Arrival in New Guinea and waiting in Lae
“During our flight from Port Moresby to Lae, I saw what they mean when they say that New Guinea is mountainous. It really is rugged territory from the air. We could see tiny groups of houses as we flew over various villages. “
Guroker, the station the Erickson’s are assigned to is just north of Mumeng. Lae is east and slightly north of Mumeng and Goroker. Hard to find Guroker on maps so look for Mumeng. Goroker is about where Bundun is.
1961 Sept 28 Thursday to Beryl
Letter written by Ina Erickson from Lae, New Guinea to Beryl and Bruce 2314 So 7th St. Minneapolis 6, Minnesota, USA
Dear Beryl and Bruce,
Well we have arrived! Our airplane flight was interesting. We sat in the very front seat of the plane so they could attach a carry cot for Paula and Tommy. We used his infant seat on the floor underneath so we had bunkbeds again. We were right in front of the wings and could see so plainly as we took off from Sydney. It was dark so the lights were gleaming for miles and miles. We could see the toy-like cars moving and long and tiny little houses all lit up. It was truly magnificent. Before the plane took off it ran out to the end of the runway and gunned its motors and then slowed down and would repeat the process several times, --real reassuring. Then, after we got up it felt like the plane kind of stopped. My heart was in my throat, but actually all was normal and we settled down for a very smooth flight. The stewardesses brought us sweets and tea and orange juice. Also served breakfast in the morning. Paula was so hyper she didn’t settle down until midnight or 1 AM. The flight was from 9:45 PM to 7 AM. Day was breaking just before we arrived in New Guinea so we could get our first glimpse of it as soon as the clouds broke. We landed at Port Moresby and the native help was dressed in various costumes such as loincloth and bare feet and some had shorts on and some had long pants on and only a very few had shoes on.
During our flight from Port Moresby to Lae, I saw what they mean when they say that New Guinea is mountainous. It really is rugged territory from the air. We could see tiny groups of houses as we flew over various villages. We could see garden plots where the land has been cleared and occasional air strips.
Lae was very beautiful but the kids were fussy and we had to go through customs again and it was very muggy, but fairly cool. It was good to get to the guest house, clean up, and get the kids fed and put them to bed. The people from Gurakor whom we will be living with for a month, then replacing them soon after, showed us around the town. They have modern shops with such things as china, glassware, ready-made clothes, candy bars, butter, bakery bread, you name it, they had it. Our groceries can be delivered out to our station twice a week. Not too modern, also we can get milk in cartons. We won’t be going out to the station until Monday.
Edna Scherley, the missionary we met in Minneapolis, is spending a week at the guest house here in Lae so we have had a wonderful chance to talk. The people around Lae, or ‘Europeans’, had a welcoming party for us on Thursday night. Fricki’s, Ted and the rest went to their respective stations on Friday but we have to wait for someone to take us to ours.
We opened a checking account and to charge accounts at the local grocery stores. No used clothes can be brought into the territory so I won’t to be able to get any of those things I left at home. Food brought in- we pay no duty, but clothes cost 5% of purchase price and toys 20% and jewelry 40%.
Love the E’s.
Lae Guest House in Ampo which is just outside of Lae. This guest house was for the Missionaries as they travelled through or to Lae. There was a separate building with the dining area and kitchen.
