Malalo Church dedication December 29, 1963.
Immanual Lutheran at Malalo. Photo taken in 2015. Buakup village in the background.
Missionaries arriving for the dedication of the church December 1963
1963, December 29 Sunday, 29 December dawned a bit drizzly, but the dedication of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Malalo, New Guinea was actually going to be realized. About 8 AM the weather cleared to a very humid sunny day. The New Guinean, visitors, and the members of the Malalo circuit, began gathering at the beach, by the hundreds, forming a crowd of a couple of thousand people. A large boat from Lae bringing 70 European visitors arrived, and they embarked by canoe to the shore. Then the gong was sounded. This is a hollowed out log, pounded on by a fairly large pole. The procession began to assemble and ascend the hill in a merciless sun, being led by the carver of the alter cross and another fellow helping him carry it. Then two Luther league boys carrying the Australian flag, and the Christian flag on the stands that had been carved. Then came all of the visitors and the congregation. Just before the church, the road was blocked off and an archway made of palm branches. This was because After they had finished decorating the church, they didn’t want anyone to see it until the service. When the procession got to the archway, it was opened, and Dr Kuder dressed in his robes, led the procession to the church doors. There the cross bar was put on the large cross on the front of the outside of the church, signifying its completion and after a brief meditation, the doors were opened. With the louver walls and the large roof, the breeze has adequate access while the sun doesn’t and consequently, it was very cool inside , almost as if the air conditioner had been turned on. The service was held in pidgin English, as there were many visitors that didn’t understand Jabem . Dr. Kuder gave the main address, reminding the people that they hadn’t confined God to their beautiful building, that he was still present in the villages in their gardens, and when they went to the market. Reverend Shirley, the former Malalo missionary that planned, designed and started the church Reminded the people that the church wasn’t too large for them and if only two villagers came faithfully, they fill it up. Mentioning also, that there was room on the benches for the whole family that no longer should the men sit on one side and the women on the other. At the close of the service, one of the villagers put on some skits, making funny the problems that were encountered in the building process. After the service, the European visitors made it to the top of the hill and had dinner with us.
Ina
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.
Hollowed out logs used as a gong to ‘call’ for the church to start. In the first photo one can see the log used to pound on the log.
These photos were taken from the internet with this caption: The historical Malalo Lutheran Church,Buakap, Salamaua.2015. front from Facebook -Morobe Tourism Bureau INC
Footnote:. The text attributes the church built before WWII by German missionaries. Correction;
This church was built starting in 1958 and completed December of 1963. It was started by Fred Scherle 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.
1964, January 29 copy
Dear Mrs. Hoff,
Belated happy new year to you all. We do hope and pray that this will be a good year for you all at First Lutheran. Thank you very much for your box that your circle packed for us. We have been putting everything to good use. We still aren’t in our new dispensary, so we have needed to cover all of our supplies with plastic. The plastic spoons we use for giving medicines. When the children have taken their medicines nicely that we’ve given them a spoon. As medicines don’t keep well if uncovered, we really appreciate having the pill containers to get one or two day supply of medicines to some of the people so that they don’t have to walk all the way into the dispensary every day. We do appreciate the interest, the time in the effort that it took together and pack the box.
We finally had our church dedication on 29 December. It turned out to be a lovely day. It had been raining during the early part of the morning, so I was afraid that it was ruined the day. About 8 o’clock at clear in the sun came out.
Many of the new visitors had come on Saturday. Each village along the coast had provided sleeping from food or village from the mountain. The villages have been assigned the month before at a big congregational meeting.
Each village was assigned the number of pigs they were to supply for the feast. Every big occasion calls for a feast, and the feast calls for pigs. It is getting a little harder for people to contribute pigs as now there’s a market for them and if they sell them, they can get $20-$30 for them, which is more than most people can earn in a year. The women gather their largest pots, and after the men have butchered the pigs, they boil it for many hours. They also prepare their taro, which is their staple food. They usually boil it like we do potatoes, and then on the special occasions, they mix it with coconut milk. We gave them a cow as did Bula the Girls School near here. They gave us about 30 pounds of it to fix for the European visitors that might come.
A large boat from Lae brought 70 visitors. The people on the boat provided cookies and soft drinks for them. So when they arrived at 9:30, they were ready to form the processional up to the church. The Malalo Luther League had bought a Christian flag and an Australian flag. This is unique as I don’t believe any of the other churches have them. Some of the Luther league boys carved flag poles for them. We have a fellow in the congregation that does a beautiful job of carving crucifixes, and he carved a 3 foot one for the new church. They carried all three in the possession led by Dr. Kuder, the bishop of the New Guinean Church. Everyone paused in front of the church long enough for the carpenters to put the crossbar on the cross on the front of the bell tower signifying the finishing of the church. Then Dr Kuder lead the congregation in prayer and a song, and then the doors were officially open. It was really a surprise to everyone to find the church so cool after standing and sweating in the hot sun. It was well ventilated and felt just like someone had turned on the air conditioning.
