December 3, 2024
“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” (Robert Burns). These words accurately describe the plans Arthur Tatara had made for serving God in PNG in December 2024. Arthur had planned to return to Waria Valley to direct another area-wide youth camp that draws about 1,000 young people and results in dozens of baptisms.
The only commercial airplane that flew from Lae to Waria Valley crashed in the jungle killing five people and leaving Arthur without air transportation. Then tribal violence broke out in the area between Arthur’s home in Lae and Waria Valley making travel by boat dangerous.
There are no roads through the mountains around Waria Valley. Many of the young people who attend the Christian Youth Camp in Waria Valley walk on mountain trails for several days to spend five days at camp. Recently, a young girl was raped and killed on a mountain trail, and plans for the camp were canceled.
Arthur wrote, “I made a quick decision to travel to the Northern Province to visit the church there, to share the gospel with them, and to find a couple who were interested in studying at Melanesian Bible College in 2026.
“It took me 12 hours to travel by dingy to reach Northern Province, and along the way, I almost lost my life due to high [sea] water, and I lost everything that I took with me: my mobile [phone] and bag. However, God saved me, and I reached my destination and shared the gospel.”
Having escaped death in a rough sea, Arthur preached the Word of God at this small church in the Northern Province in PNG. Arthur is wearing a blue shirt in the picture above.
In closing, Arthur writes, “Brother, I am requesting you or a faithful Christian to assist me to purchase a new Android phone for my work.” A new Android phone in Papua New Guina costs US $400.
An Invitation:
We invite you to, please, consider including WEI in your 2025 church budget and join us in a concerted effort to lead the whole world to Christ.
