By Tiri Kuimbakul My parents were poor. To make matters worse, my father gambled what little money he earned from working at a nearby tea plantation. Sometimes he won; many times he lost. I was selected to go to Grade 7 at Hagen High School in 1978. The fee was K150 for boarding and K75 for day students. My parents couldn't afford K150, so I became a day student. Even then I nearly didn't make it because they were short of K20. The Lord used the old man in this picture to save my life (we call him Wasman because in his young days he always got up early in the morning with the birds and awakened everyone in the village.) My father and Wasman both worked at the tea plantation with several others from the village. When payday came, they made an arrangement whereby everyone would give all their wages to one person in the group. The next fortnight they would all give their money to another one in the group, and so on. When it came to Wasman's turn, my father did not give his pay to him. The man asked several times but my father didn't respond so he gave up. It wasn't long before all the workers were laid off because management decided to prune the trees to produce a new crop. It was during this time school fees became due. My father had K55. He needed K20 to pay my fees. He asked around but nobody was willing or able to help. The last person he approached was Wasman whom he owed money to. Wasman told me many years later that when my father asked him for money, he was very angry. Here was the person who owed him money and had avoided him all this time coming to ask him money for his son's school fees. But then he thought about me. He had four K5s in his wallet which he emptied into my father's hands. My father paid my fees, and that is how I made it to High School. The rest is history. My father died in 1991. Wasman is still alive. He is my father. Still supports me. When my wife is not with us, the front seat of my vehicle is his. He had only one son in his old age. I named him Isaac; he agreed. I have told all my children that the son is their responsibility. His father paid my fees; they will pay his fees. Recently Wasman was very sick. My wife and daughters visited him with some medicine and food. Their presence brought him healing. He is out and about again. They said he recited the story of the K20 to them with tears. Told them it was one of the best K20s he has spent in his life. I built a road into the village. Also brought power. He claimed ownership of these and other services in future and gave his blessing to my family. He told them, "What has happened in the community and what will happen in future because Tiri lives among us, is the result of my K20." I agree. If God hadn't used him 40 years ago, I wouldn't be where I am today. Glory to God; credit to Papa Wasman. Next : Ways In Papua New Guineans Can Make Money
2 Comments
10/11/2020 05:19:19 pm
i am really blessed with this piece. As a student coming from similar background, i really appreciated the statement.
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9/13/2023 12:03:42 pm
Wow that's so wonderful and tears falling stories......Hope you enjoy the best with your family and papa wasman...
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