We haven’t been so busy lately so I have had a little chance to catch up…

The following is a summary of the letters for May 1963 — Between Coast and Highlands

May opened with celebration layered over strain, the way life so often did at Malalo.

Ina marked birthdays carefully, determined that joy would not be lost to distance or difficulty. Cakes were baked when the oven allowed it, candles set out with ceremony, and children gathered close long before supper was ready. Paula and Tommy took these occasions seriously, helping decorate, placing candles, and then—once permission was given—helping enthusiastically with the eating.

Easter had brought its own pleasures. There had been an egg hunt, with Tommy spotting nearly every egg before anyone else had a chance, while Paula found the basket itself. These small rituals mattered. They gave the children continuity in a world that otherwise shifted constantly.

Children Growing, Observed Closely

The children filled Ina’s days.

Tommy’s sweet tooth was legendary. One afternoon the house grew suspiciously quiet. Ina listened, then heard paper tearing in the kitchen. She found Tommy standing inside the cupboard, rapidly devouring marshmallows. Medicine had to be guarded carefully too—baby aspirin was too tempting, and he would have eaten it like candy if allowed.

Tommy reminded Ina more and more of Grandpa Ben Jackson. He had the same expressions, the same stocky build, already short for his age but solid. Mischief radiated from him, yet he could be deeply loving and cuddly. Paula, by contrast, seemed suddenly grown in many ways. She talked constantly, narrating meals, practicing new words, working hard at colors and numbers. They did not stick long, but she kept trying.

Ina noticed the unborn baby too—already strong, kicking and tossing so vigorously she wondered what kind of child was forming. Quiet, she suspected, would not be part of this baby’s nature.

Food, Fishing, and the Fragility of Supply

Food remained a daily concern.

The drought still lingered in the gardens, and feeding the station—especially the 115 boys and girls living at the school—required constant improvisation. Some students could bring food from home if they lived nearby. Others worked for the mission and were paid in food. Alvin spent long hours with fishnets, trying to pull enough from the sea to carry everyone through.

One day the men returned with seven large tuna, one weighing thirteen pounds. Ina had never seen one before—thick-bodied, hard-nosed, the meat dark and dense. It was too strong to fry, so she boiled and baked it, hoping it might be made into something like canned tuna salad. When cooled, it tasted almost exactly like tin tuna.

That small success mattered.

Packages from America were opened slowly and gratefully. Bandages went straight into use. Kindergarten supplies—paper, pictures, bright colors—were treasured far beyond their material value. Children hung pictures in smoky houses and guarded them carefully.

Work of the Dispensary

Medical work filled Ina’s days.

Bandages were always in demand. People arrived with deep knife wounds—unsurprising in a land where everyone, even small children, carried large bush knives for coconuts, firewood, paths, and leeches. Ina marveled that there were not more injuries than there were.

Sterile fields made a difference. Diapers slipped too easily; proper supplies held. When a boy arrived with a deep gash between thumb and finger, the new bandages stayed in place and allowed careful stitching. She felt gratitude not just for the supplies, but for the thought behind them.

Hospitality Across Worlds

Hospitality took on new forms in May.

Two native families—one belonging to Mark the carpenter, building the church and dispensary, and the other to Gideon the church secretary—were invited for dinner. The men acted at ease, familiar with European houses, but the women and children were terrified. If Ina so much as glanced their way, the children screamed. She positioned herself carefully, out of their sight.

Al explained everything slowly: forks, plates, how to serve oneself, how to put gravy on rice. Brown rice was encouraged because it was more nutritious, though many believed it was chicken food. Ina prepared it every way she could think of to demonstrate that it was good.

Fried fish—rolled in cornmeal—was a revelation. Fried food was rare; fat for frying almost nonexistent. Pumpkin mashed with butter delighted them. Bread was extraordinary. They learned how to spread butter and jelly, and anything sweet was greeted with enthusiasm. Jell-O was an instant favorite.

Children carried slices of bread home in napkins, proudly reporting to friends where they had eaten and what they had done.

