Jungle Chapels, Jungle Schools, Jungle Pastors Houses

The Jungle Pastor’s house in Soukoram.   Or in this case the beach front Pastors House.

 

 

The Beach in front of the Soukoram Adventist Church is spectacular with these wild flowers and drift wood.

In a recent trip to Soukoram located on the north shore of the Pacific side of the Birds head West of Manokwari I got to see a variety of our Jungle Chapels, Jungle Schools and Jungle Pastor’s house’s.    I was struck by the fact that some of our Pastors make huge sacrifices to live in incredibly challenging locations.  

The Soukoram church was finished in 2006-2008.   The original Jungle Pastors home built by Pastor Hanes Bindasano in 1980 is to the far right.   Still occupied by a pastor and his wife today.

In the 1980’s we had a pastor who is now retired but had a great belief that if we could create houses for our pastors in un-entered area’s that we could be more effective than building churches first.    That Pastor,   Hane Bindasano, is like a legend in the field of pioneer work.    While he’s old now God has blessed him with old life and his wife too.   When I went to visit him a few months ago in his retirement home near Nabire he said, “I want to still travel to the far places and set up new locations amongst those who’ve never heard.   I beg God to let me have the health and energy and financial support to build Jungle Pastors houses in new places.”   I know of at least 10 Jungle Pastors homes that have resulted in full churches because of his vision to build churches.

The view out the front of the Soukoram Church.   Pacific Ocean.

One of the places he built a home was in Soukoram. . . That home was built in 1980 but the termites make it list to the side like a grounded ship.   Inside during the heat of the day its unbearably hot.   There are no screens and the cracks in the wood are enhanced by the rotting wood caused by termites building their jungle palaces.   Such is life in this hard place.

One of the many views on the way home (above) as we bounced my this 4x4 Toyota truck (below)

With 2 of the 6 pastors in the Manokwari Regency.   Trying to explore new places for spreading into new tribes.

On the way home from Soukoram we stopped by another pastors “Honey-moon” jungle chapel, school and house.   They beamed with delight as we came to see them.    Who knows how long it’s been since someone from the mission or union has been able to make it to this far place.   As I prayed with them I was reminded of my very first city evangelism meeting in Manokwari.    This pastor had just become engaged to his now bride.   They were so shy but Pastor Donald came to me one evening and asked, “Can you give me and my future bride some counseling?”   As a result this young couple always greet me with a warm smile and friendly handshake.   He and his bride are pastoring 6 locations in an area 3 hours across by motorcycle in difficult terrain.

Pastor Donald and his Wife Agness pastor the Provi district with 6 churches across 3 hours span.

Jungle Chapels, Schools and Pastors houses will be needed to either start new work amongst the 256 tribes of Papua and West Papua Indonesia.   In fact we could use 48 such locations now but the cost is simply a dream for most of these locations.

Think Chocolate–Think Ransiki (Ran-See -key)

 

Fabulous view of the Bird of Paradise bay on the way to Ransiki

Never before have I been surrounded by so many Cocoa trees in my life.    But as we traveled the approximately 3 hours by four wheel drive truck to Ransiki 117 km south of Manokwari in West Papua we passed cocoa trees for more than 50 Kilometers of that trip.

Ransiki is a sub-district of the Manokwari regency.   The government has slated Ransiki to be come a district of its own in 2015.    Chocolate is its number one crop.    Lots and Lots and Lots of chocolate.   When you eat Chocolate think to pray for Ransiki

Along the side of the road people place the cocoa (Chocolate) beans out to dry in the sun.

While Chocolate is in abundance in this region and people number 7,700+ -- Adventists are few – eight to be exact.    But those eight have banded together to seek to share and expand.   We’ve placed two volunteer missionaries in this area.    Its an area with about 10 unique tribes non of which know about Adventism.

Volunteer Missionaries who have worked for the past 10 months in Ransiki

Our Volunteers have prayed with hundreds of people every day in the Ransiki town.   Their ministry has been mostly with Children.   Teaching children to read and write.   Teaching them to love Jesus.   If you notice in the picture above their students eagerly look on in the side ground.

