6 weeks and counting....

Hi Everyone! 

Just wanted to share this with you! Here's a wee excerpt of what we've been doing the last 6 weeks and what we'll be heading into as we get ready to go to PNG!

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it. Below is song called "We Are" that is from one of my favorite artists Kari Jobe. She describes very well in a song what's been in my heart, my focus in taking this health care course.... and the reason why I do what I do. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B07iK9uh9qY

 Many Blessings,

             Christina :)

Bacon on the sidewalk ....

Hello Friends!

Greetings from the very warm and sunny Townsville! We just finished week 2 of classes for the Introduction to Primary Health Care (IPHC) school I'm taking. We have two staff and five students: three Americans, a Swiss French and a French Canadian. It's humorous to have most of the class in English with a few bits of French being heard throughout the room :)

                                                                               School's In Session

Angie (Canada) and Liz (America) showing how to test
hemoglobin for anemia

The IPHC school is geared towards training individuals with a non-medical background and preparing them to treat up to 80% of the diseases typically found in developing nations. Upon graduation, I will have the certification to be a “Community Health Worker” and run a clinic in an impoverished nation. One of last year's graduates is a young man in Papua New Guinea (PNG) who ran an aid station by himself for a couple of months, and another is in PNG leading a team to administer medication with a goal to eradicate a disease called “Lymphatic Filariasis” or “Elephantitis” as it's also referred. http://www.ehow.com/about_5340255_life-cycle-lymphatic-filariasis.html

This week  we had a speaker, Kathy Kennedy, who came from Perth, Australia and taught us about maternal/child health and nutrition. I loved hearing her passion come through her teaching and an emphasis on having to hear God for direction on emergency births (and just caring for patients in general) and what an opportunity to be with a scared, pregnant mom, provide comfort and pray for her and her baby.

Christina caring for sick chid in Baimaru, PNG

                                   

 Labor Ward in a well- run clinic in PNG

• I also had ample opportunity to reflect on what it must be like to be a woman in labor of a rural community riding on the front (or back) of a bicycle for hours to reach the nearest health clinic, with the significant possibility of dying in childbirth. I've never had a particular interest, let alone a passion for maternity (my hat's off to all you OB nurses out there!) However I had a few occasions this week where my eyes welled up with tears, first with empathy and compassion for what these women must go through; but also extremely humbled that any complaints I have is so utterly minor and irrelevant in comparison to how much of the non-western world lives.

Life In Australia

• Did I mention it's hot? It's been 93-100 F with 45% humidity. I was walking to the mall recently as the sun was beating down on me and thought “I wonder if this is what bacon feels like?” 

• 

  It's been great to connect with friends I made last year:
  Sarah (NZ), Angie (Canada) and Sven (Switzerland)

  
  
  Housing: I'm so blessed to be living in a flat with five other girls: Two Americans, my friend Angie the French-Canadian, a Brit and a gal from Northern Ireland. Sometimes we just look at each other due to the difference in lingo, as the Brit asked me recently if my room needed “hoovering?”(Vacuum)
• Proper Way: Name of the Pacific Islander dance group. Every Monday and Thursday a few of the staff who are Pacific Islanders teach Hawaiian basics and cultural dance to the students and staff who are interested. This is my first week, but I love wearing a lava lava (sarong) but it's not for the faint of the heart- it is a workout!

A special Thanks to the awesome crew at Spokane Allergy and Asthma for the donation of the glasses and the otoscopes!

The ship's office showing our appreciation

“Medical Ship's office, this is Christina speaking...”

I have the great privilege to serve in the Medical Ship's office for a few hours after classes Monday thru Friday. It's really fascinating to be on the “land” side of things of how the ship operates and what it takes to manage. I've been writing thank you notes for all the donations coming in, assisting with transport of glasses to the local Lions club for grading (to be ready for the ship). I've also been developing dental education that will be put into a flip chart for the ship to use in the villages. I hope to be able to do one in English, Tok Pisin (the national language of PNG) and Motu (one of the more common of the 700 languages spoken in PNG).

Calling all People:

Babies are a precious gift, but many
of them don't see their first birthday

The MV Pacific Link (YWAM medical ship) takes many dedicated people every year to leave port in Townsville and bring much needed healthcare to rural villages in Papua New Guinea. We're still looking for Doctors, Dentists and Dental Assistants, Physical Therapists, Midwives, and Optometrists. If you have any of these skills or you know someone who does and is interested in the adventure of a lifetime as well as making a difference check out the ship's website at www.ywamships.org. Or you can check it out if you're interested in seeing more of the ship's ministry to Papua New Guinea. :)

We leave for Outreach to PNG on April 15^th, and though I don't know exactly what we are going to be doing, I have a great anticipation of Papa God moving in exciting ways and changing people lives forever.