Unexpected Visitors

One day a helicopter circled overhead.

Unable to land on the steep hilltop, it set down on the beach below. Al went down in the heat of the day to meet them. They were mapping the area and, finding the Ericksons the only Europeans nearby, stopped to say hello. They promised to return the next day and offered to take the Ericksons’ mail to Lae.

Ina sent her letter by helicopter.

It was one of those moments that underscored how isolated—and how connected—they were.

Travel and the Move Inland

Later in the month, the family prepared to move into the mountains, into the Buang area.

They had hoped to fly in, but the airstrip was not finished. Instead, they traveled by boat to Lae, then by car to Mumeng. Along the way, Ina stubbed her toe badly, tearing off her large toenail. For a moment, the entire trip seemed in doubt. But promises had been made. They decided to go on.

From Mumeng, the real journey began.

With children and supplies, they walked eight or nine hours over two days. Twenty carriers helped—men and women carrying children and cargo. Ina wore a thong on one foot and a tennis shoe on the other and made the walk without difficulty. They followed the river, climbing and descending gently, never crossing high mountains.

They stayed overnight in a government house—a bush building with walls, floors, and roof. The key was missing; someone ran to a nearby village to find it. When it arrived, the lock was broken and they were let in. Fires were built. Beans were warmed. Hot chocolate was made. Tablecloth spread on the floor. Mattresses laid out. Mosquito nets hung.

The children were remarkably good. They walked when they could, rode when they were tired, slept bundled in flannel pajamas and sleeping bags against the mountain cold. Carriers built fires during the night to keep warm.

By morning, they continued on, welcomed into a newly built house in the mountains—two bedrooms, a dining area with a gate to keep dogs out, storage space, and a separate house for girls who helped with cooking and washing.

The air was cool. Lush. Different.

Holding May Together

By the end of May, life had shifted again—from coast to highlands, from sea breezes to mountain cold.

Food was still short, but shared. Work was constant, but meaningful. Children grew and learned without fear. Hospitality crossed boundaries. Supplies arrived just in time. Journeys were made despite injury and exhaustion.

Between coast and mountains, May passed as so many months did—not easily, not dramatically, but held together by careful attention, shared labor, and a steady willingness to keep going.

The following are the actual letters for May 19

1963, May 1

Letter written by Ina Erickson from the Malalo Mission station to Durward and Estelle Titus Box 224 Route1, Carlos MN USA

Dear mom and dad,

Family news

Happy birthday, mom, at least I hope yours will reach you before your birthday. We hope that you have a very happy birthday, and many many many more. Paula hopes that you have a happy birthday cake. We try and make a lot of all occasions here. It is so fun now that the kids are getting big enough to appreciate it. On Easter we had an Easter egg hunt, and Tommy spied nearly all of the eggs before anyone else had a chance to hunt. The Easter basket was a little more difficult to find and I believe that Paula found that. For Phyllis‘s birthday I made a layer cake. I tried an angel food, but my oven is not enough to bake it. The kids help me decorate it and put the candles on it and they were so excited before supper finally came so we could give the cake to her. They were game, of course, to help her eat it too.

Thanks for sending the baby aspirin. It was awfully nice to have it on hand. The kids sure are good about taking medicine. I have to be so careful with it, because they would eat a lot of it like candy. Speaking of candy, today it got so quiet in the kitchen that I thought that the kids had gone outside to play. Then I thought I heard paper tearing in the kitchen, and there was Tommy up in the cupboard rapidly devouring a package of marshmallows. He really does have a hollow sweet tooth.

Tommy is a little Jackson. Mrs. Erickson has blue eyes, and there are no brown eyes on their side of the family at all. More and more, Tommy reminds me of grandpa Ben Jackson. He has the some of his expressions. He is going to be very short. He is about 7 inches shorter than Paula, but weighs only 2 pounds less. He can be so loving and cuddly, but mischief seems to stick out of him all over. Paula seems so grown up in so many ways. She talks almost all of the time. Every meal is a constant chatter. She works so hard on new words and is trying to learn to count and tell colors. She asked over and over again, it doesn’t seem to stick for very long, but she keeps trying. If the activity of the third child is any indication of what it is going to be like after it is born, I can just as well get rid of any ideas that I’m going to have a quiet baby. It can really toss and kick around, some that hurt already. It amazes me how strong it is when it is so tiny yet.