In the late 1990’s  a retired Soldier, Mr Rumander,  who had served in both the old Dutch East Indies Army and in the Indonesian Army decided to retire to his birth place of Ransiki.   During his years around Indonesia he had learned of the Seventh-day Sabbath and had become an ardent spreader of the Gospel of Jesus.     He has prayed for years that an Adventist church could be established in his home place.    In 2003 a church plant was launched in the small home that is located in the picture below.   Today, there is a group of 8 adults and approximately 10 children trying to reach 7,700+ people.

 

Key People in this picture:   Left most = Pastor Arthur who leads from Manokwari, Mr Rumander stands to the immediate right of Pastor Arthur.

This is the project of the Sanggeng Adventist church in Manokwari.   Manokwari is  the capital of the West Papua province in Indonesia.     The Sanggeng church sacrifices nearly 1/4 of its Church Budget to pay for the two student missionaries who have been working in Ransiki.   

Mr Rumander has promised a nice piece of land located next to the current home that is being used for the church.   On this land he hopes we can help find sponsors to help them build a Jungle Chapel, School and Pastors home.    He is praying that someone can come that will help lead them in becoming knowledgeable in health ministry and leading young people to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

We dream of having a full time pair of workers who can build a school, church and workers house in this region of Chocolate.    So the next time your tempted by that Chocolate bar as you check out at the Grocery store – say a prayer for Ransiki and if God should convict donate for a full time worker, a jungle school, church and pastors house in Ransiki.   Think Chocolate Think to pray for Ransiki.

 

For those who like to look at GPS on google earth or other such maps   The above is my GPS screen shot.

Bob’s younger side (by Verna his big Sister)

After the crash I began collecting stories of Bob’s younger life incase the family wasn’t able to give Bob’s life sketch during the funeral.   Bob’s sister, Verna Roberts Canaday wrote this tribute to her “little” brother the day after the crash.   I’ve asked her for permission to be a guest on my blog by letting me publish her story in full.   Thank you Verna for allowing the rest of the world to peek into your life as big sister to Bob.  Darron

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Memories of my Brother, Bob

(By Verna Canaday)

Bob (1) and Verna

My first memory of my brother was standing outside Walla Walla General Hospital looking up at the 3^rd story window where my mother was with my new baby brother. Big sisters were not allowed in hospitals in those days. (June 14, 1951)

Bob held in his mothers arms with big sister Verna

When Bob was 1 we moved to 128 SE 12^th street where our parents lived until February 2010.

Bob Age 1

Bob was 4 when he pulled his highchair out from the dining room table. The chair had been helping support 60 quarts of newly canned peaches. Believe it or not there were jars in tack when Mother finished wiping away her tears and checked on the damage. Bob had been hungry and wanted to eat. He thought that if he got in his chair the food would appear. After he saw the mess he had caused, he high tailed it to Grandma’s just 3 houses down the street where he knew he could get some supper. Just recently I reminded our mom of that incident. She chuckles about it now because the memory of all that work has faded.

Bob Age 3

My mother often told the story of a camping trip at Langdon Lake in the Blue Mountains when Bob was fairly young. He was probably about 4 or 5. It was dusk and just about bedtime. Bob needed to use the outhouse but was very scared to do it on his own. He clung tightly to Mom’s hand. As they walked to the facility, he reminded her, “You’re responsible for me.” He was fearful of falling in the hole.

Bob with his sister and Mom and Dad

I was not always the kindest big sister. One time I locked both the front and back doors so he couldn’t get in the house. The reason for doing such a thing escapes me now, but I remember the act of doing it! My mother would remind me that Bob would grow and get bigger than I was someday. She was right, that happened. Thankfully we put away childish squabbles and became best friends about the time we were teenagers.

Bob had a flair for making money when we were kids. One of our money making adventures was the collection of night crawlers. We were going to get rich! Armed with a flashlight and small shovel we took to looking in the dark for the worms. We may have found one or two but we quickly realized we were not going to bring in money on that venture.

