Mendi 1953
Bit by bit, the mission team in Mendi were getting to know the people, the language and the customs of the place. The nurse Joyce Walker, the teacher Elsie Wilson and the agriculturalist David Johnston each wrote of their impressions. They knew that the work would be slow and that they needed to be patient, even when things were difficult or disappointing.
‘Gradually we are beginning to find out something about the life and beliefs of our Mendi people and with this knowledge, limited though it is at present, comes a better understanding of them and their ways. There exists a very real belief in spirits and the spirit world.’
Joyce Walker, 1953
‘It is our earnest hope that we will be able to form a class for daily instruction, and so educate and prepare them to be leaders among their own people.’
Elsie Wilson, 1953
‘We are laying the foundations of a Highlands Church.’
‘For some time, our agricultural work is not likely to influence greatly the economic life of these people. But if it is possible to prove to them that we use methods which produce better results, then they will want to know more. They will see more of us and we will have greater opportunities of teaching them about our Lord.’
David Johnston, 1953
Joyce Walker wrote:
“Gradually we are beginning to find out something about the life and beliefs of our Mendi people and with this knowledge, limited though it is at present, comes a better understanding of them and their ways. There exists a very real belief in spirits and the spirit world, so real indeed that most things that happen are attributed to the influence of some spirit, either good or bad. For example, sickness, a sore, an accident, the failure of crops, heavy rain washing away the gardens — all these are due to the work of evil spirits. The connection of sickness, disease and sores with filth and germs — this will be seen as time passes and we realise that we must not be in too much of a hurry.
At present their religious practice centres on the sacrifice of pigs to appease the spirits which may have entered sick people through food or drinking water. The spirits may have entered the house and bitten those inside while they were asleep. The sacrifice of pigs is essential. If it is not effective in saving life, it at least appeases the spirits and they go away without harming other members of the household. Besides, pig as food is a great treat for these people and much sorrow is forgotten in anticipation of a feast. That is why it is hard to keep these people in hospital. The sick people must be present at the killing.
When the Government station was established at Mendi and the people were persuaded to bring in some very large logs to span the creek for building a bridge, the spirits, we were told, became very angry and four or five people died in a nearby village. Recently one of these logs broke and the officers had to ask for more logs, but they were told that these could not be supplied until some pigs had been killed and the spirits duly appeased. Forty pigs were killed one morning and several days were spent in celebrating and feasting before the timber was eventually supplied.
Recently we heard of a day of celebrations in a nearby village where there was to be a “preview” of pigs which would be killed later. Hundreds of people were coming from the surrounding villages and we decided to go and see what we could. Imagine our surprise when we saw not a dozen or so pigs as expected, but about three hundred tied to stakes, lovingly tended by their proud owners and gazed upon with awe and admiration by the crowd. Dancing, feasting and celebrating continued all that day and night, after which the pigs were re-housed with the women and children until the arrival of the feast day. Pigs not only share the homes of the people but from birth until death are treated with the utmost respect. When small they are nursed and carried around by the women like babies and often suckled as such to the detriment of the babies’ health and welfare. I have seen a Mendi man step aside to let a pig pass.
We believe that knowledge of the language and so the ability to offer the Christ of the Gospel to these people is the way to lead them to a fuller life. Please pray with us that soon we will be able to tell you of real spiritual progress among the people of our valley.”
Elsie Wilson wrote:
“The Mission Station at Mendi in the Papua New Guinea Highlands was begun just over two years ago. We are becoming used to the people and they to us. But there are still many surprises for them and for us, too, who work here.
Some weeks ago, two young animals, which had been purchased from the Department of Agriculture, were brought to Mendi by a light aircraft. Mr. Johnston had fenced in a paddock for them, and had built a shed to shelter them, and they are doing very well on the natural grasses of the valley. The astonishment of the Mendi people was great. One man fainted when he saw the young bull and the heifer. Even the school boys, who knew that the cattle were to come and had seen pictures of the cattle, kept a respectable distance. One day when we walked to the paddock to see the cattle, the boys who were with us, not daring to stand in the doorway of the shed, pulled aside the grass with which the walls were lined and peered cautiously through.
It has surprised us to find the children and even the youths wanting safety pins. Beads and salt were formerly the common items of trade. Now everyone asks for pins, though not always by that name. One lad asked for a pumpkin, using the English word, and two days later asked for a “money”. The second time he held up a pin, so the puzzle was solved. Recently, several youths have come to live on the station, and are employed in the gardens. One helps Mr. Johnston with the goats and cattle. They work very well and the gardens are being extended, especially the area under sweet potato, which is the staple food.
