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