Issac Wamin’s Memorial

Pastor Simon Longfield and I have just returned from Papua New Guinea after attending the funeral of Issac Wamin who died on Tuesday 3rd September 2019.

I know many saints in PNG and Issac Wamin was one of them. From a young lad receiving the Holy Spirit in Vanimo, a town close to the border of West Papua, where he started his walk in the Lord. Having very little, he was able to create a trade store that grew into a supermarket (PNG style).

After marrying Regina, he then moved to Aitape and purchased a second supermarket. This is where I got to know him. He brought some land and built his house and over the years, children were born into the family. It wasn’t long before he sold his two supermarkets and purchased the Aitape Lodge which he sold a few years later allowing him to form a new Road Construction Company.

Those who have travelled to PNG have driven on many roads he built. Whenever we said we were coming, he would always have vehicles waiting for us at the airport. Even when we hire a car from the local hire company, he would cancel the booking and have his cars available for us. He would either be the lead vehicle or rear vehicle in convoy. When arriving at the airport, he would throw us the keys to one of his cars, which was always caught by either Pastors Simon, David, Bruce, John or Justin. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust me to drive (which I had done many times when the previous names were not with me) they were just quicker to catch than me.

On many occasions, he would send his tractors ahead of the visit to repair roads so they would be easier to traverse. To the community, he was there to help them as well, when the rains or floods came and destroyed bridges he would despatch tractors to make temporary bridges to keep traffic flowing.

When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, he was rushed to the tomb as the Sabbath was approaching fast. This was not the case for Issac Wamin. On Tuesday 3rd September 2019 Issac died in his sleep. It took 17 days of transport, memorials in Port Moresby, Vanimo and Aitape before he was laid to rest on Friday 20th September 2019.

It is custom in Papua New Guinea to allow as many of family and friends to pay their last respects to the man they have come to like and love. Issac touched many people in his community and the Church across the whole country.

Tributes have poured in from around the world, with many not knowing the man personally but understanding his testimony in the Lord. The regional government and many communities knew him also has a man on a mission to fix roads and bridges, to help wherever he could.

1Timothy 3

V1-2 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; ….. V7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Issac had a great testimony in and outside the Church Revelations 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

To Regina his loving wife and companion, our thoughts and prayers are with you always. To all the family we stand with you this day and hope our presence has help you in your time of sadness.

Issac; We will truly miss you, a great companion and helper, Well done, good and faithful servant;

All the Churches salute you. AMEN

Pastor Darcy Ryan (PNG Coordinator)