• Papua New Guinea
    2011 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

    • A VOLCANO DESTROYS RABAUL

      The city of Rabaul has a large harbor that is actually the caldera of an ancient volcano. In September 1994, active vents on opposite sides of the harbor erupted, devastating Rabaul and reshaping the way of life in the province. The Kingdom Hall and the attached missionary home were destroyed, but no brothers were killed. One brother, however, had a heart problem and died while fleeing the eruption. The brothers all went to prearranged areas miles away, following an evacuation plan that for some years had been posted on the information board at the Kingdom Hall.

      Immediately, the branch office took steps to assist those affected and to organize relief supplies. Donated clothing, mosquito nets, medicine, gasoline, diesel fuel, and other items were dispatched, along with rice and taro from a nearby congregation. Indeed, the relief operation went so well that local officials and others made a number of favorable comments.

      Eventually, the Rabaul Congregation ceased to exist. Two days after the eruptions, about 70 publishers and their children gathered at an abandoned vocational school. When the elders arrived, the publishers asked, “What time does the book study start?” Yes, despite the hardships, meeting attendance and the witnessing work were never neglected. (Heb. 10:24, 25) Most of the brothers moved to nearby groups, one of which became a congregation as a result.

      The provincial government promised all the religions that had lost property that they would be granted land in the town of Kokopo, about 15 miles [24 km] from Rabaul. However, while other religions received land, the Witnesses did not. Then, about seven years after the eruption, a brother from Africa began to work for the town planning department. Noting the unfair treatment the Witnesses had been given, he promptly located a suitable parcel of land in Kokopo and assisted the brothers with the application, which was approved. A volunteer construction team helped build a Kingdom Hall and missionary home. In fact, the initial injustice actually proved to be a blessing. How so? The land earlier granted to the churches is up a steep hill. But the property given to the brothers is ideally located in the center of town.