Update from Bishop Andrew

Siane! Hello from the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea.

Last week I travelled to Papua New Guinea on a mission visit with a small team from Anglican Missions - Mark and Phoebe. Our focus here is to continue the warm relationship we have with the Anglican Church of PNG and to focus on missional projects to help improve sustainability of Anglican Health services, and offer training in community resilience, while also worshipping alongside our sisters and brothers from PNG. The week was full with travel from Port Moresby to Goroka and then further into the Eastern Highlands to the village of Movi. Movi is in the Siane Valley, named after the Siane clan. It was the Siane clan who welcomed Anglican missionary Bishop, the Rt Rev’d David Hand into the area in 1953, just a little over 70 years ago. While we were there we enjoyed the welcome and hospitality of clan chief David Seine, and his wife Marjorie, staying at their home in Londoia, a village near Movi. We spent time inspecting the Anglican Health Services health clinic at Movi and confirmed the details of projects to return reliable power and clean water to the centre. The next day was spent running a community resilience workshop at Christ the King Church. We also visited Numbayufa village which was the first place that Bishop Hand arrived in the valley. The community rejoiced with us and offered a warm welcome retelling the story of the arrival of the Gospel in a very moving drama as part of our arrival. I found that I was the first Bishop from Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia to visit the village, which was a real surprise and delight. Our time in the Highlands concluded with our return to Goroka to purchase supplies for the projects at Movi, and then spend time in conversation with the President and Vice President of Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Aipo Rongo. On Sunday we all joined the community at St Francis Church in the Parish of Goroka where I was invited to preach and preside. The refreshments that followed were very substantial for which we were again very grateful. On Sunday afternoon we returned to Port Moresby in time to have an evening meal with the House of Bishops of ACPNG, including Bishop-elect of the Diocese of Port Moresby, The Very Rev’d Wilfred Kekea. 

One of the features of travel in Papua New Guinea is the unpredictable nature of it. Whether it is delays in flights that keep us sitting in airports for half a day or more, or roads that go from pot holed tar seal to wild 4WD tracks on the main highway, it is always interesting and challenging. We have however, despite these delays and challenges, so far enjoyed safe passage for which we are very grateful to God, and for your prayers. 

Next week I’ll aim to provide another update on the activities of this week as we spend time in the Diocese of Popondotta. In the meantime I hope you enjoy some of these photos, a brief snapshot of some of the communities and landscapes that have greeted us. The internet connections have not been strong or reliable in all the places we have stayed so I haven’t been able to post as many videos on Facebook as I may have hoped, but when I can, I will. Mark, Phoebe and I are all grateful for the financial support of the H & W Williams Trust for these projects and our visits, and the opportunity to continue the relationship and support for ACPNG. 

Kind regards,

+Andrew