Oro! Oro! Oro!

Hello dear friends and family!!!!

I'm happy to be writing you in Australia, back from PNG. The last 9 weeks have been incredible not to mention intense, challenging and exciting. It's hard to describe life in PNG in a single sitting, so I will be highlighting and sharing some of the main stories in the coming weeks.

   

Oro! style welcome

An Overview:

We spent 8 of the 9 weeks in Oro Province where we were welcomed with traditional dances and necklaces, and people calling  out “Oro! Oro! Oro!” (Oro literally means welcome). Our team of 6 had the absolutely incredible privilege of meeting with Governor Gary Juffa (I get to meet with government officials?!?!?). YWAM townsville has one medical ship currently, but we are feeling led to buy a bigger ship that can stay in PNG longer and go into more provinces, including Oro. Under the Governor's commission, we traveled up and down the coast conducting health survey's and doing clinics. We visited a total of 38 villages, spent almost two weeks riding in dinghy's, and saw 937 patients. 

Christina, Casey and Liz (USA) Angie (Canada) Hannah (AUS)
Sven (Switzerland) ready to meet with Health Officials

The Governor also insisted we have armed policemen travel with us, and though we initially rolled our eyes and thought it was overkill, we believed Father God set it up as a divine appointment. After traveling together for 6 weeks, Remmie, George and Peter have really become like family.

Not your average day:

We assisted in delivering two babies which was really exciting! We also did antenatal clinics and immunizations and treated plenty of malaria, cough, suspected TB, back and knee pain, neonatal sepsis, worms, upper respiratory tract infections and pneumonia.

Sometimes It's Challenging...

   

Gabriel and his family in the Adult
Ward at Kokoda Hosptial 

There were things that definitely rocked my world, like walking into the hospital in Kokoda and 6 out of the 10 patients are being treated for TB.... and the hospital didn't have any masks. I felt panic rising as my mind was racing thinking “HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!... I could get TB!!!!...” But I stopped for a moment and closed my eyes and prayed “Father.. I believe You have called me here, and that I am here for Your purpose. I believe that You are greater than these germs and that I am under Your protection. Thank You for Jesus and what He did on the cross....” Almost immediately, I felt at peace and was able to go assisting the head nurse dispense medications, and little by little ease into seeing the patients, talking and sharing stories with them.

Some friends we made in PNG :)

Tenk Yu Tru..

As they say in PNG, Thank You to all of you who prayed for me on outreach. There were days when I was struggling and took courage in knowing people were at home cheering me on and praying for me. Thanks also to everyone who donated financially so I could go to PNG... :)

Can you say "DINNER?"

Birthday Surprise

I also say a huge thank you to all of you who sent cards and messages for my birthday. There were 17 cards and 2 packages waiting for me when I arrived back at base!!!! I cannot tell you how blessed and grateful I was to

feel so loved and thought of. :):):)

Sorry this post was so long; but stay tuned for more stories from PNG! 

In the meantime... 

God blesim yupla! (God bless all of you)

Christina 

3 nations under one Tapa Cloth

Life in a dinghy... 

Christina, policeman Remmi and his wife Scholar