An adventure in Vanimo!
In January 1991 Catherine O’Brien rsc, like many sisters before her, set off to Papua New Guinea, having taken the position of Religious Education Co-ordinator for the Diocese of Vanimo for two years.
Following is an extract from Cate’s reflections, written six months after she returned home.
Once I had visited most schools, all of which had similar problems, I drew up a two-year plan and was successful in gaining funding from an overseas funding agency.
Job Tomur, the Diocesan Education Secretary, and myself planned our school visits together. Flexibility had to be the order of the day as one’s plans never seem to eventuate.
Our visits to schools were not without a little adventure! One visit that I will never forget is the one to Imbrinis – a three and a half hour walk from Ossima. Job and I had arranged our visit to coincide with the priest, Fr Aidan Hay’s visit to the village. Sr Peggy Dawson, a Maryknoll sister from America wanted to come along to see what a bush patrol was like.
Just before our departure Fr Aidan was called away and left a message for us to start in order to arrive before dark. As he was a fast walker he would catch us up. We followed his directions carefully, crossing muddy creeks, walking in torrential rain, through swamps and dodging many leeches.
L to R: Job , Cate and Peggy in the bush hut they found when lost in the bush.
Eventually we had to make a huge decision – the left path was all overgrown and quite obvious that no one had been along it for some time. We opted for the right one and on we forged through more creeks, mud and jungle. Under the canopy of the bush darkness I became a little concerned and began praying earnestly that we would reach Imbrinis before nightfall. By 6pm I had said every prayer that I could remember by heart several times and now pleading with God to get us there.
Not long after we came to a creek, and after being on the track for three and a half hours this should be the creek where the village was. Job left us in search of the village and on his return we didn’t speak, we just looked at each other. In what little light was left we walked along the creek to find a place where we could spend the night. To our surprise we found a bush hut in the middle of nowhere, obviously used by men hunting at night. We weren’t quite sure who would get the biggest shock if they turned up at during the night.
The thought of a fire to warm ourselves, dry our clothes and a cup of coffee was short lived as I’d left the lighter behind. Job tried so hard robbing wood but it just wouldn’t ignite. Because of our anxiety, the night noises, our wet clothes, cold bodies and the hut half collapsing, little sleep was had by all!
Around 9am Fr Aidan appeared. I was never glad to see anyone in all my life! We lit a fire and warmed ourselves and a cup of coffee never tasted so good.
Fr Aidan picked up our footprints and eventually found us. He went on to say Mass in the village but we all returned home and said maybe next time!
It has been six months now that I have been home and many times I have wished that I was still there. The life, the people and the culture have certainly become a part of the fabric of my life and I will always be grateful of the experience.
Another adventurous journey to visit a village with Aidan.
Cate became the Mission Station hairdresser. She writes: “The queue kept growing – not for the free hair cut but the smart haircut!”.