Papua New Guinea : SEPIK Christian Ministries
PAPUA NEW GUINEA HOME

LOCATION

Papua New Guinea is the second largest island in the world, just north of Australia in the South Pacific. Hauna Village is situated in the swamplands on one of the largest rivers, the Sepik River. It is also inside a tropical rain forest, which averages over 300 inches of rain every year, with two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. It is hot and humid year round, with the temperature and the humidity averaging in the upper 90s.

It is considered a tropical paradise because of its exotic animal and bird life. Unfortunately, along with the beautiful birds and animals, the area has every type of insect imaginable with an abundance of mosquitoes, which carry malaria—a big killer.

HISTORY

The first missionaries to this area went in 1968 to translate the Bible into the local language, which was unwritten at that time. In 1979 Shirley Killosky went as a literary specialist and teacher. The translation of the New Testament was finished in 1989. Shirley joined Kids Alive International™ and continued with the teaching program on the Upper Sepik River and helped other less fortunate villages with an educational program. In the last twenty years the Hauna people have progressed from an illiterate society to one which can read and write in three languages: Sepik Iwam, Pidgin English (the trade language), and English.

FACILITIES

The ministry facilities include a large mission house where the missionary lives and where meetings are conducted, a school, a church, and several miscellaneous buildings for a variety of activities (sewing, carpentry, stores, laundry, mechanic shop, and so on).

Because there is no medical help for this area, the mission also operates a Medical Center, which averages about100 patients a day.

With the help of Teen Missions International, three elementary schools were built in other villages and are now offering both spiritual and educational instruction. There are presently six elementary schools operating under the auspices of Kids Alive International.

PROGRAM

Because there is a high rate of malnutrition and sickness in this area, the mission provides one nutritional meal every day. The students are day students and return to live with their families at night. Funding for the schools is provided through the sponsorship program of Kids Alive International.

There are approximately 700 students currently enrolled in the elementary schools and high schools. Ages of the elementary students range from 5 to 14, and for the high school students, age 15 to adult. All of the 15 teachers (12 elementary; 3 high school), besides Shirley, are nationals. Beginning at 5 years of age, the schools teach three languages —Sepik Iwam, Pidgin English, and English. Other courses include the usual school subjects, plus Bible. Cost of schooling, per student, is about $360/annually.

A national board called Sepik Christian Ministries governs the ministry.

FUTURE

Many neighboring villages are asking the mission to start elementary schools for them.

The goal of the Sepik Christian Ministries is to reach out to those less fortunate villages with spiritual as well as physical help. The number of people directly or indirectly in need of help or being helped under this ministry is about 5,000.