4th Grade

Bob had lawn mowing jobs for elderly ladies who were only too happy to have him work for them. I was jealous that he got paid to work while I slaved in the hot kitchen helping Mom can apricots, cherries, peaches, and pears. To me it seemed like most of the summer was spent canning.

My brother was generous though. When it was time to buy a gift for Mom, I’d ask if we could do it together. I would pick it out, if he’d pay for it. He was willing.

Bob’s first work with aviation was making markers for spray pilots to drop to designate the portion of the field just sprayed. He was about 12 when he was employed doing that work at Walla Walla Airport for Dale Tillay. Later he did night flagging for spray planes.

Bob was 13 when I came home from UCA (Upper Columbia Academy) for a home leave. My boyfriend, Steve, came to visit on Sabbath evening. I heard Bob on the phone telling one of his friends that he couldn’t go over to the friend’s house because he had “company.” Of course as a teenage sister, I wanted him to go visit his buddy, but I was stuck with my younger brother helping to entertain “my” company.

Showing off with his dad.

His freshman year at Upper Columbia Academy he spent his early morning hours baking bread in the cafeteria. Before the school year was over he’d earned enough to pay all of his tuition. He asked that the business office credit his sister’s account with the excess. They told him “no.” The next morning he didn’t show up to do his usual bread making, he slept in. The cafeteria ladies were very upset and called him to come and work. He told them that since he wasn’t going to be paid, he wasn’t going to work. Some quick phone calls from the cafeteria bosses got the business office people straightened out. Bob was back to making bread and the credit was going on sister’s bill.

Bob had big plans in June of 1968 just after his sophomore year at UCA to drive to PUC, buy a plane, then fly it home. I was part of his plan, as the assistant driver in our dad’s 1956 Chev stationwagon. After he purchased the plane, I would have to drive the car. We spent the first weekend at Uncle Ralph and Aunt Rita’s house in Rio Dell, California. We wanted a little sight-seeing so drove to San Francisco which was way too busy with traffic for two kids from College Place. Back up the road to PUC. I heaved a big sigh of relief when there was no plane in his price range available for Bob to buy. I was not excited about driving 650 miles home by myself. I’m hazy on the details about what my folks knew about the purpose of the trip. They trusted Bob’s driving and didn’t seem to have a problem lending the car for that long excursion.

In the summer of 1969, Bob became the proud owner of a metal wing yellow Cessna 140. The price tag was $2,500. He purchased it from a farmer up in the prairie land near Grangeville, Idaho. That was just before his senior year at UCA. At that period in history no students were allowed to bring cars to the academy campus. There was nothing in the rule book that stated that airplanes weren’t allowed. Some of the faculty members turned grayer that school year over the Roberts’ flying machine and the teenager who pointed out there was nothing stated in writing that said he couldn’t have a plane on campus. He put his airplane to good use by flying certain staff members low over the surrounding wheat fields on Sabbath afternoon to check up on students’ clandestine meetings.

Bob (right) with his first plane

One of the first uses of that little Cessna was the evening of my wedding. After Steve and I made our get-a-way in his parents’ car so we wouldn’t have to deal with his car being decorated, brother Bob and cousin Bob Davidson took off in the two seater plane. They followed us to Pendleton where our car was stored safely in the Canaday garage. As we rolled down the long dusty quarter mile driveway, the little yellow plane flew over us dropping rolls of toilet paper. We were royally chased as we left on our honeymoon to the Wallowa Mountains!

Upper Columbia Academy Senior 1970

After graduation in June 1970, Bob and a friend flew in the Cessna to Alaska to find a job on the Alaska pipeline. One of the requirements to fly in the bush was to have a gun and survival food. The price of food was way out of line to Bob’s thinking. He bought a 50 bag of dog food in case he crashed and needed to survive. The boys quickly found out that finding a job on the pipeline was not going to be easy so they headed for home much to their parents’ relief.