Christina with painting of PNG sunset

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and for all your prayers and encouragement for me to be here in Townsville, Australia. I am so grateful to have you walk with me on this journey. But also glad you don't have to share in the mosquito bites:)     Cheers,

                                                                      Christina 

Welcome to Australia!

Hello Friends!

Just wanted to send out an update to let you all know I arrived safely in Australia! :)

I flew out of Spokane, Wa at 6 am on Jan 17^th, and flew from Spokane to Seattle, Seattle to Toyko, then to Singapore and finally arrived in Perth at 1:15pm January 19th! Yayyy! I think that tops it off for my longest trip at 40+ hours. The only casualties in my bag were a bottle of hair cream that was smashed and exploded (Thank You God for ziplocs), and my camera that is currently Missing In Action.

Christina and Aunt Sue in Albany, W.A.

On my flight from Seattle to L.A., an announcement came over the intercom “Are there any medical personnel on board the flight?” A woman had passed out on her way to the bathroom and wasn't responding. When I stood up to offer help, the flight attendant was bringing a tank of oxygen to the back of the plane. The crew were awesome and very quick to respond. I made an assessment, took her blood pressure and elevated her legs as she was becoming more alert. I think it was related to low blood sugar since she was up all night packing and hadn't eaten anything. She ended up being fine, and Alaska gave me a voucher for $200 off my next flight with them! What a huge blessing! And seeing how God takes care of me.

I'm here visiting my Aunt Sue in Albany (Albany, not ALLbany), Western Australia, a few hours south of Perth. It's been delightful to spend time with her and her husband Geoff and my cousin Chris. I'll get to see my cousin Ben Thursday night, whom I haven't seen since they came to the States 18 years ago!!!

Painting acrylics on canvas.
Who knew color could be so complex?

My Aunt Sue is helping bring out my creative side since she's incredibly talented and artistic. We're painting acrylics on canvas, and I'm painting a sunset on a beach of Nabua- paka, one of the villages we stayed in Papua New Guinea last summer. I've also been experimenting in the kitchen, making homemade bread with Geoff and helping with dinner. Sue is sending me with some recipes I can make in Townsville, that are already listed in kilo's and celsius, so I don't have to convert them. We're also going to make haloumi 

cheese, and crepes with quark...

what an adventure! :)

 

Christina with cousin Chris

Chris, Sue and Geoff have been teaching me some new vernacular I would love to introduce to you:

 To “send him up” is to make fun of someone or a parody of something, while “cheers” and “ta” are both words for thank you. 

A “jumper” is a pull over sweatshirt and I learned last night that what we call a “hoodie” over here is a “sloppy joe.” 

That one definitely threw me for a loop- I guess they don't have the famous cafeteria sandwiches. 

Sunset taken on Mt. Melville

I'm also grateful to be here in Albany right now as there is a cyclone farther north in Western Australia and Townsville (where I'm heading) so hopefully it will be gone by the time I arrive on Saturday.

Hope all of you are doing well :) Thank you for the love and encouragement you've given to help me get me to Australia and this continuing journey. 

Cheers from Australia,

Christina  :)

15 days and counting...

Hi  Everyone!
Happy New Year!

Thank you to all of you who have made donations, one time or monthly support.. I am so grateful for your help and encouragement, I continue to be amazed at God's faithfulness!

Good news! My visa has come through, my plane ticket is booked and I leave for Australia in a little bit over 2 weeks! I will leave for Australia on January 17th to spend a week with my Aunt who lives on the western side of Australia, then board a plane for Townsville, where I will be living for the next 2 and 1/2 years.

 On January 27th, 2013 I will start the Introduction to Primary Health Care (IPHC) school where I will be in training to diagnose and treat 80% of the diseases generally found in a developing nation. I'll be attending this school in Australia until we leave for outreach,( in March I believe) to Papua New Guinea for 9 weeks. I recently found out that we will be traveling by boat (dinghy), riding public transport or PMV's (the back of a truck) and living in villages, which certainly means it will be an adventure!

I feel so privileged to have this incredible opportunity to experience different cultures, expand on my nursing skills, but most important, bring hope to those who need to hear about the saving power of Jesus Christ.

