By NOSO DANIEL
SIX women from Simbu survived uninjured when a large tree fell on top of their house at Sunaban Block at 5-Mile in Port Moresby.
According to the father and owner of the house Steven Tom, God actually saved them. In an exclusive interview with Tom, he said it was around 4am on Feb 2, rain and huge wind emerged, as everyone was in a deep-sleep.
The falling tree that smashed the house in half. Photo: Supplied
“The strength of the wind uprooted one of the huge trees next to our second house and threw it on top of it, splitting the house into half.
“Those who were sleeping inside were my wife, my mother, my sister and my three daughters. However, miraculously, none of them sustained any injury.
“All survived unhurt. God saved my entire family otherwise, I would have lost everything,” in a sad tune, he explained.
Steven Tom has been a faithful Adventist and has lived with his family in Port Moresby for the rest of their lives. As a faithful Adventist, Tom would always pray for his family and the yard every night before hitting the bed.
House completely destroyed by nature. Photo: Supplied
Feb 2 was one of the nights that without any member of his family beside him and all along in their old house (the first house), he knelt down, prayed to God for protection upon his family and the yard, and went to bed.
“What happened to the house, I don’t know as I was the only one sleeping inside our old house (the first house),” he said.
Tom’s wife Saina explains in a heavy heart that if it wasn’t for his husband’s prayers, one or two could have lost their lives.
Saina recalls: “Our two bedroom house started shaking and waking those of us who were sleeping directly to the position where the tree was going to fall.
“As the house was still shaking, someone woke up my eldest daughter (Lorain, 20) and my two little girls (Angela, 16, Anna, 12) and told them to stand in the corner of their respective rooms while my sister and mother in-law (Pauline, 35, Anna, 49) felt hot, got up from the living room where three of us were sleeping and came and stood at the verandah to get some fresh air.
“Somehow I turned and moved a little bit closer to the door of Angela and Anna and at that very instant, the huge tree (pictured) landed across the house crashing it down in half.
“We were all in a total shock. I was the only one stuck beneath the walls and the roofing iron and was calling out for help while others remained silent. My husband heard my voice and with the assistance from the neighbors, they pulled me out and set others free.”
Tom saw that his girls were growing up so he built them a separate house (the second house). His mom, sister and wife were living in the first house. That night, all the women decided to sleep together.
“My wife and children do not go to church. The incident was a testament for them to think about their lives. It goes back to Noah’s story. For one man’s faith, the whole family were saved,” he said.
They are from Dirima, a sub district of Gumine in the Simbu province and come from Kuman Kane clan.
Saina’s elder brother Maima Morea and Tom are appealing to anyone for assistance.
“Life is hard to build a house these days and I can’t do much. I am in a desperate situation for assistance so I could build the house for my girls again,” Tom appealed.