When Steve and I lived in Fortuna, California where Steve was teaching at Fortuna Junior Academy, Bob sometimes would fly down for a weekend adventure with us. Northern California is noted for foggy weather. One Sunday when he needed to return north, the fog was right “down on the deck.” It was too foggy for him to fly but he was young and crazy. He flew over the ocean trying to make it past the Arcata airport (which was up on a cliff) without being detected since he didn’t want to file a flight plan. When the fog and the ocean waves met, he had to return to us and fly out through the mountains. We were very thankful he made it safely home that time. He did grow up and mature in his flying decisions!

Bob the Mechanic (Left) with his dad

Two months ago our mother had a stroke. Bob called every day that week to check on her progress. His care and concern for our mom and me is a precious memory.

“If you Won’t worship on Sabbath then the death Adder will bite you.”

Me with Wellem, the man who lives on borrowed time because of an amazing miracle despite his disbelief in God’s Sabbath.

Mrs Wellem first heard about the Sabbath in a little book someone handed her.   It was called “The Almost Forgotten Day”  by my friend Mark Finley.    She read the book and then insisted that she read it to her husband.   Mr Wellem read it but wasn’t so convinced.   He came to church a few times at the little Seventh-day Adventist church that his wife found in Tanah Merah.   He always said, “If Sabbath is so important, Mrs Wellem,  then why aren’t there a lot more people there.”

Mrs Wellem just kept going to church but Mr Wellem went to the farm.   Every Sabbath Mrs Wellem invited him to come.   “Oh Wellem. . . won’t you come. . . You’ll be blessed and besides I don’t like going to church alone.”   But Wellem wasn’t convinced.

One Friday night about 2 a.m.  Mrs Wellem awoke from a terrible dream.   She woke Wellem up and said, “I just dreamed that since God has revealed to you about the truth of the Sabbath but you keep breaking it that a Death Adder snake is going to bite you if you go to the farm this Sabbath morning.”   

“Shhhh!   Honey!   Go back to sleep!    God doesn’t care what day I worship on.   I’ve gone to the farm for hundreds of times on Sabbath and never once have I seen a death Adder there.”

In Papua the most dreaded of snakes is the Death Adder especially the young ones.   They have the most deadly poison and one bite will take a humans life in a short time.   Mrs Wellem wasn’t convinced that Wellem would be ok if he went to the farm.   She prayed.

“Dear God bless Mr Wellem that even though he gets bit there can be a miracle that will convince him to be faithful to You.”    God answered her prayer with an impression that if she would pray for Mr Wellem he would be made well when the snake bit him.

In the morning Mr Wellem grabed his customary cold sweet potatoes and went off to the farm as usual.    He surveyed what he needed to do and then he thought of his crazy wife’s dream.   “There’s not even a place for the snake to hide where I’ll be working this morning”  He said outloud to convince himself.

Soon he was busy pulling weeds in the hot tropical sun.   Suddenly out of no where not 1 but 2 very fat and young Death Adders struck simultaneous.   One latched onto his hand and the other got his ankle.   Mr Wellem knew he had to act quickly.    He got to the road and already his breathing was getting harder.    He flagged a lone motorcycle and told the driver to go directly to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

“But sir!    Shouldn’t we be taking you to the hospital you’re dying.”  said the driver.

“The hospital won’t do any good because I was bitten by 2 young death adders.”  Said Wellem.

“Then sir why don’t you go home to die?   Why the church?”  The driver argued.

“Just do as you’ve been told!”   Wellem commanded.

“Alright suit yourself then!”

When Wellem arrived some 10 minutes latter to the Seventh-day Adventist Church he was barely able to breath.   His nerves were making incredible involuntary jerking motions.   He had terrific spasms.   Mrs Wellem was waiting for him at the back door.   “Well, Wellem didn’t I tell you God gave me this dream.    Let me see where the 2 snakes bit you?”

Wellem was amazed that she knew that it was 2 snakes that had bit him because in the night she had just said a snake would bite him.   He managed to show her the 2 spots where now there was dried blood coming out of his wrist and ankle.   Clearly bite marks in both locations.

“Wellem the Bible says that believers can handle snake bites and it won’t harm them but I’m afraid you’ve been unfaithful to what God has shown you as truth for these last days.”   She said.