A suggestion for some package would be some sunglasses for the kids. On Sunday when we walk up the hill when the sun is at its peak, Paula complains so much about the sun hurting her eyes, I just haven’t seen any here. Just little plastic ones. Also, if Martin or dad could run across some lightweight light colored wrinkle resistant drip dry long pants with about a size 30 to 32 waist, Al could use a couple of pairs. You could tell me how much they are and we could have Helen send you some of the money. We could also use a belt, either plastic or leather, black, brown or light. We surely did appreciate the pens, Al hasn’t had any more ink spots on his clothes. I’ve gotten so much use out of the dresses and undies. I wish you could see how the kids enjoy their suspenders. Tommy wants to wear them to bed all of the time. It is so nice to have new books, puzzles, and records to pull out every once in a while. Tommy is pretty hard on books, and it isn’t that he deliberately tears them, but they must go where he goes and that is about all over the place.

Sounds like Willa is feeling hearty. I only hope she is not overdoing it. I hope you get some picture of the three little girls in their Easter outfits. I got a little dress made for Paula, a little white shirt and bowtie for Tommy and a dress out of the material that Al bought for me at the time of the conference. Al had a new white shirt we had saved from Christmas so though they weren’t anything to brag about, everyone had something new.

We haven’t been so busy lately so I have had a little chance to catch up with myself and get a little housecleaning done. I’m getting some sewing done. I’m trying to make a house coat for when I’m in the hospital. If I don’t start on some of the sewing now, I will never get it done. I’m hoping to get a mosquito net made for the baby next. We painted the kids chairs, potty chair, and some of their little stools, a bright, yellow, and some a bright red. The kids really think they have something now. I have a crib and hope to get painted white soon. If I had some decals, it would be almost as nice as Danny’s. I’ll be able to use the little car crib for a bassinet. Beryl don’t feel bad about my having no stroller as things are too hilly to have a stroller here. I’d have nowhere to stroll to. A net bag works so much better.

I’m hoping to get our carpenter to make a playpen. I had so much trouble with Tommy picking things up from the floor. Our veranda is such a lovely place for the kids to play and a baby could kick around and watch the kids play.

Other news

Al went fishing today with some of the other men from the station. They caught seven big tuna fish. Worked at one, and it did weigh 13 pounds. It is a bit strong for frying, so I boiled and baked some of it, I hope to be able to fix it up in a salad like the regular canned tuna. It was the first time I’ve seen one. They have a very thick body, and a very hard, pointed nose, almost like a beak, the meat is so dark before it is cooked. It tastes almost like tin tuna when it is cool again after being cooked.

**All these men are from Buakup. Tom in the background. What a catch!**

The dispensary is coming along for sure. It will really be nice when they have finished.

We are planning to go to Bula today and will probably have to walk back. The Victor will take us over. Paula and Tommy are all excited about going. There is an old gentleman from Germany that Paula has adopted as her grandpa and looks forward to seeing

him.1

The Horrells were the German couple that we replaced in Guroker and are back in Germany for good. They were both in poor health and unable to take the rigors of New Guinea life anymore. It was rather sad as they had been here 30 years and aren’t at home in Germany anymore. Their children have married Australians and don’t want to go to Germany. So they are really without friends or family back in Germany. They need our prayers of comfort.

Mother, could you look in Iverson’s and see if they have some sandals about size 9 1/2 9 1/2, or 10, narrow with mostly straps that I could wear to church. It could be either white or beige to match pants from Penny’s.

We love you and enjoyed the tape. Did Martin get transferred? God keep you in his love.

Thank you for all your trouble. Al, Ina, and the kids.

