Ministry Work with the Malaumanda

A Short History of Malaumanda

The Lord Moves a Mountain: 1983-1993

Jeff and Joy arrived in the field in Papua New Guinea in January of 1987. After a brief orientation and time to learn the common trade language spoken throughout the country, they were involved in helping to start missionary endeavors among the Inaru tribe from June 1987 until May of 1990. Jeff and Joy heard from missionaries at a nearby location that the people of Malaumanda were requesting missionaries. The Malaumanda area, isolated by rugged mountain terrain, was only accessible by helicopter or by hiking through the dense rainforest. The nearest point with an airstrip was Bisorio and it was at least a 3-day hike away. There was no large, flat area in Malaumanda where an airstrip could be built. This, along with a lack of personnel, were the primary reasons why missionaries from New Tribes Mission did not enter this area, even though invitations had been logged for many years.

Around 1988, a gold mining endeavor began at Malaumanda. The mining company decided to take on the task of building an airstrip, with the prodding of the provincial government, believing it would expedite their mining strategy. They labored for approximately three years. Many large pieces of earth moving equipment were shipped into the area and over a million dollars were spent on the project. The mining company had to literally move the keel of a mountain ridge to create a strip of land level enough for an airplane to land. When only a few hundred feet remained to be developed, the mining company went bankrupt. Other interested individuals, both government and private, got involved to insure the airstrip was completed.

The people Malaumanda waited 10 years to receive a missionary

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In January of 1993, Jeff and Joy left the United States and returned to Papua New Guinea. Two weeks after arriving, the Malaumanda airstrip was officially operable. Understanding that missionaries could now easily locate at Malaumanda, representatives of New Tribes Mission immediately flew in to confirm the desires of the people. Ten years worth of regular invitations bore fruit that day! Believing the perfect timing of the Lord was set before them, Jeff and Joy began making plans to begin a new missionary work in that area.

Two Years of Obstacles: 1994-1995

It took many trips in and out of Malaumanda before Jeff and Joy could live there permanently

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It was apparent from the moment of commitment to this tribal area that there was a heated spiritual war in progress. There were multiple forces vying for control of this remote jungle location. Amid this, Jeff and Joy began preparations for getting established at this tribal location. Jeff made regular trips into Malaumanda for about one solid year to cut lumber with a chainsaw from local timber for house building purposes. At times, a fellow missionary would accompany him to assist in this huge task. Because of Joy and the kids being at a different location, equipment failure, and other logistical nightmares, Jeff was not able to stay at Malaumanda for more than a month at a time. Several times, Joy and the kids accompanied him on these trips into the interior.

At that time taking up permanent residence at Malaumanda was not an option. Wisely, understanding the huge amount of effort it takes to establish a work at a new interior location, New Tribes Mission does permit new tribal missionary endeavors to start with only one couple. In a period that lasted over two years, Jeff and Joy worked alone in getting the work established. During that period, three couples agreed to join them as partners, but circumstances prevented that from actually locating at Malaumanda.

The house that Jeff built. Most of the timber for the house was cut locally using a chainsaw lumber mill

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Due to the amount of very unusual circumstances that had prevented the work from advancing and concerned the credibility of the Mission was at stake, NTM's leadership agreed to allow Jeff and Joy to reside permanently, yet alone, at Malaumanda. A team of fellow missionaries gathered enough wood from a stockpile Jeff had been collecting to help build their house.

The exuberance of moving in was short lived as word came that Joy's mother had only weeks to live as she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. Jeff, Joy and the kids returned for a six-month furlough in July 1994.

Years of Expansion: 1995-1999

Jeff teaching the Bible

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As Joy's mom continued to battle cancer, Jeff and Joy returned to PNG in January 1995. After settling into their house, Jeff began full-time study of the Malaumandan language and culture. Joy had the full-time job of maintaining the household while home schooling Jordan, Grant and Lindsay. In addition, they were each involved in helping to meet the many medical needs of the tribe as situations arose. Later in 1995, Barney and Tina Enns joined the team followed by Eric Hedeen in 1996 and Mike Measley in 1997. The team built their houses, got settled into the tribe and began language and culture study. So, the workforce at Malaumanda increased.

Jeff finished formal language study of the tribal language in December of 1998 and began preparing lessons to present the long awaited Good News. On May 10, 1999, the Malaumandan people began hearing "God's Talk" in their native tongue for the very first time. God's redemptive plan for mankind was presented in story form in chronological order as it unfolds in the Bible. Lessons were taught Monday through Friday for five and a half months. Props, pictures, skits and other visuals were used to help clarify the Biblical truths they were learning. This approach was used due to the fact that the Malaumandan language was previously not in written form and because there was no former understanding of Biblical truth. The stories climaxed with Jeff teaching the death, burial and resurrection of Christ on "Gospel Day" October 25, 1999. A major portion of the village believed.

While Jeff and Joy were back in the USA on a furlough, Mike Measley and Barney Enns continued teaching the young Malaumandan believers.

Eten, one of the many young Malaumandan men who has believed the Gospel message

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2001: Year Of Change

In 2001, Jeff and Joy returned to PNG from a furlough in the USA while Enns, Hedeen and Measley were still in the USA on their furloughs. Jeff and Joy settled back into their home in the tribe eager to jump into the discipling/church planting phase of the Malaumandan work. In July, Jordan went off to the mission boarding school. During the months that followed, multiple changes occurred. Joy's mom died after a long battle with cancer. Joy was gone for two months in the USA. Jordan went through adjustments at school. Joy returned to PNG and her back problems began to surface to the point that she had to go to Cairns for medical attention. Despite this unsettled time in their lives and ministry, the first Malaumandan baptism occurred in November of 2001.

Fuwale represents many Malaumandan women eager to learn how to read and learn more about the Bible	Eso, one of the first Malaumandan men to be baptized
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