We are moving- but not to Mumeng….

‘Al asked me if I wanted to move to Malalo. If they would decide to have Fred Scherle at the Bible school? That’s about the last place I’d like to live.’

1962 February 2 to Willa
Letter written by Ina Erickson from the Gurakor Mission station to Martin and Willa Tonn, 10316 Grand Ave, Minneapolis 20, Minnesota, USA

Dear Willa, Martin and family,

Mickey, I was sure proud to hear how nicely you behaved when you had your tonsils out. My, but you are a big girl. I could just hear Elaine saying ‘does some mean all ‘ when picking up her toys.
Paula is getting to understand so much now. I’ve been giving her cookies, biscuits and bananas to give to her playmates. I had a stack of bananas sitting in the kitchen. She pulled one off and took it to one of my house girls. She said Pelip which is her name and handed her the banana.
Occasionally, I get her to go in the potty. Today after she had gone she had to bring the potty out to show it to Tommy and all three house girls before she let me empty it. If mommy gets excited about it why should everybody else. She found one of Al’s hats. She went running to the front door and pointed down the driveway “daddy daddy “. He was gone to the conference in a while for 10 days. Tommy has been having pinkeye. First one I was all swollen and red and matted and when it started going down the other one started up. They looked a little better today. I’ve sure been praying he would be all right. I have some boils under my arm and I’m afraid when he nursed he rubbed my armpit and then his poor little eye.
I saw the boy that was so sick at Christmas, is back here at school again. He seem to be all right. He smiled such a shy smile when he saw me. I don’t know if he was embarrassed about his conduct or what. Our light plant wears off tonight then one of our native teachers that helped Al fixed it before it got running OK again. I couldn’t have had been anything too serious. I’m sure glad he keeps an eye on it. He seems to have a knack with machines Al said. I guess he must.

How are Bette and Frank doing? Has he found work? What is their address? I’ve been sending their mail to Inez hoping she forwards it. Does she have Lisa back again?

We just had a few mild earth tremors here this week. After those in Malalo, I get so scared. It is really quite foolish because they aren’t that bad. Seriously, Al asked me if I wanted to move to Malalo. If they would decide to have Fred Scherle at the Bible school? That’s about the last place I’d like to live. You have to go up a mile from the ocean. Only access is by boat and they have earthquakes. The Scherle’s seem to love it there, but I wouldn’t. Now can’t you see us getting moved there?

Thank you for distributing the Christmas box we surely enjoy your letters God bless and keep you. Love Al, Ina, Paula and Tom

‘ Did I ever put my foot in my mouth.’

1962 February 10 to Willa
Letter written by Ina Erickson from the Gurakor Mission station to Martin and Willa Tonn, 10316 Grand Ave, Minneapolis 20, Minnesota, USA

Dear Willa, Martin and family,

Did I ever put my foot in my mouth. After we got back from Malalo, I was expounding on how glad I was that we didn’t live there, to you and to Al. Well, when Al got back from the  Wau conference, Al tells me I’m going to be surprised with the verdict. We are moving but not to Mumeng, but to Malalo. So we will be taking over the Scherle’s homestead. It is beautiful but I’m still not resigned to the earthquakes. I guess I’ll just have to get used to them. Edna did.

Malalo is an older congregation, more mature and run more by the natives. Mumeng needs someone who can grasp on with a firm hold now as things are in a mess here. Pastor Harralt was sick for six months. We are new and inexperienced and do not know the language so everything is at a standstill. It is getting into pretty much of a mess here. There are no native leaders to carry-on. We will be moving in about a month. Our new address will be Lutheran mission, box 80 Lay, New Guinea.
Al is going to have to learn to be a sailor as the only access is by boat. The trail from the ocean up is a mile long and they had to carry up everything up and down by hand. Just after they got back they got the neatest thing. A Track Grip which is a small English motorcycle-like tractor with a bin on behind for hauling everything up and down so we are really lucky.

Malolo’s Track Grip for hauling loads up and down the 500 foot Malalo hill

Tommy can pull himself along with his arms so he can get all over now. He gets up on his hands and knees and rocks back-and-forth so shouldn’t be too long before he creeps. He stands so well but still doesn’t sit very well. He has gotten to be such a pill about sleeping at night. Last night I was up with him four times. I gave him some aspirin and that didn’t help so another night I gave him half of a sleeping pill like Doriden and that didn’t help, so the next night I gave him a whole tablet. He only woke up once. Tonight I gave them half an amp. Com with cod. Gr 1/8 so if that doesn’t give me a night of sleep I am going to put him in the end bedroom and let him holler.
I don’t know why my kids don’t sleep at night, even Paula still wakes up during the night. I should complain as this is healthy. We laughed at Paula as she unwrapped the packages from Beryl and Inez. She would say so excited wow-we, wow-we. She loved the ball, boat, silverware. She only let Tommy look at them but they were hers. I hope everyone has gotten over the months. Mumps was going around Wau. But the kids haven’t been in contact with them yet. I don’t think what we thought was measles. A little girl had,  while we were here, was measles. Anyway it has been a month and they haven’t gotten them yet.

