I just received an email a few days ago from our regional manager at our regional center in Alotau (Milne Bay Province, PNG). He stated he heard our friend Tomasi on the radio (he added the word "clearly" because our new antenna must really be working!). I guess they are experiencing another famine of sorts. We were out there last Oct for several weeks and there had been so much rain that the people could not plant their yams. I don't know the full story yet but I do know that when the gardens get messed up, a famine follows.
Normally on the Amphlett people plant their gardens in August or September. Harvest is in May. The yams usually last from harvest time till December. Then they begin eating more sweet potatoes, bananas and manioc from January till the next harvest. This past year the Southeast winds which usually blow from May till around September kept right on blowing and producing so much rain the ground stayed to moist to plant. If they had planted the seed yams would have rotted in ground.
So it is possible with all the rain from last year they are hurting for food. When this happens they begin sailing to other language groups to trade their clay pots for food. They will also trade turtle, fish and betel nut as well.
We had planned a possible trip in March and now we are glad we didn't. The other message from Tomasi was that the seas were so rough, he advised not trying to come. I appreciate him thinking of my stomach. It reminds me of a trip we took in July one time from the village Nubogeta to Alotau. It's about 15 hours. I couldn't even pick my head up off the bench because it was so rough. July is the worst time to travel. The Southeast winds are at their worst at that time. 15 hours of the boat slamming into the waves - up and down, up and down.
There was one other time I tried going in on the boat and it was rough. The Southeast winds had started blowing and I could hear the howl all day. I thought maybe that night it would calm down. Around midnight I thought it had calmed down and planned on leaving. We boarded the boat. It was one of those nights where it is so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face. As we pulled out of the reef area, we hit the first waves. Because I couldn't see the horizon I knew I was in for trouble. For the next 5 hours straight I was throwing up. I would open the window, throw up, then close it quickly so the waves didn't come crashing in. Once we were in the shelter of three islands, it was calm and I had a brief rest. But then we turned Southeast again and once I again I threw up for another 5 hours. Once we were in Milne Bay, the waves finally calmed down and I was very happy!
So you can see why I would be glad not to be on a boat at the moment. If Tomasi says it's rough, I believe him. He knows all about my weak stomach.
So I would appreciate you praying for the people on the Amphletts. You may never meet them, but they are going to have a tough time with a lack of food. Pray that God will provide the means for them to find the food they need in the ocean and in their trading relations.
So it is possible with all the rain from last year they are hurting for food. When this happens they begin sailing to other language groups to trade their clay pots for food. They will also trade turtle, fish and betel nut as well.
We had planned a possible trip in March and now we are glad we didn't. The other message from Tomasi was that the seas were so rough, he advised not trying to come. I appreciate him thinking of my stomach. It reminds me of a trip we took in July one time from the village Nubogeta to Alotau. It's about 15 hours. I couldn't even pick my head up off the bench because it was so rough. July is the worst time to travel. The Southeast winds are at their worst at that time. 15 hours of the boat slamming into the waves - up and down, up and down.
There was one other time I tried going in on the boat and it was rough. The Southeast winds had started blowing and I could hear the howl all day. I thought maybe that night it would calm down. Around midnight I thought it had calmed down and planned on leaving. We boarded the boat. It was one of those nights where it is so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face. As we pulled out of the reef area, we hit the first waves. Because I couldn't see the horizon I knew I was in for trouble. For the next 5 hours straight I was throwing up. I would open the window, throw up, then close it quickly so the waves didn't come crashing in. Once we were in the shelter of three islands, it was calm and I had a brief rest. But then we turned Southeast again and once I again I threw up for another 5 hours. Once we were in Milne Bay, the waves finally calmed down and I was very happy!
So you can see why I would be glad not to be on a boat at the moment. If Tomasi says it's rough, I believe him. He knows all about my weak stomach.
So I would appreciate you praying for the people on the Amphletts. You may never meet them, but they are going to have a tough time with a lack of food. Pray that God will provide the means for them to find the food they need in the ocean and in their trading relations.
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