A Time for Goodbyes

                                                            9-29-2010

After two exhausting days in the clinic it is time to start the long return trip home. Packing up is bittersweet. I am ready to go home, but sad to leave knowing it will be my last trip to Hauna. Walking away from the clinic one last time , I glance back over my shoulder for one last teary eyed look. How many thousands of people have come through those doors since 1999? Hopefully every person has seen the love of Jesus in us.  Close to 1000 people came through the clinic doors this year. Many eye surgeries and general surgeries were done. I performed close to 300 lab tests which includes drawing the blood, processing and doing the tests.

As we loaded up the canoes with our gear, we said teary goodbyes with hugs and handshakes. We pulled away from the bank of the river with arms waving.

I forgot to mention earlier that one of Shirley’s former house workers named Danny died while in Lae receiving treatment for a lung ailment. They will be flying his body back to the village today on an  MAF airplane due to arrive shortly after we leave. The mourning family waited at the airstrip wailing and crying. Several men dressed in white shirts, red ties and black slacks were to serve as “pall bearers” for Danny’s body.

Flying over the jungle one last time, I took in the serene beauty. Had my father who served here in WWII seen the same jungle, had he appreciated the beauty and majesty of God’s handiwork as I had? Our descent into Wewak on the shores of the Bismarck Sea is a breathtaking sight. Swirls of green, turquoise and blue interrupted by breaking waves. We say goodbye to Gail Dooley RN (my Hauna roommate) as she will head back up to the Highlands to Kudjip Nazarene Hospital Station. She was a huge help to the team with triaging, OR and outpatient. Knowing Pidgin was a huge help as well.

Back at the SIL Guesthouse in Wewak and dinner again at the Wewak Boutique Restaurant. Louis invited Zech and Priscilla, Reggie and Susan and 2 couples from the SIL Guesthouse along.  After many hugs I said goodbye to Priscilla, she hopes her and Zech and the kids can come to the USA in the next few years. What a wonderous notion knowing I will see my New Guinea friends again - on the other side :)

Long day of flying tomorrow