Pictured: The passing of a humble hard working legend and pioneer missionary.. Uncle Hap Skinner.
Back in the 1960’s Papua New Guinea was still a very primitive developing nation recovering from the conflicts of WWll and the strategic part the island nation played in the victory in the Pacific region.
It was men like Harold ‘Happy’ Skinner who used great innovation to transform equipment and vehicles once used for war into practical machinery that would be used to construct roads, airstrips, buildings and homes for the work of healthcare, education and Bible Translation. He was a larrikin, a leader and a pioneer who knew how to get the job done in difficult circumstances.
Uncle Hap Skinner was one of my heroes as a boy growing up in the jungle highlands of PNG. Back then he seemed larger than life in his old Landrover or driving the logging truck to the saw mill. His three sons were my school mates and at times my arch enemies!! But the Skinner boys were just like their Dad… unstoppable when it came to a good cause.
Last week we buried Uncle Hap in Mossman North Queensland and celebrated his magnificent life. A true legend for the cause of Christ. It was a great honour to be able to lead in the singing of Hymns and the memorial and mourn with the family. Uncle Hap was buried with his beloved ‘Eternity’ cap as he reckons that’s the first thing he’ll put on in his new resurrection body when Christ returns!!! Thank you Uncle Hap and the Skinner family.. For Eternity.
