JOURNO’s TACKLE TRACK TO ENCOURAGE TOURISM
By Bradley Mariori, MOROBE
A group of Journalists from Lae have taken on the daunting task of walking a two day track in Nawaeb, in the hopes of opening the area up to tourism and exposing the area as a potential tourist hotspot.
Accompanying them along the track were representatives from Nawaeb District Tourism Board, local potters, children and guides, who experienced history as they took the trail, historically conected to the spread of Gods word into the Nawaeb District. The track was first walked 100 years by German Lutheran Missionary, Rev Ernst Schnapel from Germany and locals from Finschhafen who first brought the word of God to the Wain Erap and Boana area of Nawaeb District.
They started on thr 23rd December at Didi Village, just outside Nadzab and arrived on the 25th at Gain Parish which was where the first missionaries and teachers from ELCPNG arrived. The hike was challenging with mountains and cliffs but the team made it through.
Team Leader, Defol Jabar described the walk as a tough and long walk but it has benefits for both the Church (ELCPNG) and Tourism in Nawaeb. Jabar said the first missionaries trekked the track 100 years ago and to follow their steps and feel the struggles they faced in bringing the word of God to remote areas is immeasurable.
He thanked everyone involved and actively supporting this walk including Nawaeb MP, Theo Pelgen, Morobe Provincial Administrator, Max Bruten, Morobe Provincial Administration Human Resource Manager, Kusak Meluk, Deputy Privincial Administrator- Corportae Services, Miring Singoling, Nawaeb District Administrator, Buds Botike and everyone who supported in one way or the other to make this walk a success.
He said their are plans to open this track for tourists once training and infrastructure are finalized. Videographer and Photographer, Japeth Akiz said this experience helped him understand the true meaning of Christmas—humility, sacrifice, unity, and faith.
He said just as Christ was born in a simple place, the walk marked Christmas in simplicity, surrounded by mountains, forests, and history.
He said the trek also highlighted the strong potential of Nawaeb Adventure and Church History Tourism and the land carries powerful stories of faith, culture, and endurance that deserve to be protected and shared.
