By Vicky Baunke in Goroka, EHP
It has been 73 years since Faith Mission missionaries first set foot on the rugged terrains of Mt Michael, the highest peak in Eastern Highlands Province, answering their calling.
Faith Mission Manageress Jacqui Wood recalled when the first missionaries her adopted parents arrived in Lufa.
She was speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Gouno Faith Mission Day High School last Friday in Gouno.
Mrs. Wood emphasized that every individual has a calling and purpose in life, and once discovered, nothing can hold them back.
She reflected on her struggles to pursue education in Lufa during the time of the missionaries and described the groundbreaking ceremony as a milestone achievement, given her personal experiences with the challenges of schooling in such a remote place.
Mrs. Wood, who left her job and comfortable lifestyle in Australia to return and serve at Gouno Faith Mission which also accommodates a Bible School and health centre said her calling was to give back to the community her parents once served.
She urged people to prayerfully seek their purpose in life. For her, that purpose is serving the people of Gouno to ensure their children receive an education, excel, and become future leaders.
Eastern Highlands Provincial Education Director Wesley commended Faith Mission Church for its partnership in service delivery during the ceremony. He said the Education Department is happy to work with churches that continue to bridge gaps where government services are lacking.
He also appealed to the community to take ownership of the school, its staff, and facilities in partnership with the church.
The Gouno Faith Mission High School will provide secondary education to students from 12 primary schools in the Mt Michael LLG a long-overdue service that has been missing for decades, even before Independence.
The Faith Mission was established in 1953 by Rev. Ben Wertz, with its first station built in Gouno. Its mission was “Reaching the Unreached for Christ.” Since then, it has empowered thousands of Papua New Guineans in remote areas through Bible teaching, education, aid, infrastructure development, and more.
