Kumu

Please don’t read this if you have a weak stomach. But I have to tell this story.
So here in PNG we a staple food is called Kumu (Koo Moo). Its basically a green leafy vegetable that is sort of like spinach but 10times better tasting. Its so good!!
In Madang I could buy it for cheap at market, but here in Moresby (a big city) its very expensive and it never looks good.
So yesterday I went to THE supermarket, its the best one in Moresby. And they had this amazing Kumu for sale, very cheap. I got super excited and bought a bunch of it. It looked beautiful and my mouth was watering the whole way home just waiting to eat the kumu.
When I walked in the door I shouted, “Paul I got kumu.” He got so excited and rushed into the kitchen and we immediately began cutting off the stems licking our lips like little children in a candy store. Seriously, you have to try this stuff.
We cut off the stems we noticed a little cockroach, crawling out of the leafy greens. I screamed (like I always do when I see them) and Paul killed it. No big deal.
As I started washing the greens 3 more cockroaches crawled out (3/4 of an inch) not big in PNG standards, but still big enough to make me cringe.  When I began to boil the kumo 3 more large cockroaches floated to the top, along with several other strange bugs. It was like they were having a convention.
I continued to boil the kumo but my stomach turned every time I stirred the pot. All I could do was picture the many carcasses of those disgusting insects. In total we killed 8, all varying in size.
Paul and I both agreed that we couldn’t eat the kumo. There are many things we have to overcome on the mission field. Many times we eat things with a big gulp. But I just can’t eat a cockroach, in my own kitchen.

New Page

One day I got really sad because I realized that my friends and family in the states would NEVER meet some of the people who have IMPACTED me so much here.
So I’ve started a “page” called Stories from PNG. This is my first one. Its sort of long, with more pictures, some of which you’ve seen. But this story of Nana a 4square Pastor’s wife who really impacted me over this last year.

I love her, she is amazing, and I wanted all of you to meet her. ENJOY THE READ. (Go to top and click on “Stories from PNG”)

Rainy Day

Its the rainy season in PNG. Today as we were driving home from the grocery store I saw something I’ve never seen before.
The “freeway” (2 lanes paved, only one in PNG) we take goes down this gigantic mountain side. I shrieked when I saw several people laying in the gutters. Since it was pouring rain and the mountain is so steep they were BATHING (with bar of soap) in the gutter. Cars, trucks and buses, fly down this hillside where these people are happily bathing. It is extremely dangerous but for many of them the only way to wash.
Moresby has so many settlement people here and there is no pluming for them in the settlements. So this was a great bath.
I love it here, but my heart daily breaks for the extreme poverty in this country.