Baptism on the River Sepik

                                                                                Sept 26

The past few days we have had some rain and the temps have been cooler due to the cloud cover. We still need more rain before we leave on Wednesday morning. Today is the Sabbath and we rest save for the docs making a check on post op patients and one sick little 3 week old baby. All were doing well. Doyce told me it is my turn to this year to deliver a baby. There was one woman that came here at term, but she delivered twins in the middle of the night via midwife, so I missed that chance. There is one more expectant mom waiting in the wings, perhaps I will have a shot at it after all.

I have had fun giving out gifts and candy to people. They have so little here that they are grateful for anything you give them. How much I wish everyone could see how the poorest of poor really live. Putting things into perspective they are happy, because really they don/t know any other life. It is just sad for me to see barefoot  kids dressed in dirty ragged clothes with swollen bellies knowing how ungrateful kids are in the USA.

Today was worship at the church complete with performances by the three youth choirs.  A Baptism of six young adults followed the service. Two by two they waded into the mighty Sepik  to publically show their commitment to Christ. I was told that in the village the unbelievers make fun of those proclaiming Christ through baptism, so for these six it was also an act of courage. Baptisms always bring tears to my eyes and a smile to my face no matter where I attend them. Christ’s love shining down on a tiny remote village on the other side of the world- Indeed our God is Omnipresnt.

Sunday means we are to eat a village meal at Balthazar’s house. Fish, pumpkin , sego, rice, greens and coconut milk. Sitting on the front porch of the hut watching the water ripple by as we partake with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Although physically it is a hard life, they do not have the daily stress we have.  Sunday evening we watched the movie “Saraha” while munching on popcorn.

Two more days working in the clinic , then starts the long trek home.

First Three Days in Paradise

                                                                9-24-2010

As expected the first day was chaos. I was so busy I didn’t really have time to catch my breath until it was time to head back at the end of the day. This is the first time since the very first year I am working in the lab by myself.  I was much younger then. Having to draw the blood, process, run the tests, result and then return the patient back to the doctor is exhausting.  It seems like every time I would finish a batch another round was waiting outside my door. I am thankful I can be here to help, these people have nothing and many have travelled a very long way to come here.

Second and third days were carbon copies of the first. It still has not rained. The river is so low that some people from other villages cannot get home.   Our water tanks are also low – we are conserving as best as we can. What we take for granted at home – just turn on the faucet and water comes out.

We are all getting a bit nervous about the river drying up and us not being able to get to the airstrip on Wednesday morning – it really needs to rain.

Welcome to the Jungle

                                                                9-21-2010

Two days have passed since we have arrived. The plane ride over from Moresby was awful. The lukewarm air trickled out of the air vent and of course I was sitting next to the window where the sun was beating down on me. Upon our arrival at Wewak we were met by Zech, Priscilla Abby, Reggie and Susan.  It was so great to see them.  Reggie and Susan helped us the very first trip to New Guinea in 1999. They were our true life line that year.

After a very nice dinner of huge prawns, rice and veggies (and me almost falling asleep in my chair) it was definitely time to call it a night. We did stop for cold drinks on the way back and Louis got pick pocketed about 70 kina- could have been worse, I suppose.

Up early with breakfast in our flat at the SIL guesthouse. This is the last warm shower and comfy bed for a week. The guesthouse flats are very comfortable each with 3 small bedrooms, kitchen, living room and bath. I remember one year  three of us ladies having to share a flat with Bob the Wycliff translator ..hahaha  that was interesting.

Amazingly enough the MAF plane was already at the airstrip when we got there and had what they could fit of our baggage on the aircraft. So off we went the first half of the team on to Hauna.

It green lushness of the jungle is so beautiful resembling a velvet carpet from the air. I see where the last dusty road ends and the river begins- the river becomes the road. Tiny villages appear and vanish as we make our way inland. As we start our descent, the Hauna airstrip comes into view, a tiny grass landing alley situated on a small peninsula.  The plane unloads and makes its way back to  Wewak to fetch the other half of the team.  After a 30 min canoe ride, we are welcomed into the village by Shirley, Tom and many familiar faces.  It seems almost  surrealistic to be back here amid the grass hut houses on stilts. The river is very low- the lowest I have ever seen it. Rain would be a welcome friend.

After a quick lunch , it is off to the clinic to start unpacking. Cleaning out cupboards of expired stock, disinfecting counters and unpacking stored boxes of equipment. I quickly realize that the one better microscope is not working. I have to pull out the old scope and switch out various parts to render one working one. All cleaned up , it worked just fine. The blood analyzer also needed work , so I did some cleaning and maintenance on that as well. Nothing lasts too long in this climate and I am sure am thankful for my little window air conditioner J

                        

Almost There

We are now just two flights away from our final destination. The clock here says 7:15 am but my body says its 4:15 pm the day before. It was no small miracle that all of our 33 checked bags made it and all intact. The only casualty was my small personal fan which can hopefully be fixed with a little super glue.

Port Moresby is an interesting place. It has been pegged as one of the most dangerous cities in the world. I think it is in close running with Kinshasa, DRC. As we exit the airport doors the heat along with the unasked help with our bags  hits us full force.  The one thing that I always notice is how different it smells here. The mixture of burning fires, diesel fuel and different foods makes for an rather pungent odor. Dinner last night was at a Chinese restaurant not far from this guest house. American pop music including Lady Gaga played in the background.  

We leave today for Wewak and one more overnight then onto Hauna – we are almost there.

God goes before me

 When I checked in at O Hare with my three overweight checked bags I was expecting to pay. When I got up to he counter I was told my third bag's fee was waived. As I plopped each bag onto the scale they all read over the 50 pound limit. I explained to the agent that I was part of a much larger team traveling to New Guinea on a humanitarian medical mission trip. The three bags contained supplies, equipment and food - all of my clothes were in my carry on. She was sympathetic and waved me through. God goes before me was all I could think of. At the gate I encountered a young mom and her 3 yr old son traveling to California to visit family. I come to find out she lives not far from me and has completed medical school and applying for residency. We chatted until we boarded and said goodbye.
Upon my arrival at LAX, I was greeted by some of my team members that had already arrived by a wheelchair and black balloons! I graciously sat surrounded by the ebony orbs as I was escorted to my seat. Gotta love these guys or else I would have their heads.
We walked into Burger King and I see the young mom and her son I met at O Hare. We chatted more, introduced them to some of the team and we ended up exchanging contact information. God goes before me..

T minus 5

Ok so I really need to get serious about packing stuff and organizing my house before I leave. Everyday this week I have something on my calendar.  I think I need a personal assistant.

One week to go

As I sit here in a hospital room in Lafayette Indiana where my daughter is recovering from an emergency appendectomy, I have plenty of time to reflect on past mission trips and my semi procrastinastion of preparing for this one. All this tied into the fact that I turn 50 in a few days. It is hard to believe that 11 yeas ago I was embarking on my first journey to the remote jungle village named Hauna in the interior of Papua New Guinea. It seems like yesterday and a eons ago at the same time. Children are now grown up and my experineces have grown me as well.  I've traveled to two additional continents and encounetered wonderful people, strange looking creatures and ate food I am still not entirely sure about.
I am blessed to have been able to use the gifts God has given to me for His glory. Its amazing to me that no matter what I put into all the trips, I get back so much more.
So when I do get back home from taking care of my daughter, I have to finish packing up and getting the house in order - how I wish I could just snap my fingers and just be done with it.