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.