A Trip to Gatsup Village

Our family was invited to visit one of the nearby villages to help deliver some old doors and miscellaneous items to one of the homes there. The village is pronounced like God Soup. The person who greeted us and was receiving the items being donated, was named Mama Ruth! We really enjoyed getting to meet her and she showed us around her gardens and the various homes that are on her plot of land where several family member’s live.
She also has one of the few hotels in the area where people who are travelling through can stay for the night. One time, the police had a group of around 15 or so people who were stranded for some reason, and they brought them all to Mama Ruth’s hotel. She told us how she had to run out to her garden and get enough food to feed them all. It was really neat hearing her tell these stories in Tok Pisin while our friend translated for us.

I did say it was a hotel, but of course, not like you and I would picture. It’s one round house about 20 feet in diameter with a fire pit in the middle and a raised floor around most of the space which serves as one big bed for lots of people to pile up on.
I was able to snap a few pictures of some of the huts with my phone since I forgot the camera on this particular trip.

Mama Ruth 3rd from the left

One of the huts they live in

We’re actually considering hiring Mama Ruth as our house meri once we settle into a more permanent house. We’ll be sure to keep you all updated on that.