Footnote

1Martin Boerner, caretaker at the Bula School. He also was a caretaker at KLS the boarding school in Wau prior to Bula.

The guy on the right is holding packages and mail that is just come off the Victor along with this visitor to Malalo. Packages were being sent to enrich the school and the clinic as well as the needs of her family thanks to Ina’s requests from her network of family, friends, churches etc.

1963 May 5 a copy

Dear Mrs. Gunderson, and the ladies of Lader
Thank you so much for your very thoughtful and useful package that arrived last week. We surely do appreciate your interest. We have kindergartens in the surrounding area and will be so happy to have colors, pictures and sunny papers. We have been making good use of the bandages that you sent in our dispensary. These people have such a little bit that they really appreciate the gifts that come from America so very much.

Our area has been having quite a time with famine in the past few months. It never has been so dry before. The rain has started to come a little now, so the gardens are starting to grow again, but until things are big enough to eat, it is a real problem, trying to find enough to eat. We noticed that especially in our school, as we have about 115 school boys and girls that live on the station with us. The gardens that produce so they have to get food from home if they are fortunate enough to live close enough. We have been employing some of the boys and girls and then paying them with food. My husband has been working with them with a fishnet trying to get them enough fish to tide them over. I really don’t know what they are eating most of the time, but they surely look healthy, not like you imagine starving people to look like. In this country of abundant rainfall, it is unusual to go without food. But they have no way of preserving food or saving up the future. It is usually a hand to mouth existence, eating as much as available at the present, with no thought for future.

Assembling new fishnet for Malalo school students. Housegirl assist from the Buangs and quite sophisticated. School in backgro.jpg

Inez Ramin was from Amery, Wisconsin and one of Ina’s best friends from Lae. At their first Christmas in New Guinea in 1962, Inez asked what do the people need here that I can write back to Amery WI. A few months later she received $400 from them. So Alvin was able to get fishnets from Madang Supply house. He sold them for 1/2 price to three villages and kept one for the Malalo school for the students to catch fish. Now to learn how to use the nets and repair them…

This has been quite a problem trying to develop education and self government. Learning to be aware of the future needs to be a very valuable lesson to learn. So maybe the famine will provide a blessing in disguise. When we get some of the children pictures, I wish you could see how much it means to them to have something so beautiful. They hang it up in their dark, smoky houses and treasure it.

Our family has been quite well and we are enjoying us getting more and more as we get into the language and learn how to know and love the people here and understand a little more of some of their problems, and appreciating the obstacles that they must come out. Above all receive the need for loving and forgiving Savior. They will never improve or really be interested in working to change the circumstances that keep them down until they realize pray of God’s love from sin.

Most of our area is now ‘churched’, but we find as an America, this is only on the books, but not an actual fact. The church has grown complacent, so awakening is really necessary. We are praying for the work of the Holy Spirit.
Letter end here…

1963 May 5 a copy

Dear Trinity Ladies,
Your wonderful package arrived this week. I’m so delighted with it. You must have had some expert advice, and had them so much better than I expected. They will really get used. We surely appreciate all the plastic bags. I found out that it is necessary to put on the package that they have all of them sterilized to get them through customs. They took them down re-sterilized them, I didn’t know that was necessary, more red tape everywhere you turn.
I got to use the drapes the day after the box arrived. A little boy came up with a huge gash between the thumb and index finger, he cut it on a knife. All of the people carry knives from the time you learn to walk- just tiny kids have these huge bush knives. They use them for opening up coconut, cutting leeches off their legs, cutting a path through the bush, so you never see a man without one and rarely a woman or child without one. It is amazing to me that they don’t have more casualties than they do.
It was so nice to have a large sterile field and that would stay in place – diapers kept slipping off all the time. I surely do appreciate all the time and expense that you went to. Maybe someday we will be able to thank you all properly for all of your concern and encouragement.
Al is planning to take a trip down the coast in a week or so and the kids and I are planning on going with him. I’m so glad to have all of the bandages as they don’t have any medical attention and said they have awful sores. He also said that he didn’t know where we begin to get all the bandages to make a dent, but boy will the bandages you sent, make a dent.