“Its ok, wife, I have decided that since I am going to die I’ll die in the Adventist Church because at least my last breathes will be worshipping God on His blessed day.   I’ll worship Him until I die.”   Wellem declared.

“Do you want healing?”

“Yes I do!”  Wellem weezed.

“It’s dependent on your responding favorably  to God’s gift of Salvation and faithfully responding to His free gift of Love.   Do you know Wellem how you can show God your thankful for His wonderful Gift of Love?   You can faithfully keep all 10 of His commandments including the Sabbath.   Jesus said, ‘If You Love me Keep my Commandments.’”

“I will always try to keep God’s commandments including the Sabbath as long as I live.”  Wellem re-iterated.

“Wellem I’m going to pray that God will heal you.”   

She prayed for him and amazingly within minutes the incredible swelling and nervous reaction left him.   He was healed.   From that Sabbath on.   Wellem has been in church with his family.   He is telling everyone about Jesus incredible power.

On Sabbath April 5 we ordained Wellem as a deacon in the Tanah Merah church.

Mr Wellem:  The healed Sabbath keeper

Bob Roberts last Sabbath

Bob Roberts, mission pilot for Adventist Aviation Indonesia, never did conquer the Bahasa Indonesia language.   Even after 22 years he struggled but on Bob’s last Sabbath before the twinkling of the eye nap. . . he thoroughly enjoyed himself.   He read a book on John Carter during Sabbath School while the rest of us tried to listen in on the discussion.   Then I saw him slip out and join the children’s Sabbath School at the Tanah Merah Church.

Tonah Merah Church:   One that Bob and Adventist Aviation contributed toward building.   Nears completion.   The church dreams of a pastors house and a school in this important Frontier to the Southern slope town.

Tanah Merah is a church that Bob and Adventist Aviation had contributed to for their building.   He was excited. . . in the 22 years that he’d been flying in Papua there had never been a planned tour of the interior places of southern Papua with Adventist Aviation and mission staff.   We planned 5 stops to see 5 new locations including Tanah Merah.    Tanah Merah had not existed less than a decade ago and now a city that’s rapidly developing has a small Adventist church.

Sabbath After potluck I opened with a  10 minute talk and then I invited Bob to come share ways that members can be involved in reaching others with the Gospel.    Bob was prepared.   He had a whole box of books and goodies.   He was really happy to learn the story of a native man who wanted one of our hand wind solar powered “God Pods”.

Bob Roberts giving Wellem a hand crank/solar powered “God Pod”

This man, Wellem,  has a wife who learned about the blessing of the Sabbath as kept by God’s people from creation and still will be kept in Heaven one day.   Its an amazing story how God used her to share the gospel with her husband but that’s for another blog.   The point is Bob was really excited to learn that there was a man from a tribe further up the river who was on fire for Jesus.

Bob pulled his books out and began to preach. . . he kept going and going.   Usually Bob never went longer than 10-20 minutes with any public speech.   He was just not a public speaker.   He spoke of getting material into every possible language.   He spoke of using God Pods and then he gave one to Wellem.   He spoke of every person reaching someone faithfully every day.   Bob shared more and more stories.   He seemed to have forgotten himself.   We all marveled because each of the Pastors from the mission and me had always been chastised for speaking “too long” by Bob.  

The most significant thing I remember Bob sharing  that Sabbath Afternoon was that “we must not just pray but we must act on prayer and go to where the spirit leads us.   Not because we’re saved by works but because Jesus has saved us therefore we must work.”

When Bob sat down the local pastor decided to lead us in a stretching song to make sure we didn’t go to sleep now that the “Best preacher” had finished – Bob Roberts.   As the Pastor lead in this “Stretcher” song (in English no doubt for Bob and me to enjoy) I happen to take a short video.   It’s another “never going to happen video.”   Bob just didn’t do any jigs in church.   But on this day Bob was happy.   Bob actually participated with this children’s song and the members loved it.   Here it is.  Hope you enjoy.

Bob Roberts last jig. He was happy that someone was already sharing their faith.

