Thanksgiving Service in the village

The Thanksgiving Service

In 2009 the people living in the Ukarumpa Village (near our center) had some terrible things happen, resulting in many of their huts being burnt down and a few people being killed. During that time Ukarumpa Center assisted them, prayed with them, helped them in what ever way they could.

Last year Ukarumpa Village, out of thanks to the Lord and to our community for their assistant, brought a bunch of garden goods and gifts to our meeting house. We rejoiced together in the way the Lord had spared them and encouraged them during that time.

This year, on Sunday August 12^th, our community was invited to visit the village and have a joint Thanksgiving Service. Deciding to go, I packed my water, TP, bible, and hand sanitizer and walked out the door to find a rainy and dreary morning. My roommate and I went anyways, meeting other people from our community as we walked. On our way we came to a “bridge”. I say “bridge” because it is WELL worn. It must have been some kind of Car Bridge back in the day but today it is hardly a walking bridge. Many meters over the rushing river pay a bunch of wooden boards suspected half-hazard by chain tethers. On the wooden boards lay metal plates that could possibly have been used during World War II.

When we came closer to the bridge my roommate and I chose to wait for the group ahead to get across successfully. They were taking great caution where as we figured, if we walked across quickly we would not have to think about the rushing water, the extreme height, the wobbly bridge with no hand rails, and the slippery metal plates. As our friends crossed foot over foot more guests arrived and began talking about their fears of crossing. Finally we crossed and didn’t look back. Let me just add, this is not a bridge where you can look at your feet and not look down. Each metal plate has round holes all over it making your stomach churn.

On the other side we walked the half mile or so to the village and was greeted by smiling faces of villagers, employees, friends, and others from our community. After shaking hands we settled on a woven mat under a large blue tarp held up by smartly crafted bamboo poles. Time passed as more visitors and villagers joined the festivities. One older lady didn’t have a seat so I convinced her to share our mat with us. She was a sweet old lady, likely a grandmother of many in the village. She held my hand tight and talked about what was happening and pointed out each of her children and grandchildren.

The service began with singing. We sang songs in Tok Pisin, English, and the village language of Gazup (I didn’t sing but the village people did and it was beautiful.). How honored God must feel when his people join together as one and lift his name up. Our community children sang some songs and so did the village Sunday school class. The service was long but God honoring. At the end each village clan (family) brought garden items and gave them as a tithe/offering to the Lord. What a wonderful picture of giving of what you have. Even little children held a head of lettuce or some carrots to offer to the Lord.

I am grateful I was able to share this day of Thanksgiving with the people of Ukarumpa village and many from my community. Though I was not here during the events that preceded, I am grateful that I can participate in the thanksgiving of God’s provision and protection.