A further reason why Carol and I wanted to revisit Agarabi was to share in the opening/dedication of the ABLE CENTRE, an initiative of SIL Translators, Ron & Michelle Olsen. ABLE Centre was their vision that would provide literacy and health programmes to the Agarabi people. We watched this development with enormous interest in view of our own nineteen sixties involvement with the first Primary School in Agarabi. Carol very much wanted to share the occasion of the opening, which was initially scheduled for March. As things turned out, it would not have been possible both because of her passing and the fact that the Centre was not ready in March. The opening now coincided with our visit.
It was a most exciting day, especially for the Agarabi people and the Olsens. It was also a memorable occasion for the family and I. We had no idea what was organised and how it would all progress. We just knew that there would be an opening/dedication plus a mumu (traditional feast) and some presentations. I got a call from Ron a few hours before the opening telling me that I was listed as one of the speakers!
When we lived in Agarabi in the early sixties the population was just a little under 10,000. On that basis, I expected a couple of hundred people to turn up from nearby villages. When we arrived, I was staggered to see the number of people waiting for activities to begin. There was an estimated crowd of 2,000 through which the family and I had to walk while Darasi (former student and Bible Translator), who was on the microphone at the time, explained to all gathered that his teacher from long ago had arrived. It was a moving and humbling moment for me and at that moment just wished for Carol to be walking alongside me.
Let me give you some idea of the crowd that filled the area:
The following photo shows Brenda & Mark enjoying the occasion sitting among the people: 
The entertainment included a hilarious skit of a medical story.
It had the audience in stitches.
How great to see so many happy faces and so much laughter from both young and old:The official proceedings included speeches by many local folk, plus Ron Olsen who gave a background to the project:
...and me:
It also gave me the opportunity to especially introduce the family:
Once again, we were honoured with the presentation of billums and were made to feel a special part of their celebrations on this special day:
The following photo with the Olsens and the Agarabi Bible Translation Team. Darasi, my former student is on the far left:
The entertainment was great, including this musical item by these young people:
Finally, the official cutting of......the sugar cane. No ribbon; SUGAR CANE! I love it and it is most fitting!
There were some special moments for me personally when I met up with other students, including Kantas who has a deformity since birth. Here he is, as a little boy in 1963, struggling but determined:
And now in 2007, still with that glint in his eyes and pleased to see his old teacher, as I was pleased to see him:
Plus Kantamu & Karato & Pasin & one, whose name I do not remember:
Ann, Vicki & Brenda with Karato who dearly loved Carol. The feeling was very mutual:
And Mark with Kantamu, a fine man who became quite emotional:
And finally, let me present the many faces of Agarabi, full of character, interest, contrasting and very diverse. One wonders what goes on in each mind! Enjoy the next few photos:
My thanks to Michelle, Brenda & Ann for contributing some of their photos. Michelle & Ron are a very special couple and we love them dearly both as friends and God's specially chosen servants in Agarabi:
The Olsens and the Petrusmas.Next chapter will cover the reunion at our old school.
6 comments:
Thank you Siebrand for sharing your trip with us looks like you and the family had a great time.
Heather & Geoff
the people are so beautiful! what a crowd! and i loved the sugar cane!
So many beautiful faces Grandpa :) Glad you had a wonderful, blessed time!
Some of the photos of those people really show a lot of character! It looks like you had a fantastic time!
as an only elite from Kanimpa living and working in Port Moresby, was really proud to go through your blogg to see how much love you have and had shown since pre independence. Thanks for instilling my fathers and mothers through education to further lead us to be more educated than them to lead our own people and the nation. Baru Amevo, bmamevo@yahoo.com.au
as an only elite from Kanimpa living and working in Port Moresby, was really proud to go through your blogg to see how much love you have and had shown since pre independence. Thanks for instilling my fathers and mothers through education to further lead us to be more educated than them to lead our own people and the nation. Baru Amevo,
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