothers and children had put up several dramas to signify the demise of the bonfire era.

Many had openly wept to receive their gift of the lifetime as their names were being called. In return the volunteers were presented with gifts ranging from carvings to bilums and locally woven caps. Mr Schwarzer and Mrs Michalczyk said they were “completely” satisfied and would return to the area if similar opportunities arised.Since civilization these people have never seen man-made light and the solar lanterns are their priced gifts ever. Many had preferred the best storage cage for its safekeeping.

Thousands of people from Olna, Karap, Tabibuga, Wara Manz, Kubantz and Simbai had walked for days to reach Kol to receive the lamps. Rev Albani and the Leipzig mission’s contributions have certainly brought new hope and light into the dark. The days when extra firewood were collected for the evening fire are now gone. There were thousands of others who desperately needed it but missed out because of stock limitations. But Mr Goi assures that he will live by his words to make sure every household is lightened up if the project is successful. That promised must be kept. And remember Jimi is not the “back-page” anymore but deserved a frontpage!


*** That is an awesome news for the people of Kol, Upper Jimi, WHP. At one point; I was posted to Tabibuga to teach at a primary school but due to it's remoteness, I rejected the offer to teach there when I graduated from Balob Teachers College in 1994. On the same token, why does the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG) sneak it's nose into such projects which are funded by overseas Lutheran volunteers or mission partners not even contributing a single penny?

It's been over 100 plus years that the Lutheran Church has been in PNG and it should help it's members in such projects like the one in Kol. As a Lutheran, I am ashamed when I hear and see ELC-PNG beating it's chest because of a work done by someone else. ELC-PNG should reach out to it's members to formulate ways for the growth of the church and not merely sitting idle and begging for donations after donations from Lutheran Partners Overseas.

Where is the money going from the businesses that the church owns? Are all these monies well managed as well as other resources which come under the church? If not, we do a overhaul at Ampo, Lae in order to reach out to our members in some of the remote parts of our country?

We need to light the lamp and put it on the table for everyone to see not under the table. ELC-PNG need to reach out to it's members and keep it's members abreast of what is happening at it's headquarters at Ampo, Lae. We are misinformed of what ELC-PNG's goals are but we know for sure that our Lord who knows what's happening at Ampo, Lae and that we continue to pray for the Church. ELC-PNG should be church for God and it's members and not a business entity for a few who seem to know all too well.