The people of our congregation have had to put in a lot of backbreaking hours to complete their church. The congregation owns a sawmill, the profits of which go to help pay for the salaries of the church workers. Without the sawmill, they never would have been able to build such a big church. They assigned each village, the number of logs that they were supposed to cut and pull to the beach by hand, and some of them are pretty good size logs, and have to be pulled a long distance. Then the logs are either taken by canoe, or boat to the sawmill, where, with volunteer labor, they cut them into lumber. Then our boat, the Victor would bring it back and then someone would have to carry it piece by piece up the hill then they were ready to start building the church. Interest has been waning as they’ve been at it for over five years and I really think that they thought that they’d never get it quite done. The main carpenter is New Guinean, (Mark -see photo above) that worked under the missionary that was here before we were, Fred Scherle. Usually we have so much difficulty in getting them to do any exact or accurate work, but this fellow was so particular, but no one would work with him, but he really has a nice church. It is built out of the very hardest wood because it resist pests that are such a headache in the building. The wood was so hard that the nails would bend when they were only halfway in so they had to drill the holes first. But now it last, thank God it is done. Now they will be able to turn to building some of the other buildings that must be done.
Mr. Boehner, a German fellow that has been here for 30 years had made the altar and pulpit. They turned out so nice. Some of the ladies from the ladies aid came up and sewed the altar clothes and clothes for the pulpit and lectern. The pews are really quite elaborate, but that is what they wanted. We are close enough to Lae so some of the members have been there to church and wanted pews like they have in some of the town churches. Mark, our native carpenter designed them, and then got a crew together to make them. They were so proud of their finished product. All in all it stands is quite a majestic accomplishment for a New Guinean people.
I’d be very interested in hearing about First Lutheran and its activities. I noticed in the Echo that the Twins were the guest of the father son banquet. Maybe you could pass around one of those air letters at one of your circle meetings and you could each write a little note. Our family has been quite well. Little Kristi isn’t so little anymore. She has been such a healthy, happy baby. The other two children really adore her.
We have a new camera now so we’ll get some pictures of the new church and dispensary and some of the people that were responsible for the building and finishing of it. May God continue to be with you all and bless your work at First Lutheran.
Love Ina
Photo of Fred Scherle and Alvin Erickson
Scherle, Reverend Fred and Edna evangelism and social concerns. 1946 to 1967. 1972 to 1981. They were stationed at Malalo from 1946 to 1961. Fred recruited Alvin Erickson to the missions, Alvin was stationed at Guroker near Mumeng. The Mumeng school was having troubles so the Scherle’s traded stations since Malalo was running smoothly. Child Jimmy
Fred recruited Alvin Erickson to the missions in PNG in 1960. Alvin was stationed at Guroker near Mumeng. It was located on the road from Lae to Wau. The Mumeng school was having troubles so the Scherle’s traded stations since Malalo was running smoothly.
Fred and Edna Scherle, rebuilt the station at Malalo after WW II before Ina and Alvin Erickson took over. Originally, he had been asked to play professional football by Chicago Bears. But he chose to become a missionary instead. He was a big guy and he lost at least 100 lbs while he was in PNG. He had suffered from dysentery. He had come on furlough while Alvin Erickson and classmates were seniors at Luther Seminary. He had the talent of a salesman and convinced 4 of the seniors to go to PNG. He recruited Alvin Erickson, Dave Huff, Ted Hilpert and Bob Jamieson. Alvin was the only one that ended up with Fred Scherle in the Jabem district.
This may be Bishop Kuder arriving for the dedication
Good summery of the church construction and dedication
1964 March 16.
Letter to Friends, family and sponsors.
Dear friends,
At long last our new church has been dedicated, and at long last I’m getting around to telling you about it.
One of the rules established by the congregation was that there was to be no repair on the old church, all efforts extended should be directed to the new church. Consequently, when a hole appeared in the roof, it was left unattended. By the time communion was held in the church on a rainy Sunday morning, all of the communicates and pastors, including the missionary, were dripping wet. The bread was stuck together and the wine was diluted. Shortly after that, the whole thing was pulled down, and church was held under the palm trees. This can be an inspiring setting – – if it isn’t raining, ( not that it would have helped to be in the old church). And for the first six Sundays, after the old church was pulled down it rained Sunday morning. So a handful of ‘Malaloites’ met in the school. From this, I think you can understand our anxiousness to get into the new church building.
Another rule, is that a building can’t be used until it has been dedicated and it cannot be dedicated until it is all been completed. So the most common phrase heard around here for the last six months was ‘get to work boys’.
