A Visit to Finschhafen

Senior Flierl Seminary celebrated its 50th anniversary in September, 2009. It is one of three seminaries within ELC-PNG and one of the two which teach in Pidgin (along with Ogelbeng Seminary near Mt. Hagen). Students begin classes at 7:00am, break for Chapel at 8:00am, and then spend the rest of the morning in classes. In the afternoon, students and their spouses work in their gardens and participate in community clean-up. There are 88 students at Seminary at this time and several on "vicarage", or internship. The vast majority of students come from villages and will serve in rural congregations throughout PNG. Their communal life at Senior Flierl prepares them for the life they and their families will lead in ministry following graduation.

When we were almost to the top, we were met by young children waiting to greet us and lead us onto the Seminary grounds with sounds of drumbeats and songs. They placed lovely leis around our necks and shyly smiled at us the whole time.

On the Monday after the Installation service, Rod, Nancy and Phil Baker made a quick two-day trip to Finschhafen, site of the first missionaries in Papua New Guinea. Senior Flierl Seminary is located at Logaweng high above the port and Braun Hospital is located nearby in Butaweng. The only way to travel to Finschhafen is by boat and, once we arrive, in the back of a truck up to the Seminary.