Today we spent looking over the grounds of Timothy Lutheran Seminary in Birip, and doing a bit of touring in the nearby towns.
The seminary is situated on expansive grounds that are lush and, due to our visit no doubt, neatly kept! Visitors are a big deal here in the middle of the middle of nowhere, and so there was undoubtedly a lot of effort tidying things up and taking care of groundskeeping that might otherwise be a bit less fastidious. While I feel bad they went to trouble on our account, the result is truly beautiful!
We began with chapel, which is offered every morning in the sanctuary.
Decor reflects donations and gifts and accumulations from many sources, undoubtedly over many years. If you’ve contributed to this ministry in the past or currently, know that the Word of God is preached here daily, and men are formed for service in the Gutnius Lutheran Church here daily!
It is hard to overstate the beauty of this country and this particular slice of it. Abundant vegetative life is everywhere. I’ve seen a cross-section of the world that is larger than what many people are privileged to see and experience, and the raw beauty of the PNG Highlands can compete with most of the other beautiful areas I’ve been privileged to witness. In the midst of this simple beauty, the seminary students study daily in their theology coursework, diligent towards their goal of serving the GLC and sharing the good gifts of God in Word and Sacrament with the people of PNG.
And of course they have to eat, so we got to see the second-most important building on the property – the kitchen!
After the campus walkabout Mary Anne took us on a drive to see some other notable areas. At my request we stopped and saw the Enga Take Anda, or cultural center, located in the Wabag area. It includes a respectable history of life in PNG both before and after incursions from Europeans. Some photos taken by Gena’s father, Lee Meyer, during their service in PNG 50 years earlier are showcased here.
We also visited a local hospital that is being added on to and upgraded. It’s been around for over 50 years and Gena’s brother & sister were born here.
Mambisanda hospital has been a valuable resource in the Highlands for decades, and is a project of the GLC in partnership with the LCMS. Unfortunately, in mid-November of 2025, due to tribal fighting in the area, the hospital was attacked. While local police were able to protect the main buildings of the hospital, the many homes which have sprung up over the years around the facility, housing for staff and others associated with the hospital, were all burned to the ground. While nobody died, they lost everything they had and the repercussions of that violence and loss will resonate for years to come.
Speaking of fighting, there was tribal warfare occurring during our visit. It seemed to have subsided slightly by the time we arrived, but only very slightly. There was still palpable tension throughout the region. In populated areas, rocks were strewn through the streets, forcing cars to slow down and make their way through the maze carefully. This would give people time to identify who was in the vehicle – or even stop the vehicle.
Fortunately we weren’t stopped anywhere. Invariably, in addition to one or both of the Ralls being our escorts, we were also accompanied by one or more locals from the seminary to ensure that any potential engagements with hostile individuals could (hopefully!) be diffused.
We returned to the campus late in the afternoon to rest a bit before dinner. Any time the Ralls were home, there was a stream of people coming to their door and knocking. Needs varied. Some needed medicine from the small supply Mary Anne keeps on hand. Others had questions about various issues. But it was constant – morning, afternoon, evening, whenever. This particular evening was a Bible study the Ralls host each week with some of the fourth year students. A time of prayer, discussion, music, and laughter.
Days are full here, starting early after sunrise and ending not terribly long after sundown. Electricity is unreliable at best. The Ralls have a generator to supplement, but even still it’s worth going to bed at a pretty reasonable hour here to prepare for the next day!
The Nelson Family Indonesia 