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.
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