March 2024

For almost eleven years Lena and I lived at Kunai in the remote mountains of Gulf Province, PNG. In the Wenna Valley the ground was not very fertile, so our people did most of their gardening (their only food source) on the other side of the mountains that surrounded us.

But one thing grew quite well in our valley: Pineapples. When they were in season, you could get a juicy one for a few cents. We ate a lot of pineapple in those days, and loved it!

Living in the capital now is quite different. Pineapples brought in from great distances can cost upwards of $5.00 each—and they don’t taste nearly as good.

One of our young Kamea men from Kotidanga Baptist Church, Ryan, lives here on the church and school campus, while working as an apprentice electrician. His grandfather passed away last month, so Ryan caught a truck to Kerema (7 hours away) and then hiked two and a half days back through the mountains to Kunai.

Ryan grew up in Kotidanga, and we’ve known him ever since we arrived here over sixteen years ago. He continues to be a faithful Christian, serving the Lord in the church here, and helping us as one of our bible translation checkers. His dad and mom are still members of the church back in Kotidanga. His dad is a village leader. His mom worked with Lena at Kunai Health Centre, where Lena trained her to read microscope slides to look for malaria and tuberculosis.

For a lot of the young people here, we get to be Mama and Papa. Counseling, encouraging, witnessing to lost friends they bring over to our house. Some of the young people are our Bible college students.

After Ryan returned, he brought us word of how the believers are doing back in the village. We were able to share with him that another of the youth with whom Ryan grew up, Judas, is finishing up his Bible school training this year with Bro. Wil Muldoon, and plans to return to the area to minister among the Kamea people.

When Ryan hiked back from Kotidanga, he carried this pineapple and two large cucumbers for us. They added at least another 8 pounds to his load, which he gently carried for two and a half days as he hiked down out of the mountains. All because he knew that Mama Lena and Papa John love Kunai pineapples and cucumbers.

That’s how love looks like a pineapple.

FRUIT THAT REMAINS

Pineapples aren’t the only fruit that grew at Kunai. Over the years many people were saved, and trained, and nurtured. Some of the youth, like Ryan, Braxstone, Caleb, and Selestine have gone on to become blessings in the church here in Port Moresby.

Our son Matt’s ministry at Capital City Baptist has had many people saved in the last several weeks. Resurrection Sunday will see many of these following the Lord in believer’s baptism. Lena had the joy of leading a lady to Christ at CCBC this last weekend.

I had the privilege to teach and preach a Biblical Preaching Conference for Pastor Michael Saka in Lae in February. Then in March we had the joy of being with Pastor Camillus Kumbi and Missionary Kenny Seremak for a three-day meeting to kick off their new Bible school year. Thank the Lord for the ministries around our nation who invest in training men and ladies for ministry. And thank you for partnering with us in the work the Lord has given us!

Pressing on by His Grace and Goodness,
John & Lena Allen
Psalm 71:18

   Baptist Bible Institute of Port Moresby: bbipom.com

Below: The Biblical Preaching Conference in Lae (at Tent Siti Baptist Church) had time during the day sessions for everyone to practice what they were learning in reading and comprehending the biblical texts assigned.

Below: Praise the Lord for our BBIPOM students and graduates. Some have developed into skillful preachers of the Word. And thank God for students who will endure those hot evenings when we have power blackouts–which are quite frequent. (PC for some photos: Kidu Morea)

Below: Special moments of recent note.