'The heart, arms and legs of William Booth…'
To get to work, Major Kelvin Alley walks through a Salvation Army Primary School – where children love to stop him for a chat and a photo. (Photo supplied by Major Kelvin Alley)
Our Salvation Army National Secretary, Major Kelvin Alley, has been seconded to Papua New Guinea to serve as Program Secretary for eight weeks, after previously spending two years there.
Week 1
I was rather excited as I boarded the flight for Port Moresby. I had specifically asked for a seat to the rear of the plane – I wanted get a bird’s eye view of the land that I love immensely and have missed these past three years. It wasn’t long before I bumped into faces I knew, as if nothing had changed…
Week 2
We headed to the village of Papa, which has had a Salvation Army fellowship and medical clinic for many years. It was a special service for the installation of new pastors. The church building has no walls at all. The floor is gravel and dirt, and the pews are rough timber, narrow with no backs…the service was wonderful.
We have six ‘branches’ here – schools, development, community services, health, projects and churches. There is a new high school with 350 students accommodated and a wonderful child care centre. Divisional headquarters and Koki church are also here, along with a clinic and community services staff. There is still a primary school which enrols in excess of 730 students!
The ‘settlement ministries’ team are the heart, arms and legs of William Booth. They go into the settlements to feed hundreds at a time, or distribute bags of groceries or toiletries. The people chase the Army van when the folk go in with food.
Week 3
We have just entered into a project to work with people involved in the sex trade in the settlements of Port Moresby. The project ensures proper health care is provided – in particular testing and counselling support for HIV/AIDS, which is at dangerous levels throughout Papua New Guinea.
I felt at home, blessed and privileged to be given this extra time to spend in a country that I could call my second home.
Week 4
If you live in a western country, you would have little appreciation of the struggles and trials of Salvation Army life in rugged and financially deficient countries such as Papua New Guinea.
My cycle outings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday are a great outlet. Office life is very demanding, with me juggling work from my Canberra role as well.
Week 5
Survival here means keeping the car locked, with windows up and staying on main roads. We learn to carry little of value, and carry only what we are prepared to lose. Up to 80 per cent of people living in Port Moresby are unemployed, and there are more than 2,200 people homeless every night.
Many people live in settlements that surround Port Moresby. Generally very unsafe areas, they have the appearance of abject poverty. The Salvation Army has a wonderful ministry to these areas, feeding thousands of the homeless each week, and conducting literacy for the thousands of settlement dwellers who do not, and cannot, attend school. The health worker treats people who suffer all kinds of ailments and teaches good hygiene.
It is experiences like this that makes you wonder if there is any other kind of service than the humility of a lifetime commitment to beautiful people such as these.
The time has passed quickly. It won’t be long before I will be in sorrow, departing a country for which I have a deep affection.
Much love,
Kelvin
These extracts of Major Kelvin Alley’s PNG diaries have been edited by my.Salvos writer, Katherine Franks.
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