[Note: Pastor Kila Galama, featured on our front cover, has an interesting background. The following is a summary of a write-up regarding him by W. N. Lock, which appeared in the July issue of the Australasian Record--the Editors]
While Pastor J. R. James was visiting up the coast of Papua in New Guinea, he stopped at a village called Aivagela. There he showed his Picture Roll and told the story of the love of Jesus, using a native boy as his interpreter. When he had finished, two small Papuan boys said, "Taubada, please come up to our village and tell our people the story too."
Pastor James did as requested. A man in the village named Galama offered to interpret for him. This man had done some preaching for another mission, but as time went on he became so impressed with the message he was interpreting for the Adventist missionary that he eventually accepted it and was baptized.
After some time spent at our school, Galama was sent back to his own district to help Pastor James. There he did an excellent work. The brethren felt they had found an outstanding man and anticipated the day when he would be able to carry heavy responsibilities in the work.
One day Galama became very ill with a hemorrhage. He was put in a canoe in an effort to reach the doctor at Port Moresby. A strong wind arose, however, and hindered their progress. Brother James was informed. He secured a boat, hoping this would get him to the doctor quicker than the canoe. But it was too late! Galama died before help could reach him. The work could ill spare such a man and to the missionary this man's death was a tragedy.
But this was not to be the end of the story. The wife of Galama was a very fine woman and cared well for her children—one boy and two girls. The boy, Kila, attended the Seventh-day Adventist school and made good progress during the years.
Sometime later Pastor Boehm set up a little printing press at Mirigeda. This had been donated by the Signs Publishing Company. A hymnbook was needed for the Papuan field, and Kila was sent to assist in the setting of the type. He soon became very efficient in his work. Later the press was transferred to Bisiatabu under the supervision of Pastor L. N. Lock, and Kila became his right-hand man in the printing business. Then the war came and our little press was taken over by the army. Kila had some interesting experiences during this war period and continued to develop as a good Christian and worker for God.
When the war was over and things were back to normal, the brethren decided that this man had many of the good qualities of his parents and that he should be set apart for the ministry. Today, the son of Galama, the interpreter, is the president of the West Papuan Mission with six native ministers and twenty-three native missionaries under his supervision. In the life and work of Pastor Galama we see again the leading of God as He has prepared His man for a great work.
J.I. W
