PRAI PULUHAMU .... my history to THE ICON OF THE UNITY

PPH___ September 5, 2015, I was trigered to tell the story of a self-profile. More stories refered to the history and why I prefer to stay in Prai Pulu Hamu, though  in my mind, wanted to build  my village in Melolo- Hadambiwa, the place where my parents and I were born.

Movement .............

I was born in Melolo, April 23, 1970 lived with my parents where my father worked as  Guru Injil at the Free Church of  Melolo. In charge of the Guru Injil, my father  moved depending on the synod's decision.

As I was  4 years (1974) that my parents had to move to follow the assigned father serving in the Free Church Patawang with the distance of 9 kilometers from Melolo to Patawang- where The history of the founding of the Free Church, Guru Welem Koreh been a pastor there. Our family moved gather  with my older brother, Kolo Bunga at his 5 years old and also  Pago Bunga was 1 year. Moved  to a different  place at the year of 1970s, my parents  had to carry us on their  back due to  moment of the vehicles in the form of trucks or other transports  equipments were still very difficult. Every Sunday my father had  to serve both the Church of Patawang and  Melolo on foot and should also serve bible discussion while the kids for Sunday school in two far distances places. Returned  home from Melolo, my father should transport his goods. Sometimes assisted by his younger brother, Ane Djara.

In May 1976, I must follow my father who moved redeployed back in Melolo Free Church of Patawang. Conceivably time of transfer, the goods must be transferred in addition to the kids. This was very difficult moment  but all were managed well  by my father although my mother can not help transport the goods together as recently gave birth to twins, the two of my brother, Rame Bunga and Jami Bunga. Unfortunately, Jami Bunga should die at the age of only a few months. My father  felt  so sad. But the real blessing, in his desire to have  daughter, in 1982 were born to him, our sole sister, Wue Bunga and again a boy in 1984, Amos Bunga.

Due to my age of 6 years old must be at school, my father put me in elementary school at SD Melolo 1 for several months, but by Ds. PP Goossens asked Djara Ane willingness to open a new school in Prai Puluhamu then in March 1977 established an elementary school in Prai Puluhamu and again my father escorted me gather with my brother, Kolo Bunga to Prai Puluhamu. Since then entered the school in Prai Puluhamu with colleagues such as Bunggul (now reverand at Prai Puluhamu, Rahik (who is his wife), Tehu, Yana, Mesak, Daniel and several others until grade 6.

From Melolo to Prai Puluhamu

As I had to move from Melolo, preparation to separate from my beloved family was so sad. I was 6 years old that my father, my elder brother, Kolo and I had to go on foot since there’s no vehicle, spending 5 hours for 28 kilometres to reach Prai Puluhamu, went along with  some delegations that were going to follow the celebration of the Synod made me so tired though took a moment for the rest at least every 5 or 10 kilometres. Before leaving,  my mom’s provided some stocks such as ‘Ketupat’ (rice cake boiled in a rhombus-shaped packed of plaited young coconut leaves), roasted chicken, boiled water that there’s no spring along the way to PPh. Along the way, my father frequently told  stories most from the story of the Old Testament.

Prai Puluhamu ......

We stayed in the dorm into a foster child and was very happy. Everything was going very regularly. Read the Bible every night or listen to the story being read by the teacher and pray before sleeping , Got up early in the morning and prayed in our own  bed each morning. Unfortunately, the building has fallen down as flat in this picture. This building was early  used by Ds. P. P. Goossens’ family when they just moved from Maumaru last 1972.

Alternately bathe in a public bathroom gathered with more friends before the bell rang at 06.00 to get ready for breakfast. When the bell rang for the third time we've been at the table and in turn a person to lead a prayer before breakfast that have been prepared for each. As desserts prepared bananas, papaya, pineapple and other fruits  depending on the type of plants that bear fruit in season. Closing the morning breakfast activity continued to read the Bible and sang together from Psalm consecutive 3-4 song verses of the psalm. At 06:45 all had finished breakfast  prepared to work in addition to students   already had to go to school at 07.00. Grateful because the school  was  near  so we walked not far from the hostel foster child.

This picture below tookplace as my first place for learning and was still the same shape since 1978 until now for 37 years.

At the beginning of school, there ‘s only one teacher that was Djara Ane who taught at grade 1, but started the next year already 2 classes, still only be taught by one teacher up to  the 3rd grade, and became difficult when there were  already someother classes eventually,  then Mr. goossens asked  another person to assist  as the teacher, Mara Willem Hebi who taught in other classes then we moved to another new building. This picture below was the new school one.

 

Before starting, every morning  we were required to memorize either Katekhesmus Khaiidelberg, book believing acknowledgment Free Churches of East Sumba, taught Teaching Believe besides general subjects as in other general schools. We felt  very equipped spiritual way that had an impact until the present-day life.

A sense of brotherly love was very strong because we built the feeling of camaraderie. Came from distant churches and collected to be taught the word of God at the center of our churches. And incredible!

At 12.00, the bell already rang recognized the exit sign and the time was over for school then will have lunch together. So, the school children had to rush back to get rations for lunch because if delayed will not receive rations .... and it was happened. Once, because we were slow coming to be fed we got no rations,  and because of feel hungry my  brother, Kolo and I secretly took  bananas that were strictly forbidden to steal but if asked would probably is given, only must be requested at Mr. Termaat who was  in charge of agriculture field at the time, but we did not ask for it. So we summoned to account for our actions. When we were asked by Mr. Termaat that why we steal and we replied because of hunger unles at the end we had to receive 13 strokes on our bottoms while face down  on his thigh. We're not feeling it as a reward for our usual heavy hit very hard even with a large timber by our uncle, Ane Djara, so we felt as usual.

Playmates

Ds. PP Goossens’ family  live also in Prai Puluhamu; Antoinette was the youngest child of their family that sometimes gathered  with us, playing together when finished her  school, sometimes  in the river, forest fringes, like horse riding, swinging in trees, and sometimes the  toys possessed of her parents gift was also brought to play with us. There was  no distance between us, but her other brother such Keys, Paul and Reney  due to their age were quite older than us then just Antoinette often gathered  with. Unfortunately, in 1978 she also had to return to Holland with her family to a better school. We felt  so sad of lost playmate. That’s a pity.

To be continued......

By Wila Bunga.....the son of Rev. B. A. Lado