PNG Independence Day Celebrated

Sue says:

Today is the thirty-fifth anniversary of Papua New Guinea's independence. The celebrations began with the primary school children being led in by their teachers. The employees' and students' children aged 4-7 years attend school on our campus. Below, the woman on the left is one of the teachers and our duplex neighbor. The head teacher wears a headdress from her province, Western. The whitish-golden feathers are from the bird-of-paradise. Many people were wearing the nation's colors, black, red and gold.

The flag was raised and the children led us in saluting it and singing the national anthem.

 Several of our leaders addressed us. In the picture below you can see the speakers on the left. The security guards who are not on duty are in the foreground. Behind them are orchids. The school children sit in the middle ground. The rest of us are in a semi-circle. Rear right is our auditorium. Rear left is our library. Center rear is Vision Hill. Our duplex is near Vision Hill. You can see it's a sunny, beautiful day.

 
Below are our leaders and the organizers of our festivities. From the left, they are the student body president from Eastern Highlands; the assistant principal, husband of the head teacher of the primary school, from Western; the college secretary from Morobe Province; the administrator from Morobe; the principal from Bougainville and the chaplain from Western Highlands. Some of them wear part of their traditional dress.

 

Jeff was asked to lead us in prayer for the country. We thanked God for the many advantages and blessings He has given this land and asked Him that the leaders of the nation follow Him more and more closely.

Then we sang a wonderful song that is sung on special occasions.

This is My Country 

(not sung to the tune Americans know for a song of this name)

Islands and mountains, sunshine and breeze,

Flowers and moonlight, swaying palm trees,

Jungles and rivers, white coral sand,

This is my country, this is my land.

Dark were the days when men lived in fear,

Fear of the arrow, stone club and spear,

Fighting and hatred filled every hand,

That was my country, that was my land

Then came the change that brought peaceful days,

News of our Saviour, learning his ways;

Darkness is fading out of our land,

We know the peace of his guiding hand.

What of the future? Soon we shall be

Teachers and leaders of our country;

We'll build our nation as God has planned,

Make this his country, make this his land.

Then shall our country be free and strong,

Homes will be filled with laughter and song;

Peace in our hearts and work for our hands,

Unite our nation with other lands.

After the ceremony, the big event for the day was sports! Many students and college employees and their spouses play on teams each week. Today they had special competitions with those teams, meeting each other in basketball, volleyball and rugby touch. It's been a lovely day for thanks to the Lord, recreation and relaxation.