Take a hike

Kevin Miles and companions on a prior survey of the Elseng people.

Also available in: Español

September 7, 2007

by Dena McMaster

What do lollipops and ramen noodles have in common? They are both in missionary Jareb McClain's backpack ready for a trip into the interior of Papua, Indonesia.

Jareb is packing lollipops as gifts for village children and of course ramen noodles make a great snack. He also included clothes, water purification tablets, travel mug, matches, rope, sunscreen, granola bars and a host of other necessary items. Then he stuffed in several more packages of ramen noodles, just in case.

Jareb, Scott Flaugher and Kevin Miles will join Ortwin Oesterle, missionary to the Elseng people, to locate another village for Ortwin and his wife Regina to move to. Their trip will take them on foot through a jungle area that is hot, wet, dirty, buggy, thorny and very, very wild. Pray for the four men as they face exhaustion, thirst, leeches and mosquitoes on their trek to various Elseng villages.

A team of three missionary families moved into a village over the past few years to begin ministering to the Elseng people. Through various difficult circumstances only Ortwin and Regina remain. The people in this village have begun working for several natural resource companies and are reluctant to help the missionaries learn their language.

The NTM leadership team in Indonesia feels it might be necessary to relocate the Oesterles to another village where people are more willing to help the missionaries learn the language.

Pray for safety from accidents, good weather for hiking, a restful night's sleep and encouragement when the going gets tough. Pray that the Holy Spirit of God will lead them to just the right village where Ortwin and Regina can move in and establish good relationships with the people.