Jessie's House of Needles

by John Algate

  So many changes have come and gone in those years. Even the name of the country changed three times, but God has not changed. He remains faithful. We have seen truly amazing things happen in the lives of those stone-age people, many who had never seen a white man, let alone white woman in those days. Our God is truly the God of the impossible, as we have seen hardened killers, cannibals and witch doctors change dramatically as they turned from spirit worship to faith in what Jesus had done for them. He took away the very fear of demons, gave them hope for the future, and freedom from fear of death.

  Thirteen years were spent running the hospital and the baby clinic at Karubaga for the Dani people. It was a very busy and demanding program. One of my first cases after I had been there just 10 days, was to nurse Stan Dale after he had been shot the first time. Responsibilities varied, as personnel changed, and different slots needed to be filled. These ranged from hospital supervisor, airport manager and radio coordinator, to buying 2000 pounds of vegies each week, to be transported to Sentani for the missionaries there, to taking a women’s and children’s Bible class, training clinic workers, running the station generator and caring for the welfare of the cows. When the hospital was closed because we couldn’t get a visa for a new doctor I spent a year at Taiyeve in the northern lowlands relieving the nurse there so she could go on furlough. Very different in the hot swamps instead of the cool mountains. I became a ‘flying nurse’ as I accompanied the pilots to many of the villages scattered throughout the swamps. This was a very different and challenging program, but once again the Lord was there beside me to encourage and help. Many of the people had never seen a white woman so I came in for my share of hair pulling and pinching to see if the white would come off. Diagnosing and giving advice over the radio to teachers on these lonely outposts was a big responsibility.

  The last 11 years at Korupun amongst the pygmy cannibals has been a special experience. Exciting to see the changes come into so many lives as they turned their backs on appeasing the evil spirits and handed their lives to the Lord. It has been encouraging to see the clinic workers start from the grass roots level to taking on the responsibilities for the wellbeing of their people, both spiritual and physical, as they work alongside the evangelist or pastor. It has been thrilling to hear their stories of how often the Lord has answered their prayers for different patients, and also giving wisdom when they needed it.

  Great to see the literacy programme in which I was involved for some time, now taken over by a very competent local man whom the Lord is using to reach many people as he teaches a Bible class before literacy begins. The Bible school is now running efficiently on its own with National teachers. The students are very keen to get any new scripture portions that Elinor translates for them. Seeing the church outgrow its buildings, and having to rebuild, and them become concerned for others outside of their regions who have not heard the Gospel has been a real encouragement. Seeing God at work in the hearts and lives of the people is a real privilege. Pray for the church that it will continue to grow in the knowledge of the Lord.

  Through all these different tasks and changes the Lord has been so faithful. When I have been discouraged, He has encouraged; when I have been exasperated, He has given me patience; when I have been angry, He has given me love; when I have been so weary, He has given me wisdom. I praise and thank the Lord for his forgiveness, caring and constant love over these years. As he promised when I came to Irian Jaya He has remained the same, the God of the impossible. And you, my faithful prayer and financial supporters, have been a large part of the Lord’s program up here. I could never have survived without your constant prayer concern, love and financial help. We are workers together - His church in the hearts and lives of the people of Irian Jaya. Thank you for your faithfulness, please continue to pray that the Lord will be central in our work, and that His name will be glorified throughout these mountains.

  It was, and remains, a fitting epitaph to Jessie’s life’s work.

  Her trials, tribulations, triumphs, humour and optimism were always shared with her small army of supporters in Australia, both family and friends, and their support came in many ways – financial, spiritual, and towards the end, as ill-health sapped her physical strength and robbed her of much of her prized independence - through daily care and attention. Some of these special long-term friends, Pam and Jim Sterrey, Marlene Davey and Wendy Crew, and of course as always, her surviving sisters, Pam, Jean and Thelma, gave practical assistance and comfort throughout Jessie’s battle with the leukaemia that would eventually claim her life.

  Despite the onset of this debilitating illness, Jessie was determined to remain independent, albeit it with considerable assistance from family and friends. She was admitted to the Alfred Hospital for the last time on Sunday 4 May 2014. It had been clear Jessie’s health was deteriorating. Thelma remembers that just a few weeks before Jess entered hospital:

  ‘I had sensed Jess was not really coping and came down (from her home at Woy Woy north of Sydney) for two weeks, I was reluctant to go home and of course it was only about a week before I was back to help arrange the funeral.’