Sunday
Your package arrived this morning. Thank you so much for everything. You surely did a beautiful job of sewing my shorts and sports top. They fit so nicely. The blouse is so loose lovely and fits real well. Both Paula and Tommy like his toy. Paula insisted on having both of them and would steal Tommy’s when she thought I wasn’t looking. She gave him a good wrap on the head with hers. Tommy takes more punishment without a word.

Al condescended to share his candy and my fruit cake. By the way Mrs. Franze (Ina’s music teacher)said she was sending one. Is that the one? Paula had to try her pajamas on right away. We are saving her other three packages for another day to open. Al can surely use the socks. Paula carried her red stocking around saying OK, OK even if she didn’t know what it was for. Next year she’ll know.

Thanks ever so much we surely miss and love you all. Please don’t worry about us we are in God’s hands. Thanks, thanks.
Love Al, Ina, Paula and Tom

‘I didn’t want to get involved in mission work, but I guess I will have to.’

1962 February 10 to Estelle
Letter written by Ina Erickson from the Gurakor Mission station to Durward and Estelle Titus Box 224 Route1, Carlos MN USA
Dear mom and dad,
The packages arrive today which is Sunday. Thanks so much for everything. I wrote in more detail to Willa.
Al got back from the conference on Thursday with the news that we will be moving, not to Mumeng but to Malalo. Our area is pretty much in a mess and we need some experienced missionary to try and straighten it out. There has been another murder at one of the villages and lots of trouble in some of the other villages. Malalo is quite a mature area so it should be easier to run by novices. It will be quite a challenge to try and keep all that the Scherle’s have built up running. The people love them so much and they hate to see him leave. We have mighty big shoes to fill. Edna has been teaching full-time in their school and they have a dispensary that will need supervision. And I didn’t want to get involved in mission work, but I guess I will have to. They have a doctor boy and a mature nurse working in the dispensary but Edna has been having trouble keeping them towing the mark. God will help us.

View from Malalo station Hill

There is such a lovely view and wonderful beach. Now I’ll be able to take the children to swim. Paula was just getting so she wasn’t scared of the water when we were visiting. Don’t be alarmed if you don’t hear from us as we will be involved in moving. Our address will be box 80, Lae, New Guinea. As will have to pick up our mail when we go to Lae. The only access to Malalo is via ocean. So we inherit Scherle’s boat the Victor and it’s a small lunch. Al will have to earn learn to be a sailor. There is a native that runs the boat for Fred. We are hoping that he stays on and runs the boat for us. I am so happy that the hot weather is passed at Malalo. Their hottest season is usually over Christmas. The evenings and nights are very cool. Fred didn’t know when he was recruiting Al that he was recruiting his replacement.

Paula is getting to say more words. She is always calling Sassa one of our house girls or Pelip the other one when she spells something and wants somebody to wipe it up. She was saying some Jabem words and Al said will have to hurry up or we will have to learn it from her. Paula will have lots of native kids to play with at Malalo.

Tommy is getting to look more like dad every day and doesn’t make me unhappy. He gets up on his knees and hands and rocks back-and-forth. He can make pretty good progress on his turning if he wants to. He’s gotten to be such a pill at night. He used to sleep all night but since he’s been cutting teeth, he is awake three and four times a night. I have half a notion to stick him at the end bedroom to let him cry.
Fred had bought a new sink for the kitchen but hadn’t put it in yet. Now Al will have to turn carpenter and put it in. There are no girls at Malalo so I won’t have to worry about them.
Bruce and Beryl please send us the record the student prince we surely enjoy it. How nice for Willa to have Jennifer out of diapers. I have Paula in training because try as I might I can’t pin diapers to stay on her big belly. She’s always loosening them so I have her in training and sometimes I catch her but mostly I don’t. She absolutely won’t tell me. I guess I’ll have to wait until she’s ready. I do hope Tommy is better.

I took two rolls of black-and-white pictures and they didn’t turn out. Something must be wrong with the camera. We have some slides we will send pretty soon.

We love you both and cherish your letters and please don’t worry about us God will take care of us. Love the ‘E’s’

Paula at Guroker -18 months old

Malalo was started in 1907 by German Missionaries. There was 100 year celebration of this in 2008. Here is a link to that. Some notable items in the blog post was that Malalo station was bombed by the Japanese in World War II. One of the German missionaries were imprisoned by the Australians during the war.

From the blog

http://salamaua.blogspot.com/2008/08/malalo-celebrates-100-years.html

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Malalo celebrates 100 years

Singsing group at Buakap

Laukanu villagers on the beach at Buakap

Laukanu villagers, in a reanactment of the arrival of the first missionaries

Malalo as seen from the sea

Part of the large crowd at Malalo

It was one of those typically-beautiful Huon Gulf days on Friday, October 12, 2007, when we sailed from Lae to Malalo on Lutheran Shipping’s MV Rita for the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the historic Malalo Lutheran Mission Station.

It was a sunny day, not a cloud was in the sky, as if they did not want to spoil the celebrations.

Hundreds of people from all over Salamaua, Morobe Province, converged on Malalo that Friday for the centenary celebrations.

