Greetings Everyone!
I have the opportunity to hop into an internet café so I thought I would give a quick update.
First of all, Hello! I am alive & I’m ok! No need to worry Mom! J I spent 48 hours with a sort of stomach bug, but I’m completely recovered and doing great!
So far the Ship DTS has divided into 2 teams, the highlands team and the Central Provence Team, which is the one I’m on. We went from the airport in Port Moresby to a church we stayed at for a few days. It was an adjustment sleeping on the floor with a foam mat and sleeping bag, but I’m getting creative in using clothes for extra padding.
We had the opportunity to share/teach with some of the locals as part of the clinic ministry/outreach the church has onsite. It was a great opportunity, especially for the nurses, but a huge challenge at the same time. There were no doctors, and the nurses were assessing and prescribing medicine from a guideline/standard booklet. I have to give them credit, they are very creative for the resources they have. Every patient received prayer, with the idea that “we treat, God heals.” There were some unique things from would care and facial tumors that you probably wouldn’t see in the US, and amoxicillin is used for everything. We were so glad to be able to spend time with the patients while they were waiting, but the reality in cultural contrast was hard to swallow.
The pastors we stayed with, and all the Papua New Guinean’s we’ve met have been incredibly generous with us. No one does hospitality like they do!
We also did a Friday night youth program for the church, with a few dramas and testimonies. Saturday we traveled to Aroma, a village 6 hours drive east of Port Moresby. The drive within itself was quite an adventure, as in 6 hours in the back of an open flatbed truck. Everyone was a shade between red and brown from the sun and the dust. I had the great “privilege” of riding in the front seat with the driver, as I had the stomach bug and was having nausea and vomiting. The bumpy ride didn’t help at all, but at least my butt wasn’t bruised like those riding in the back described to me later. Also, that was my first experience of making a trip to the bathroom in the bushes on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. If I ever thought camping was inconvenient, I have had a sure change of heart… and perspective.
We arrived and stayed in Pelegai, which is a small part of Aroma. Janina (Switzerland) and I were paired together and stayed with the Malu family: Kuroa, Imana and their 4 year old daughter Valy. They were so incredibly generous, they moved out of their bedroom so we could sleep in a bed…. I was completely taken aback that they would do that for us. But while we were in the village, everyone treated us like we were royalty and gave us the best of what little they had. I can tell you I’ve learned a whole new level of what it means to be generous, as well as being grateful for what I have!
The first week felt rather awkward, just with adjusting to a new environment and not sure how to bridge the gap with the culture and our family who spoke limited English. Not to mention it rained all that week so it wasn’t pleasant walking from place to place. But we spent some really great team time getting to know each other better. However, the second week was fantastic! The weather was much better so we were able to walk different locations and spend time outside. We were able to plan programs (dramas/teachings) as a group and take them to the community. We shared for many R.I. (religious instruction) classes in the schools, and also did some sharing at the local market on Saturdays. We had so much fun, and really learned a lot from each other through those teachings. During that week we Janina and I really got to connect with our house mom, and shared some very special moments with her. I also felt I got more insight and understanding with relating to the culture as well. I learned a little bit of the language: “pogie pogie na ma na” means “good morning.”
Other things about PNG:
· We got to pray for a lady named Helen who had malaria and a parasite on her brain causing numbness and tingling down her leg. At the time she wasn’t able to walk and wasn’t doing well… was able to walk (30min)to church the next week and was wearing a smile! J
· Our bathroom was a 5 minute walk from where we were staying. In order to get to it, had to walk through ankle deep mud that squished between your toes. Also, had to watch for misquitos that would bite with your pants down.
· We had our fair share of deep fat fried foods, but learned how to make “skons” PNG style. Was elated to see a green vegetable on the ship…
· The village gave us so many baskets and bags as gifts when we left.
· Can’t forget bucket showers! Janina and I shared quite the experience dumping buckets of water over each other.
· We were so privileged to hear singing in PNG… the people here sing with such passion and have incredible harmonies, even the little kids. I was utterly blown away by their passion and hearts for singing- It was definitely a highlight!
· Ate sago (ground tree bark) and mud crab that we killed ourselves
· Learned that eyeballs of cooked fish are not meant to be eaten
I learned so much from the culture, community and have been experiencing incredible growth personally!
We now have the great privilege of being back on the ship and meeting up with the rest of the team! Yayyy! We will be in port until Friday and then we sail to Kikori to do medical clinics.
Please check out the YWAM reef to outback Facebook page (We are the CENTRAL PROVENCE team); we have posts and a video update… be sure to have a look!
Looking forward to this next portion of outreach….
Hope all of you are doing well!
God bless,
Christina
PS: Got some delayed mail; Thank you Grandma for the birthday card and the letter! And thank you Aunt Mary and Jim Sally and Kayla for the birthday cards! Loved it! So appreciated that you were thinking of me and made me feel special and celebrated! J