Bob the Builder

When Bob’s dog , Lucy, was sick Bob built an IV pole in true Bob the Builder fashion.

Perhaps your kids watched that show, “Bob the Builder”.   While I can’t say I ever just sat and watched the show all the way through I certainly remember the chorus because it seemed it was sung 20 times in each episode.

 

“Scoop, Muck and Dizzy and Roley too
Lofty and Wendy join the crew
Bob and the gang have so much fun
Working together, they get the job done”

When we moved to Papua, Indonesia we learned to appreciate Bob’s attention to building things right.   The house the General Conference commissioned to be built for us to live in is a testament to doing things right.  You can read my wife’s blog about this house. or here or this one and another.   You get the picture Bob’s building got a lot of attention from this family.

In 22 years of living in Papua it is rumored that 51 churches, schools or pastors houses were finished or assisted with under the direction of Bob Roberts the Builder.   I’ve heard of 14 teachers houses being remodeled or built by Bob and team.   In addition to that Adventist Aviation Campus has at least 11 new buildings and 2 remodeled buildings as the result of Bob the pilot, builder.   Adventist Aviations flying helped pay for many properties that those churches or schools were located on.   To say that he paid for it all would be unfair to the hundreds who personally sacrificed.   But it seemed Bob was always helping with a building somewhere – not just financially but often himself or a staff member went to help.   

While some funds were donated from donors from abroad most came from Bob’s constant flying.   18,000+ hours of flying in Papua alone.  Bob not only housed and gave work to dozens but he helped send students to schools by the dozens every year.   Bob was a real teacher when it came to building.    He expected things to be done right.   If it wasn’t you needed to tear it out and do it right.  

Tinibil:  The Church (right) and pastors house (Left) that together are about 60% finished.   Bob flew here on April 6 just 3 days before his crash on April 9 at about 9:15 a.m.   This Tinibil trip was Bob’s last missionary flight.   He flew the next flights and even the one he crashed in to support missions.

There was one church Bob won’t get to see finished.   It was getting close to finished.    It’s located an hour flight away from the base here in Doyo Baru high in a Mountain village by the name of Tinibil.   This is a village lies near the center of the Island along the border with PNG.  Bob had a passion for seeing this church built with a Pastors house and a nice church for at least 200 people.   We stopped in Tinibil on our way home from a 6 day trip of the Southern part of Papua.   Bob was a bit disappointed because this church and Pastors house had cost far more than he’d hoped and still it about 40% from being finished.

One of the pressing concerns we’ve had since Bob’s funeral on April 11 is how are we going to finish this project?     We don’t have a pilot to take us there.  One day in prayer I felt impressed to ask the Roberts family and the staff at Adventist Aviation what they thought of doing a mission trip to finish this church.    So at present we are trying to raise the additional $5,000 to finish this project.   The $5,000 will go to help charter the flight and get the remaining supplies to finish this project.    Adventist Aviation staff and myself will go on June 2-9 and try to finish as much as possible on this project.   I guess this project will have to be finished by us -- “Scoop, Muck and Dizzy and Rolly too. . . working together we’ll get the job done.”

If you’d like to donate to the $5,000 needed please donate to: Battlefield Community Church of SDA (Seventh-day Adventists)  PO Box 5306 Ft Oglethorpe, GA 30742.   Please mark checks for Papua Evangelism Fund (“Bob’s Churches”).

 

Bob Standing with the few members and interests of the Tinibil church on the almost finished side of the church.

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The stage and benches and windows and doors and the rest of the side walls need to be finished and the pastors house is only 20% finished. 

 

The Church in Tanah Merah that Bob was helping with.   This was the last church that Bob spoke in on Sabbath afternoon April 5.    One line from his message to the young people was, “I won’t be around here tomorrow (we left the next day) but you have to work hard and pray hard to finish this work.”   This tomorrow may have been prophetic.

A Church in Amk that Bob was hoping to help with in the near future.   This one will last another year and then the termites will cause it to collapse one day.

Land in Bade that as soon as the official documents could be had, “We need to get going on”, Bob had said as we passed over this land.