Singers, Dancers, and a Kundu Drum

 

Aerial views of Yehebi station.

Excitement rose as we circled over Yehebi airstrip to approach for landing. We saw several hundred people from the surrounding villages waiting for us to arrive. As soon as Dale and I stepped off the plane, young children stepped forward and surrounded us with dancing and hooping sounds.  Then three others moved toward us covered in red clay. Two ladies in grass skirts danced while the other, a man in full headdress, beat a kundu drum. His face painted black and red.  They danced as they had for centuries – chanting and singing – except this time it wasn't for an initiation or celebration. It was to welcome back the missionaries that once lived among them.

 

Male dancer beating on a kundu drum. (Several photos courtesy of Lee Fairbotham.)

 

We stood to watch as they moved forward to dance for us. In the background, young ladies repeatedly sang.

“ Before we didn’t know God’s talk.

Before we didn’t know Jesus.

Dale brought us God’s talk.

Now we know God.

We are happy at Dale.”

Some of the young ladies who sang.

 

Elaborate cane decoration lined a path up to the station. As they urged us to move forward up the path, everyone lined up to greet us.  Flower chains were placed around our necks as they led us forward to greet the tribe.  I fought tears as I greeted everyone. We were back among the Gobasi tribe in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea.

 

 

 

We had lived here for over 12 years from 1982-1994. Tears filled my eyes as we walked down to shake hands and greet everyone. Thirteen years had passed since I (Carin) had last visited.  Age had changed all our faces, but there were many we still knew and recognized. We were thrilled to return again for a visit.  Much effort and planning had gone into such an wonderful welcome for us, and we were overwhelmed and emotional.

God had miraculously provided the funding for us to return, along with our youngest son and two friends that came along to help. We planned to live for six weeks at Yehebi to have a long visit with everyone. Not only were we wanting to see how the church was doing, but we also hoped to complete several projects to help the station and people.

After greeting each person, everyone grabbed our luggage and supplies and took them into our old mission house.

A young man wearing a cassowary headdress.

 

Later in the day, I noticed that my flower chain had three paper flowers that the school children had colored, cut out and strung along with my frangipani flowers. For some reason, their artwork touched me. Those little treasures came back to America with me.

(c) 2013 Carin G. LeRoy. All rights reserved.