Malalo Church dedication December 29, 1963.
Immanual Lutheran at Malalo. Photo taken in 2015. Buakup village in the background.
The following letter is written while on the Simbang on the way to Madang from where the Erickson family will fly to the highlands for a vacation. But I will pick up on the mention of the dedication of the church at Malalo. lots of details about the church in the last post. I will post many photos from the day on this post. -Paula
1964 January 5 on Simbang
Letter from Alvin Erickson from the mission boat, the Simbang to Alvin and Louise Erickson, Box 1327, Glendive Montana, USA
Dear mom and dad,
Happy new year from the vacationing new Guineans. It’s terribly hot this time of year, so we are all starting a vacation first by riding our mission ship, the Simbang to Madang, where we get medical check ups and then go into the Highlands for a cool breath of air. We are all looking forward to it as things have gotten pretty much of a rat race in recent months.
Your wonderful Christmas package arrived. Everything you sent was so much appreciated. Our clothes have a habit of wearing out pretty rapidly and shirts, shorts, socks are in constant demand. Thanks particularly for the beautiful shirt and Ina’s nice blouse. Little Kristi is just right for her outfits. We’re glad to have the sweater now as we go to the Highlands. Paula has worn her blue skirt almost every day and Tommy looks great in his shirt and pants combination. They had a great time with a little caterpillar, and Paula was ready for a new doll. All in all your package, which was a real boxful, gave us a wonderful Christmas and really was a thrill for all of us. I hope you had such a wonderful Christmas also.
Our church was dedicated December 29. About 70 white people were there plus several thousand New Guineans. It was a great day for everybody. Last week a whale washed up on the beach near one of our southern villages. The people were afraid and did not do anything about it right away. It was right during Christmas and I would have gone to have a look. Anyway, finally, the smell got so bad the people in the village had to leave and moved back in the jungle.
One of our headaches right now is with our sawmill. Our Australian sawmiller left and will not be coming back. We are trying to figure out how to keep the mail going. The main problem is getting the logs out of the jungle to the beach where they can be pulled. Some of this timber is so blooming heavy. For instance, we just pulled one 18 foot Quila log to the sawmill. It took another log and four 44 gallon empty drums just to keep it afloat. The trip usually takes 2 1/2 hours. This time it took over eight. We are thinking about buying a big portable saw that can be moved right onto the bush. It’s the only way many of the natives have of making money. Therefore it would be a real loss to see the mail closed. This last year, the profit was about £4500’s which is pretty good according to New Guinea standards. I’m thankful all the time for any practical experience I had in the states before coming out. I know you have always encouraged me in finding out about business and motors, etc. I feel it has given me some perspective and dealing with many of the problems that come up.
Humanly speaking, the problems of New Guinea are becoming immense and critical. However, the real issues, Christ himself saw and dealt with long ago. He has made us kings, conquerors over the littleness of this planet. We are his chosen, and let us live in joy that he loves us.
We love you very much, Al, Ina, Paula, Tom, and Kristi. Kisses to grandma and grandpa
Missionaries arriving for the dedication of the church December 1963
In the first photo Haboic the carver is carrying the crucifex he carved for the church. Bishop John Kuder going into church at dedication and presiding over the ceremony at the dedication in December 1963
Haboic the carver of the crucifex that we have and for the church at Malalo
Immanual Lutheran Church. Mark, the carpenter from Logui of the Malalo church- 'I am the way, the truth and the Life. Louvres made from kwila an extremely hard wood.
“The historical Malalo Lutheran Church at Buakap, Salamaua. Built by German missionaries before WWII. A Morobe treasure. March 2018.~Path Rishah Worinuo.”
These photos taken off the internet. The text attributes the church built before WWII by German missionaries. Correction;
This church was built in 1950’s and 1960’s. It was started by Fred Sherley and finished by Alvin Erickson overseeing the construction. The church was built by the New Guineans in the area. Reverend Fred Scherle and Rev Alvin Erickson where both American missionaries. Rev Scherle oversaw the rebuilding on the Malalo station after WWII which suffered much destruction during WWII. He was there from 1946 to 1962 and Alvin Erickson was there from 1962 to 1967.