YIMUT

By Sr. Maria Mooney, PBVM

It is now 17 months since our community of three Presentation Sisters, Maria Mooney, Regina Gevia and Dorothy Jull moved into the remote areas of the Nuku Deanery, reaching towards the Sepik plans. The Sisters established themselves in the old Haus Katekis or Haus Pater at Yimut as it was the only available accomodation.

Our Pastoral approach from the beginning was to be "listeners" and to be a "presence" within the five areas we visited. This role continued for six months as we moved into the previous Yimut parish of many years ago- covering VEII, WUNDU, YIMUT, GAMU, ULAP, WANTUMAHIR, KAIKOM, MOPO. It was a surprise to us to realise waht the WANWAN meant, but we soon realised that so called village names are really a number of very small hamlets, sometimes only one family, scattered throughout the kunai.

We have also moved into some of the Mukili parish working in YAWO, POROWATE, MAIMAI 3, WASPOM. Our latest addition was to go to NAWALU, WURMULU, PUSPARI, BUR, MANAMI and WARSAI which are part of the Kafle parish.

In the Nawalu-Warsai area it was a welcome relief to find flat land to move from village to village. Here there is a strongly established Church and a core group of good lay leaders.

Dorothy and I spent three weeks in the area working with the children, women and youth. Some have asked why we are going into three parishes. One answer as I see it is that Presentation Sisters are not bound by borders, they go where the need is.

At the beginning of 2004, we began the Nano Pre Skul program. By touching the smaller children, we have touched and greatly influenced the parents and some are now taking an active part in the Religious formation of their children.

We have also started a program, "Laip bilong ol Meri" with the women. Going out on patrol, visiting and staying with the communities is very important to us. It is here that we can really be in touch with the people in their own environment and in their own situations.

The young Sisters are making inroads into the lives of the youth. At this stage mainly focusing on interaction with them playing volleyball and soccer. In some villages they have been made aware of and challenged to look at the social problems of today and their responses have been the desire to know and understand more fully what are really new words and ideas to them. This is a very great need.

Yimut, which is "home" is a very beautiful place with views right down to the Sepik plains and beyond. On a clear day, we can see the ranges of the Highlands. To the West and North West we look towards the coast with many mountain ridges which say to us that our neighbours are not as far away at Mukili, Ningil, Fatima and Lumi.

The kunai has a charm about it. Walking through these grasslands is quite an experience, very hot and energy draining. But there is a peacefulness and beauty that can only be described as sacred.

The people have taken us to their hearts and call us "their Sisters". When we go to Aitape, they are concerned that we won’t return.

This whole sweep of villages are isolated, disadvantaged and in many ways forgotten. Although as I write this, I am well aware of some coming development to some of the areas now that the overgrown and completely neglected old "spet rot" is restored now linking Wati to Yimut.

Our living is very basic and simple but we are happy, contented and thankful for many reasons. Perhaps the most of which is the opportunity to live among these people, to experience some of their deprivations and to journey with them as we join ourselves in solidarity with them as we listen to their stories and in a small way share their pain and struggles.