I'll be updating my blog/emails regularly once I get to Australia, so stay tuned! :)

For those of you who have been asking for my address, here it is:

Christina Peterson
PO Box 6221
Townsville, QLD 4810 Australia

I would be absolutely delighted to hear from you! I think it costs $1.08 to send a letter and takes approximately 10 days to arrive :)

Christina with Colleen and daughter at farewell dinner in Aroma village

I'm so thankful to have all of you come along on this incredibly journey! You are a vital part- I cannot do what I do without the love and support of family and friends.  Thank you!

God bless,
Christina

2012 recap video

Hi Everyone!

 A quick update with some new information on donations:
 To make donations online that are tax-deductible please go to www.fathershand.net  and you can pay through the donate button (credit, debit, paypal) on the website. In order to specify that the funds go to me, please email Neil Gamble at ngamble07@yahoo.com to let him know you made a deposit for me ("Christina' s Missions" or "Papua New Guinea")  and that will be transferred to my account. :)
Thank you so much for your patience as I'm learning in this whole process :)

Also, just wanted to share with you this video of the 2012 recap for the ship. It helps explain the mission and heart of the ship.There are some startling statistics about the conditions in Papua New Guinea and how many people the ship has been able to help ( which I get to be a part of!)   Click on the link below to watch. Enjoy! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4lOqwRT9ME

Many Thanks,
God bless,
Christina

Update on donation info: the nitty gritty of dollars and cents

Good afternoon Everyone!

 Thank you so much to all of you who came on Saturday to hear and see a wee bit of Papua New Guinea! I was so honored to share my story with you and show you the videos. I had so much fun, and it gets me excited and refuels my passion for what I'm going to be doing when I go back. :)

Christina speaking to primary school, 300 + students

Thank you to those who have been praying for me and asking how I'm doing: I'm happy and grateful to report that I have a job!!!!! It's been such a blessing to be at Riverview Care Center in Spokane, working on-call. Not only do I get paid (yay!!!! saving money for Australia and Papua New Guinea) but I get to brush up on my nursing skills and be a blessing to the residents there!!!

Lack of education leaves many people believing
 "magic" is the cause of  sickness and disease. This poster
explains "TB is not caused by sorcery, but by contagious germs."

Even though I'm working, I am still raising support to go (as a full time volunteer) to Australia and Papua New Guinea for two and a half years. Many of you have been asking me how to do that and I wanted to give you an update on the latest info I have.

 All of you who are reading this are a vital part of this great adventure. Finances are a part of me returning to Australia and Papua New Guinea but so is prayer and words of encouragement; You may not realize it but even the smallest things such as following my blog is so uplifting to me. So I thank you for any way that you are able to journey with me.

Christina with happy PNG baby and mom, being seen for well child check and immunizations.

 I am so grateful for all of you who are supporting me and you who have been incredibly kind and generous with your finances and donating to the mission I am embarking on. You are not only supporting me, but you are helping to change a nation by bringing much needed health care and hope to those in desperate need.

 Poverty is devastating to those who experience it,  but we want to bring hope
as our ship motto comes from John 10:10 "I WANT TO LIVE"

 Currently, because I will be based in Townsville, Australia, what is donated through YWAM is not tax- deductible. For tax-deductible donations, please write a check to "Father's Hand Ministries" and leave the subject line blank (VERY IMPORTANT- DON'T PUT MY NAME IN THE SUBJECT LINE) but attach a post-it or note that says "for Christina" and it will be transferred to me. Then please mail it to:

 Father's Hand Ministries
 4620 A Bellstar RD
Clayton, WA 99110

 If you don't need the tax credit, and/or would like to support me monthly, I have direct deposit, or you can make an online donation directly at www.ywamrto.org/payment


I'll keep you updated as I find out more!
 Have a blessed week!
 Until next time,
Christina :)

Hear and See a wee bit of Papua New Guinea!

Hey Everyone!!!

 I would love to take you on a journey to Australia & Papua New Guinea...

You won't need a plane ticket or sunscreen....

But join me on October 27, 2012 at the 

Spokane Valley Library 2pm-2:45pm

I'll be sharing videos and stories of my exciting adventures abroad, as a nurse working on a medical ship. 

Would love to see you there!

12004 East Main Ave

 Spokane Valley, WA 99206

Questions? Call Christina 370-0623 

or email christyp20@gmail.com