  Jessie’s sister Pam who lived nearby was with her at the end. Pam provided this account of Jessie’s last days:

  ‘In the weeks preceding her passing, Jess had been managing at home with some help – but becoming more frail - but being Jess, was still up and around. On Friday 2 May I had taken her for a quick shop and then returned home for a nice lunch together. She had her usual snooze in her chair after lunch – but seemed quite ok – as usual. Then on Saturday she called friends to ask if they could come and do a small gardening job for her. They arrived, completed the job and enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea and chat. That Sunday, friends came to visit at 12 noon and found her still in bed with a high fever. They called the ambulance and she was immediately transferred to The Alfred where she had been undergoing her treatment. As soon as the staff who had been treating Jessie learnt she was in the hospital, they convinced the authorities to transfer Jessie upstairs from ICU into their care. As they said: ‘Jess wouldn’t like it down there, it’s too noisy!!’ So, like an old friend, Jess remained in the care of the staff who had been treating her for the past two years. Our sister Jean, her daughter Judy and I spent Sunday and Monday afternoon and evenings with Jess and although she was under heavy medication, she occasionally responded by opening her eyes and/or giving a slight smile when we stroked or kissed her – but was very peaceful.

  On Tuesday 6 May Jean, Judy and I visited around noon. Jess was in a deep, peaceful sleep but there was no response to our overtures. We decided to leave at 3pm and return later in the day/evening. As we were getting settled into Judy’s car at the hospital, I had this overwhelming feeling that I HAD to stay. I couldn’t go. Jean and Judy left intending to return later. I went back in to be with Jess. Shortly after, Danny Hunt, Jess’s Pastor arrived for a visit. Danny and I were sitting beside Jess’s bed talking quietly, when I suddenly realised that she wasn’t breathing. She had just slipped away – so peacefully – and, as you would expect from Jess, without fuss!!’

  Officiating at Jessie’s memorial service on 14 May 2014 Pastor Hunt said: ‘If a church is allowed to have heroes, Jessie is one of our heroes.’

  Shortly before the service a final message came by email from the Kimyals thanking Jessie for coming to them. It shall be our last word on Jessie’s wonderful life:

  ‘You have been completed, Goodbye…….’

  Acknowledgements

  I hope Jessie’s House of Needles is close to the book Jessie might have written had her hectic life and, in her last years, failing health permitted her to do so. Though I never knew Jessie personally I feel I have come to know her through her writings which form the core of this memoir, and the personal insights of the many people who wanted Jessie’s story told, particularly her sister Thelma and brother-in-law Jim Minto, and other surviving siblings Jean, Pamela and Gordon who entrusted me with the telling.

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p; We have also been assisted by Jessie’s missionary colleagues and friends who have shared their memories and observations. Most particularly I want to thank Dr Les Henson and his wife Wapke, long time colleagues and friends of Jessie in both West Papua and later in Melbourne where Les now teaches and supervises postgraduate students in missiology. Their intimate knowledge of West Papua, missions and local Papuan culture, history and belief systems has been invaluable in ensuring both accuracy and historical context and I greatly appreciate their efforts and support. I also thank Don Richardson for writing the foreword and for his other positive feedback in helping ensure the authenticity of the text.

  My role was to edit, collate, provide context and weave Jessie’s words into a narrative that accurately captured the flavour of her life and times in missionary service in West Papua, and share excerpts from her remarkable life, experiences and insights with others. While Jessie’s words have beenedited for style, consistency, accuracy and clarity, I have endeavoured to retain Jessie’s authentic voice and the context in which her words were written.

  I have read and researched widely to fill in the background to Jessie’s original words however five books have been particularly instructive and small extracts of all five are quoted in the text. The full references for these works are:

  Decker, John with Lois Neeley 1992, Torches of Joy, YWAM Publishing, Seattle.

  Reeson, Margaret 1972, Torn Between Two Worlds, Kristen Pres, Madang PNG.

  Richardson, Don 2005, Peace Child, 4th Edition, Regal, California, U.S.A.

  Richardson, Don 2014, Lords of the Earth, Bethany House edition, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  Wick, Dr Robert S. 1990, God’s Invasion, Buena Book Services a division of Christian Publications, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

  The quotations at the front of this book are edited excerpts from a 2010 interview with Jessie Williamson broadcast in: ‘The Kimyal Tribe: The Gospel History’ (World Team 2013).

  I would also like to give special thanks to my wife Sally whose wise counsel, editing, technical and design skills contributed so much in converting a draft manuscript into this final published form.

  I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Jessie. I certainly have.

  John Algate