The church was started back in 1958, and has slowly, slowly progressed under three different missionaries since then. The Luther league got together, and pored cement by hand for a huge, huge floor. The rest of it was built out of hard, heavy Kwila, which is the hardest wood in the territory. Nails bend halfway and the holes had to be drilled first. The wood resists pests that tend to shorten the life of structures in New Guinea considerably. The people would go into the jungle, cut the trees, skin them, and drag them out by brute force to the sea, and then the congregational sawmills boat would drag them around to the sawmill. The larger logs would not float in saltwater so had to have, 44 gallon drums that were empty or lighter logs tied to them. The sawmill boat named Kuli is a tugboat made for pulling. Our boat the Victor is a little larger than the Kuli, but it is not geared for pulling. But it tried pulling a huge Kwila log around to the sawmill and it took eight hours to make what is normally a two hour trip.
Kuli in foreground, Victor in background with no people, looking from Malalo towards Lae but too foggy to see mountains behind Lae. 2nd photo: Kuli foreground and possible tourist boat in background at Malalo.
Volunteer labor would manually pull the logs upon the beach at the sawmill, and then get them into the saws. The planks have to be reloaded onto the Victor, which brought back to Malalo, and then carried on peoples backs up the hill, which is in the hot sun. Then at the building site the planks were planed and finally ready for use.
Mark, the congregational, carpenter, worked faithfully, persistently, and unusually accurately for a New Guinean carpenter. And he became impatient with the inaccuracies of his fellow workers throughout the years.
The people had really given up the idea that it would ever be completed, I think. He finally said a day for the dedication to see if there was a goal to work for, and the lagging work could be hasten a bit. The date helped some, but a week before the dedication date, the altar, lecture, and pulpit weren’t even in the construction stage and the benches and doors weren’t nearly completed, so October 24, was discarded for November 10. This date too was unrealized, so the final date was set at December 29 finished or not.
Each village sent some volunteers and the painting progressed and the landscaping took shape, the front doors, neared completion and a real crew got busy to some. Truly nice looking benches. Mr. Boerner, a German lay missionary that is presently the caretaker at Bula girls school, 45 minutes by boat from here, designated and constructed a very lovely altar, pulpit, and lectern. He covered them with cedar paneling that blended very well with the church. He also supervised the placing of the glass window over the altar that surrounded the cross. One of our teachers carved “I am the way, the truth and the life “in the large front doors, things were last on the move!
Sunday, 29 December dawned a bit drizzly, but the dedication of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Malalo, New Guinea was actually going to take place. About 8:00 AM. The weather cleared to a very hot, humid sunny day.
The New Guinean visitors, and the members of the Malalo circuit begin gathering at the beach by the hundreds, finally, forming a crowd of several thousand. A large ship from Lae bringing 70 European visitors arrived, the guests embarked by canoe to the shore. The gong was sounded (a hollowed out, log and pounded upon with a fairly large pole.) the procession began to assemble an ascend in a merciless sun. Leading the procession was the carver of the altar, crucifix, caring his cross and assisted by another church worker. Two Luther league boys followed, one caring the Christian flag, and the other caring Australian flag on stands that they had made. then came the visitors and congregation. Just before the church and archway had been constructed of Palm branches, and a roadblock that was ceremoniously removed. Dr. Kuder, the speaker for the event, joined the procession, here, dressed in the traditional robes, and lead it to the church doors. The cross piece was put on the large cross on the outside of the church, signifying the completion of the church, and after a brief meditation, the doors were officially opened.
With louvered walls and the large roof, the breeze has adequate access while the sun doesn’t have access. Consequently, it was very cool inside, almost as if the air conditioner had been turned on. The service was held in pigeon English, as there were many visitors that didn’t understand Jabem, Dr. Kuder, the bishop of the New Guinea Lutheran church reminded them that they hadn’t confined God to their beautiful building in his address. Telling them that God was still present with them in their villages, in their gardens, and when they went to market. Reverend Fred Scherle, the former Malalo, missionary that had designed, planned and started the building of the church, reminded them that the church wasn’t too large for them, that, if all the people from only two villages came, there would be no room left. Mentioning also that there was room in the benches for the whole family, that no longer should the men sit on one side, and the women and children sit on the other side. At the close of the service, one of the villages put on some skits making fun some of the problems encountered during the building process.
The European visitors made their way the rest of the way up the hill to join us for dinner, and the rest of the people went to the villages at the foot of the hill for their feast. The day before the people had brought about 35 pounds of beef and pork for me to fix for our guests,
We pray that this will be a very blessed Easter season, as we are especially reminded again of a very high price that Christ was willing to pay that you and I could live with him in his kingdom, that we could know the peace of God, while we walk in a turbulent world.
Sincerely, Pastor Al and Ina, Erickson, Paula, Tom and Kristi.