Today we had an exciting event. A helicopter circled the house and not being able to find enough flat ground on our mountain top landed on the beach at the bottom of our hill. Al went down to see what they wanted, which was at noon when the heat of the day is at the worst. I didn’t want to have to carry the kids up the hill again so I didn’t go down. They are going to be mapping the area and since we are the only Europeans as the white people are called, they dropped in to say hello. He said that they will be back tomorrow and will take our mail to Lae for us. Such nice people don’t you think? So this letter will be going by helicopter.

Gideon from Buakap n family. He was main teacher at Malalo. His daughter Naomi holding baby, Yanum, Christian, Micheal and Lois.jpg

Mark and his wife and one of 6 children. Gideon from Buakap and family. He was main teacher at Malalo. His daughter Naomi holding baby, Yanum, Christian, Micheal and Lois.

Today we had two families of six in for dinner. It was quite an experience for us and for them. They are some of our native workers that live on the station with us, one, the Carpenter (Mark) that is building the church and dispensary. The other family is the church secretary (Gideon). The men are so sophisticated they act like it is old hat to be in a European house, but I don’t think that the wives of children have ever eaten with white people, and at a table and sitting on chairs. The younger children are so scared of me, that they scream with terror if I so much as glanced in their direction. I had to sit where they couldn’t see me. Al began by explaining what everything was and how we use them starting with the forks and how we take food out of the bowl that I was passing around and put some of the food on our plate. Telling them how to put gravy on their rice with a food shortage, we have been encouraging people to eat brown rice as it has more nutrition than white rice. They think brown rice is something for the chickens. Of course, they really preferred their own taro, but if it just isn’t available, I guess there isn’t a lot more to do. So we have been having brown rice in anyway I can think of fixing it to try and show them that it is good food. They all ate hardly of it today. I bought a 16 pound fish that someone brought to me yesterday and fried this1. I rolled it in cornmeal first. Fried food is something very special to them as they don’t have any fat to fry food in. It is all boiled with in a kettle with salt and water or roasted in a bamboo stick.

I boiled and mashed pumpkin with butter. They thought that was a treat. What they really liked was bread. They have no way of making bread over their fires and don’t have any flour, yeast or shortening. We showed them how to put butter and jelly on it. Anything sweet really goes over big so they love the jelly. Then I fixed some Jell-O for them and they really went for that. Speaking of Jell-O, I guess I forgot to tell you, Tommy was present when we opened the box of bandages and spotted the Jell-O. I didn’t get it away from him until I make him some and cookies. The amount of food that the New Guineans can put away is phenomenal, I think it is because they get mostly starch and very little protein. The little kids were excitedly, telling some of their other friends where they ate and what they did. Nearly everyone carried a slice of bread away in a napkin – that we got from Trinity.

We have all been pretty well. The weather is still dry and the food for our people short. We do hope and pray that God can use the famine to his honor, and his glory to teach us and them of our dependence on Him for our existence. We pray and ask you to pray that they will realize anew the tremendous love of God and appreciate his sacrifice, except it for forgiveness, and dedicate our lives, and they to anew to his service.

We are planning a new arrival to the Erickson household in September. This one won’t be full grown as the last one was at least I’m not counting on it. Paula and Tommy, I think will be real pleased with the baby in the house. He gets so excited over the native babies. May God, keep your mind and heart in Christ Jesus. We surely are looking forward to the time when we can sit down over a couple of coffee and talk with you all personally. Thank you all for doing so, so much for us and we really do appreciate it so very much.

Love, Ina.

1 Probably bought from Metujalea who was a friend of Erickson family from Buakup. Fisherman and very athletic. Brought tuna and other fish up to house at Malalo for sale. He caught a sailfish pictured in Malalo photos. He made the large wooden mortar and pestle as a farewell gift for the Ericksons. Paula still has the mortar and pestle.