CALLED to Papua New Guinea

Kudjip Sunrise: (by Dr Bill McCoy in " Until We All Have Names ") "Sunrise over the Waghi Valley was announced by the shrill wake-up call from a chorus of male cicadas. A brief pause ensued, then another cacophony, as flocks of rainbow lorikeets migrated through the massive eucalyptus trees of Kudjip Station. Wagtails and honeyeaters followed with more amiable tunes of their own. Low clouds and shifting morning light adorned the magnificent mountains behind Nazarene Hospital." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ My gracious mentors here at Kudjip Hospital have given me a week of shadowing the experienced doctors in clinic before I start on my own next week. On my very first day, while seeing patients with the legendary Dr Bill McCoy (wrote the above quote), I met a young man named Kenneth. He was about my age, a student at the local Bible College, a faithful husband, father of 2 little ones, and his bright smile and firm handshake caused me to wonder why he had p...

Our first Sunday on Station, we were invited to join our mentors, the Myers, at our Station church located adjacent to the front gate. Well, that WAS the plan until our Saturday night dinner hosts, Jordan and Rachel Thompson, invited us to join them at a "Bus Lotu" (Bush Church), where Rachel Thompson had been invited to speak. Always looking for the most exciting opportunities, we notified the Myers of our plans to abandon home base for a trek into the wilderness. The next morning, we took a small road winding up the mountain from back of Station, the Land Cruiser tearing up packed clay riddled with potholes and rivulets where streaming rainwater had run amuck. While we were still on level ground, I was curious as to why an old lady was loping along the road ahead of us decked out in her Sunday best. I then noticed the cluster of deep puddles ahead, and felt sorry to have scared the poor old dame into the bushes as she fled the risk of a mud bath. We did our best at a ...

What follows are my journal notes from when we first came to Kudjip. For those of you who have been following, I wanted to provide you my initial impressions of the area and Station, before diving into the many stories which have already accumulated during my first week working in the hospital. Thank you all for reading/following, for all your encouragement, and for your prayers - which we dearly appreciate.  We have arrived at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, our residence and place of service for the next year. At over 4’000 feet elevation, the air is cool, crisp and clean - cut through by intense rays of the equator sun. Burning brighter still is the Lord’s Love shining through His servants, the staff of Kudjip Station, who have rolled out the red carpet of hospitality. Our welcoming team, and mentors for the year, are Jeff and Susan Myers, who have served as Nazarene missionaries at Kudjip Hospital for many years. Throughout the bustle of getting us settled, we have truly...

Meeting God in the Highlands (PART 5 - Final) I think it's safe to say that when you begin dreaming in the language you are studying, your studies are paying off well. I can't recall with whom I was arguing, or what about, but I clearly remember speaking long sentences quite fluently to make my points. Rachel, slightly irritated at the memory, tells me she heard most of it. :-) After our morning studies, a neighborhood friend, Jeffrey, brought us some "Switfrut" to try. He demonstrated with his own fruit how to crack open the hard rind to find the sweet seeds inside. Imagine clusters of miniature grapes that closely resemble frog eggs in size and texture, each with sweet clear jelly coating a large seed. I think Rachel and I both completed the task of "enjoying" this treat out of courtesy to Jeffrey who watched with eager anticipation. With sticky sweetness on my fingers, I was then approached by a butterfly. I think anyone else would have run...

Meeting God in the Highlands (PART 4) After another delicious egg and ham breakfast, I was sitting on the porch, working on my second cup of coffee, when men carrying large white bags began dumping them in front of the house. Other men would then carry them another 150 yards up to the airstrip to the plane loading area. In conversation with one of the men, I learned these were 50kg (just over 110 pound) bags of coffee beans, to be picked up and flown back to Mount Hagen later in the afternoon. I didn't want to intrude, or assist in a way that would embarrass them, but one young man was struggling a bit with his load, so I offered to lend a hand. Shouldering the heavy bag without too much difficulty, I followed the same uphill track to the loading area...legs and lungs burning by the time I dumped the bag. A crowd had gathered atop the hill adjacent to the airstrip, and I received a little cheer. Well, thought I, couldn't hurt to help these guys out and maybe earn a little...

Meeting God in the Highlands (PART 3) (Written on Sunday, 9/14/14, while on Cultural Retreat in Dusin, PNG) We awoke early, listening, knowing we must not miss the chime of third bell. It's Sunday here, and church is announced to the entire valley from a truck wheel gong which hangs at White Stone. Pastor Thompson, or perhaps one of his boys, first rang the bell at about 0730, while we enjoyed coffee over our devotional. Throughout this time of waiting for "Lotu" (church) to begin, we were treated to pleasant melodies from someone practicing guitar. Second bell was at 0900, followed shortly by third bell around 0940, and so we made our way to Lotu, down the hard clay path which lies adjacent to the airstrip.  The Church "Bell" at White Stone We separated once inside the long low church building, Rachel to the women's benches on the left, and I to the right, to sit with Pastor Thompson. He informed me we would see even more people come, the l...

Meeting God in the Highlands (PART 2) I a woke to steady drizzle, birds singing, locals chatting out back, Rachel tinkering in kitchen with coffee fixings. Throwing off the blankets, I quickly appreciated mountain cool that had settled into the 50-60's overnight. I bundled up and donned warm slippers, but caught myself wishing for a beanie - no worries, my hoodie will do. We enjoyed a hearty bacon and egg breakfast, and then retired to the porch for our morning devotional. As we read aloud,  two tiny girls sat at our feet listening, not understanding, but respectfully studying our voices and mannerisms, occasionally teasing one another and playing - but always silently. As the Love of God spoke to us through that devotional, I knew He was with us, and so whether they understood or not, I prayed for those precious souls at our feet to receive the same Love.  The porch seems to be the best way to attract attention - the house sits on the air strip, which most use as an ...