The Mountain Mission of the Malalo Congregation

South from Malalo, the area was poorly populated.  But three evangelist posts had been established along the coast.  But could the coastal people become evangelists to the mountain people?  Could they leave their coconuts and fish and learn a non-Melanesian language?  Once a Sattelberg man came for a visit.  Together they made a visit to the Kaidemui.  But it was discovered that the Kaidemui were Melanesian.  So now the Malalo’s had a mission area.  Missionary Bayer was very faithful in his work for missions.  (p.208.GNM)

In 1917 Malalo had three outstations.  In 1921 there were four and then a fifth was added which was established among the inland Kaiwa.  The older stations were Kai-Hote and Kaidemui.  In those areas there was a good movement among the people by 1921.  (p.209.GNM).  In 1922 Dawon in the Buang mountains was started.  Bayer reports great success.  The first baptism of nineteen men and sixteen women was held at Dawn in 1825.

The Kaiwa were a very difficult people to convert.  Many young men recruited for labor from the area never returned.  (p.210.GNM)  Then came the opening up of the gold fields in the Piololo valley.  The villages from Salamaua on the route to the gold fields were forsaken.  People disappeared into the bush.  But the mother congregation came through the trial and suffering, strengthened.  In 1921 the Malalo congregation raised 2000 shilling for missions and schools.  A a Christmas mission festival they raised 300 shilling.  (p.211.GNM)