Work started on this icon - overlooking idyllic and historic Salamaua – exactly 100 years ago on October 12, 1907.

Surrounding villagers and guests from Lae, other parts of Morobe, and Papua New Guinea, converged on Malalo for the 100th anniversary celebrations.

The people of my mother’s Laukanu village rekindled memories of yore when they brought a kasali (ocean going canoe) to Malalo in a re-enactment of the arrival of the first Lutheran missionaries.

The people of Laukanu were among the greatest mariners of the Huon Gulf, making long ocean trips throughout the Huon Gulf to exchange goods, long before the arrival of the white man.

When the first Lutheran missionaries arrived in Finschhafen in the late 1880s, the Laukanu made the long sea voyage to Finschhafen, and helped to bring the Miti (Word of God) to the villages south of Lae.

The launch of the kasali celebrated not only the great seamanship of the Laukanu, but more importantly, coincided with the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Malolo Mission Station - overlooking idyllic and historic Salamaua – on October 12, 1907.

The people of Salamaua and surrounding villages, who make up the Malalo Circuit, converge on Malalo that week for this momentous occasion.

It was a time for all to celebrate the important role the church had played in their lives, as well as remember the many expatriate missionaries and local evangelists, who worked through the dark days of World War 1 and World War 11 to bring the Miti (Word of God) to the people.

These legendary missionaries include Reverend Karl Mailainder and Rev Herman Boettger (who started actual work on the Malalo station), Rev Hans Raun, Rev Friedrich Bayer, Rev Mathias Lechner, and Rev Karl Holzknecht.

Rev Raun suffered the humiliation of being interned by Australian authorities during WW1 while Rev Holzknecht (whose family has contributed much to the development of PNG) suffered the same fate during WW11 – their only crime being Germans.

Rev Bayer was taking a well-deserved leave in his homeland of Germany when he lost his life on July 24, 1932.

The heart-warming and touching story of Rev Bayer and his wife, Sibylle Sophie Bayer, is told in Sophie’s autobiography He led me to a far off place.

Rev Holzknecht replaced Rev Lechner in 1939 and was there when World War 11 broke out and wiped out Malalo and its famous neighbour of Salamaua.

Missionary’s wife Helene Holzknecht accompanied her husband on all but the trips along the Black Cat Trail into the Wau and Bulolo valleys, ministering to village women and helping the sick she found in these areas.

The outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 brought this idyll to an end.

Karl Holzknecht – being a German - was taken prisoner as an enemy alien by Australian authorities, leaving a pregnant and heartbroken Helene at Malalo.

Her eldest child and only daughter, Irene, was born at Sattelberg, on February 1, 1940, after Karl’s removal to Australia.

Helene and Irene were returned to Malalo, but were eventually evacuated after Japanese bombers attacked Lae and Salamaua.

Helene often talked of seeing those planes skimming the hills on their way to Salamaua, and the horror of the bombing of Salamaua.

Soon after their evacuation by DC3 to Port Moresby, Japanese aircraft also bombed the Malalo Station, destroying all the family’s possessions.

Reverend Karl Mailainder and Rev Herman Boettger started work on the Malalo Mission Station exactly 100 years ago on October 12, 1907.

They had already checked out other places from Busamang to Kelanuc before settling at Asini at a place called Poadulu.

At Poadulu, work started on Malalo.

The local people were very happy and gave a large piece of land to the Lutheran Church.

The Laukanu people had two kasali so they sailed all the way to Finschhafen and brought missionaries’ cargo back to Malalo.

When Rev Mailainder was clearing land at Malalo, he had a surveyor, Mr Mayar, who worked alongside him.

Work had already started when Rev Boettger arrived and the station was established.

At that time, a church was made of sago leaves.

This was after the congregation membership increased to 500.

Work started on Malalo Mission Station on October 12, 1907, and the opening was on December 20, 1907.

In 1908, the work of confirmation started and work started on a new church building with proper roofing iron.

One missionary gave 1000 German Marks, while Munchen in Germany gave a big bell and a bowl for baptism.

Work started on the new church building and on January 30th, 1910, it was opened with Holy Baptism.

Malalo 100th anniversary organiser Elisah Ahimpum was pleased with the hundreds of people who turned up for the occasion, which also featured a cultural show.

Plaques with the names of all missionaries and evangelists who worked at Malalo were unveiled that Friday.

Invited guests to the 100th anniversary celebrations included Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG leader Reverend Dr Bishop Wesley Kigasung, Morobe Governor Luther Wenge, Lae MP and prominent Lutheran Bart Philemon, Huon Gulf MP and Health Minister Sasa Zibe, as well as Bulolo MP Sam Basil as the Miti filtered into his area from Malalo.

Unfortunately, not all were able to attend, with only Assistant ELPNG Bishop Zao Rapa representing the church and Mr Philemon and Tewai-Siassi MP Vincent Michaels representing the government.

However, that did not spoil the occasion, with hundreds turning up to witness celebrations marking the centenary.

Posted by Malum Nalu at 5:59 PM

Labels: Malalo celebrates 100 years