A class is held for these lads one evening each week, and they are interested and fairly attentive. One evening we talked (with the help of the globe) about New Guinea and Australia. Now they talk about New Guinea Shu and Australia Shu (land or country), but they cannot understand what the sea is like.
Knowing how overcome they were at the sight of the young cattle, we wonder what would they think, or how would they react to their first sight of the sea. Even the fish would surprise them. They used to tell us about the big fish in the Mendi River, but one day they saw a smoked fish about seven inches long and called to their friends to come and see it. The size astounded them. We are very glad to have these young men living on the station, not only for the work they do, but even more for the value of the day-to-day contacts with them. It would not be practicable to teach them in school with the younger children, but it is our earnest hope that we will be able to form a class for daily instruction, and so educate and prepare them to be leaders among their own people. Of course, if they are to teach and lead their own people, they must first be won for Christ, and we hope that education will be a means to that end.
Not the least of our problems is stealing. The Mendi people in general have no surplus of food, and often say they are hungry. We used to think that it was because they had sold more than their surplus for trade goods. However, we have learned that there is a general food shortage in the Highlands. As a result, people who walk along the road through the station, often remark upon the sweet potato in the gardens, and hint that they would like to be given some. If they think no one is looking, some of them take it. (They also steal from one another’s gardens.) As it is, it is hard enough to grow sufficient food for the people under our care. The teachers have to work very hard to provide food for themselves and their families, and it is very trying for them to find it being stolen. The school boys think as do their elders, and are prone to petty thieving. It is very hard to prove anything against an individual, and although the culprit may be known, the others do not tell tales.
We are prepared to work patiently among these people believing that in time they will be led to an understanding of Christian discipleship. Much about them exasperates and disappoints us but, of course, we have come to lead them into a new way of life. We are laying the foundations of a Highlands Church and in this work, you can share — by praying for us and with us.”
Agriculturalist David Johnston introduced new and unfamiliar livestock to Mendi in 1953 which was described as a ‘flying ark’. Mendi local people were amazed to see pairs of cattle, goats, sheep, fowls and ducks. Johnston also brought in new seeds and plant material.
David Johnston wrote:
“Near Mendi there has been marked lack of food for five or six months, and the people are constantly complaining of hunger. The staple food is sweet potato and apart from this very little else is grown. Limited amounts of maize, sugar cane and taro are planted, beside some greens, which admittedly are important from the diet viewpoint, but contain little bulk. The main reason for this shortage is that for some months the people joined in a series of ceremonies which took most of their time, and consequently gardens were not worked. In addition, much food was stolen by those whose supply failed early. These ceremonies concluded in a mammoth gathering in which about 1,000 pigs were killed, cooked and eaten, and large quantities of other foods were also consumed.
The general shortage is also due to the methods used. From an agricultural viewpoint these are very serious. Forest areas are ruthlessly slashed with steel axes and after a time everything is burnt by fires which leave practically nothing. Round mounds are built about three feet high and almost as wide, and sweet potato runners planted in them. With over one hundred inches of rain per annum much of this good soil is soon washed down the steep hillsides and into the large waterways leading to the sea.
We are trying to help these people by increasing their food supply and by providing greater variety in their diet. At present there are twelve young men living on the station and we are attempting to teach them better methods of planting, selection and rotation, and we hope that the work carried out here will soon spread further afield. At the instruction class held at school one day each week, the value of compost and contour planting has been emphasised, but as yet the pupils are not impressed. It is an innovation and so will not produce results! One morning in particular I was showing them how to place compost under the sweet potato growing in contour rows. And I could hear them saying, “He does not understand”.
Already the agricultural work at Mendi has proved worthwhile. Most of the land is on the other side of the river from the station, in former “enemy” territory. In the last few months, we have worked on both sides of the river and the former enemies have become more amiable and now often cross the river. For some time, our agricultural work is not likely to influence greatly the economic life of these people. But if it is possible to prove to them that we use methods which produce better results, then they will want to know more. They will see more of us and we will have greater opportunities of teaching them about our Lord.
Margaret Reeson, 2024
Sources:
Sister J. Walker, Missionary Review, February 1953 p.14
Elsie Wilson, Missionary Review July 1953. P.10
David Johnston, Missionary Review June 1953
David Johnston, The Missionary Review August, 1953 p.6
Margaret Reeson 