Sept 1 Update
We now believe that the Maleu people who were missing at sea since July 13 have died. I emailed Matt and Angie Hall, and Aaron Weatherl, for an update and what follows is their reply to me. Aaron’s reply includes a note from Maleu elder, Kewaka. which was written in Tok Pisin, the trade language of PNG. I have translated it into English for you.
Steve
From Angie: Thank you for praying. They do not have cell phone coverage in their villages, so we haven’t heard from them recently. Last we heard (several weeks ago) the Maleu believers were dealing with the loss well. They were getting ready to have a kaikai (meal) to end the time of mourning. They were believing that God is in control and praying that many more would come to Him through this.
- Please continue to pray for comfort and that God would work mightily in the midst of this tragedy. So many children are now fatherless, there are several widows, and one couple lost two grown children.
- Pray that God would raise up workers to replace the two Church Elders and Bible teacher trainee.
Thanks so much – Angie
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From Aaron: They were never found, and the Maleu church has already had a memorial service for them. Gibson and Denis, (two of the men who were lost) were both leading the church at their village and considering reaching out to a new location. The Maleu believers are content with what God has allowed, but their hearts are still heavy. Kewaka, a Maleu elder and brother to Gibson, who was lost, recently wrote to me and said,
“First I want to send the joy and thanksgiving of my family and me, and all the church, to all you brothers and sisters for your prayers, and for sharing this trial with us. Thanks very much for your help and for the big help of all the brothers and sisters.
- Please pray that God will give us wisdom to lead His church on the straight and true road that follows His will.
- Pray for the work that Gibson and Denis were doing at their church.
- Pray also for the women and children that the men (who died) left behind.
Kewaka”
In Him – Aaron
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Kewaka’s note in Tok Pisin
“Nambawan samting mi laik salim hamamas na tok tenkyu bilong mi yet family na sios olgeta long yupela ol brata long beten bilong yupeal, na tu long serim dispel hevi wantaim mipela. Tenkyu tru long bikpela helpim bilong yu wantaim ol brata.
- Plis beten long God long givim mipeal wisdom long lidim sios bilong en long stretpela na trupela rot i bihainim laik bilong en.
- Na tu long ol wok we Gibson wantaim Denis i mekim long sios.
- Na tu long ol meri pikinini bilong ol lain man bilong ol i lusim ol.
Kewaka
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Original Post:
Please continue to pray that the 6 missing Maleu tribal people (a church elder, 3 other men, a lady and her younger daughter) will be found. They left Umboi Island on the 13th of July, and headed east for a village on the western end of New Britain, which is a distance of about 20 miles.
They were traveling in a small 21 foot fiberglass “banana” boat similar to the one in the photo below.
On July 20, we heard that they had been found, and that they had reached Karkar Island off of the Madang province. I was amazed at the time, because Karkar Island is about 150 miles west of Umboi Island. I wondered how they got way over there, and was curious to hear the rest of the story.
A few days later I was saddened to hear that the people we had been praying for had never actually been found. Another boat with missing people had been found on Karkar Island, but it was not the Maleu boat.
This week Maleu believers have met together to think about and remember those lost at sea. We have not received any sign of life from them so far. Thank-you for praying for those who are missing, and for their friends and families who are dealing with the loss.
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