Nuselang is the forth-existing affiliate within Papua New Guinea. Located along the coast and about an hour drives inland of Finschhafen district north of Lae, Morobe Province. Nuselang became an affiliate to HFH-PNG in 1990 serving total of 8
villages. Since then Nuselang affiliate had built a total of 136 houses.
PEOPLE
People live in villages based on their clan or family ties. Most importantly, being the extended family. The average population in each village would approximately 200 to 500 people. There are not many changes to their traditional style of living. People’s
living is based mainly on subsistence farming. Their daily routine would be going to their gardens once or twice a week and spend rest under their coconut and coffee plantation or just laze in the village. During the day time the villages would come alive in the afternoon when everyone comes back from their garden or plantation and kids return from community school
and on Sundays for church service. Normally the village can be really dull and quite during the day time when the whole village would wonder off into the forest for their daily activities living behind only the children and older people.
LANGUAGE
Nuselang has its local dialect called Kotte. In the early days when the first German Lutheran missionaries arrived in PNG they made their first stop in Finschhafen. They then settled at Nuselang and built a mission station called Settle berg. Thinking that
Kotte is the only language spoken by all Papua New Guineans they developed and used the language effectively for communication and schooling. They also tried to use Kotte language for commerce but soon realized that there are lots of other languagesaround. Apart from Kotte Pidgin and English is also spoken and heard by many. Pidgin is now regarded as second language to their mother tongue.
Traditional houses in Nuselang are no different to any houses built along the coastal region of Papua
New Guinea and other Pacific countries. The houses are rectangular in shape and built on posts that
can accommodate two to three small families. Bush materials used are Kunai thatches and sago leaf
for roofing. For walls and floor bamboo blinds and palm slabs are used. However, some used carved
timbers for walls and floor too. To carve a timber out from a log, it is one of the skills introduced by the
early German missionaries.
More common, you will find that a little hut built next to their houses to use as a kitchen. Some would
prefer to build their houses using the dirt as their floor and a fireplace right in the middle of the house
purposely for cooking and keeping the house warm during the cold nights. The houses can be very dark
inside during daytime with very little ventilation. They only last for four to six years.
RELIGION
Finschhafen District being as the birthplace for Evangelical Church in Papua New Guinea it is logical to
say that Nuselang area is the strong hold for Lutheran church. Apart for Lutheran church there are other
denominations like Seven Days Advantage, Four Square and Lutheran Revival making their presence felt
these days. The followers for these new churches were once Evangelical Lutheran church members.
During you arrival you will be accommodated in Habitat houses. The families in thevillage will be will to host members of the team in there houses. You will have to bring yourself a sleeping bag since it may get cold at times especially during the night. Youwill be provided with mattress and the bedding will be on the floor.
LOCAL ECONOMY
The main source of income is coffee. Being a seasonal cash crop, the farmer would expect to earn money from his/her coffee parchment every six-month interval every year. Most people would have one to two small blocks of coffee plantations. A smallholder farmer would earn an average of K300.00 to K1000.00 yearly. Those with bigger blocks can earn an average of K500.00 to K2000.00. Apart from coffee, garden produce and livestock (pigs and chickens) are sold for money but these avenues can only support for their daily necessities. However, people are always with smiling faces, as long as a family
has enough on the table they live a happy life.
TOILET
Pit toilet is the only common type of toilet system used through out all rural areas in Papua New Guinea. You will find small huts build 50 to 100 meters away from the houses. People are encouraged never to use bushes, rivers or small streams for toilet.
WATER
Most people used rainwater from the catchment tank for daily consumption. For bathing they wash in the river, small stream or water supply.
* For teams’ sake: we will use water from the tank for cooking and bottled water will be provided for drinking. For bath you will join the rest in the river, small stream or water supply.
LAND
Each clan in the village customarily owns Land. One is to consult his or her clan members before carrying out any development to a piece of land. Women don’t have much say over the land.
TRANSPORTATION
To get to Nuselang one has to travel by boat or cruiser passenger ship for two hours and then by road for another hour. Approximately one will take at least three hours. That is with out stop or delay on the way or else it would be more depending on the length of delay. Passenger will have comfortable ride on cruiser ship than boat. For all STM teams we prefer
cruiser ship. Normally we don’t encouraged traveling by boat. We would consider boats only if the team prefer or is part of their excursion then again we will allow that if we or the team have all the necessary safety equipments available.
If you a keen photographer you won’t regret coming on this trip. Nuselang has a lot to offer apart from building houses and sharing with you. The place is blessed with beautiful superlatives-on the coast you will see beautiful beaches, lagoon, bay, and untouched corals perfect for snorkeling and on the mountain where Nuselang is situated you will be trilled with the blessed mountain plunge, crystal stream and water fall flowing from the mountain to the beach. We encouraged you bring an extra film roll for the traditional dances. It could be the major high lights and attraction on this trip.
We hope this brief description about Nuselang will give you a fair idea about your host community.
We are looking forward to have a good time with you.