Infant Malaria Ward August 13, 2008

Sorry my posts are a bit backwards.  Read my first post about the hospital outreach if you are confused.  This is the infant malaria ward that first came out to eat at our outreach.  Almost 20 mothers with their babies that all have malaria.  Once again the hospital doesn’t give them food or drink so they must find it on their own.  So sad.  They were all so grateful. We got to pray with many of them to recieve Jesus.  The whole time we fed them I kept thinking of the song, “Jesus loves the little children.” 

More hospital pictures August 13, 2008

This is Miso praying for a mother who’s son is dying from TB.  Miso is one of our student leaders at church and has such a beautiful passion for Jesus.  The woman (Rose) was one that touched us all.  She has 3 children and her eldest son, Andrew ( 5 years old, in her arms) is dying.  Her and her husband traveled 6 hours to stay at the hospital till there son dies.  While I talked with her (I got to pray for Andrew too) she was holding her dying son while her 3 year old played all over her sholders and her husband held their 5 month old.  It was beyond heartbreaking.  We know and believe that God is bigger than TB.  Children in PNG do not get TB shots, they are simply too expensive.

Hospital Outreach July 31, 2008

This last Sunday I felt like I got a taste of the compassion God has for His people.  Our church does a regular outreach at the Madang hospital.  We bring food and juice and the worship team and feed the people in the hospital.

The hospital is everything you think a third world hospital could be.  They don’t (can’t afford) feed their patients or give them anything to drink.  Often times they don’t have simple medication or blood so people are left to die, without simple everyday medicine and food that our hospitals in America have in plently.

My heart broke and I started to cry when one of our youth went into the malaria ward and brought out all the mothers and their baby’s that have malaria.  I got to pray and talk with many of them.  You’ll see more pics soon but I just got this one and thought I would post it.  The mother’s name is Judy with her baby girl who has malaria and they have been being treated here for 2 weeks. 

The unknown ward really broke my heart.  One boy that I prayed with and brought food to is slowly dying of an unknown disease.  He says his family was cursed by the local witch doctor.  He is 18 years old and looks like he’s 10.  He has lost so much weight he is only bones.  His fingers and toes have turned black and are shriveling up and so the dr.’s have started cutting them off.

My friend (and translator) Benita and I prayed and talked with him and his family.  We told him our God is bigger than any witch dr.  I really believe God is going to heal him and make it a testimony.  Benita and I went back 2 days ago and He looked allot better in his face.  Happy, joyful.  Excited to see the “white skin meri” he said.  I brought him some biscuits and we prayed again.  His name is Seth.  His family lives 4 hours away so his mother and sister sleep on the hospital floor and take care of him. 

I got to pray for a man named Raphael.  An older gentleman that had fallen from a coconut tree and broken his arm.  He goes to a foursquare church in a village about 7 hours south.  He has no one.  And no food or water.  I told him, Bikpela God em likiam yu (God loves you) and that we were here to show him His love.

This place breaks my heart, the children dying of TB, the AIDS patients, the hurt and broken that only get worse because they have no food or water.  I know I can only do so much, but I have trust and faith in my God who can do miricles and who loves every person.

28 years July 22, 2008

Hi friends and moms,

  So yesterday (actually today in USA) I celebrated my 28th Birthday.

I was sure I was going to wake up sad, you know missing friends and family.  Instead I was surprised to wake up excited with an unexplained joy.  Not because its my birthday, but because of where I was.  God has gone above and beyond all that I have asked for in my life.  Not to sound too cheesy but I was so blessed, humbled and grateful to God that on my birthday, I was here, in Papua New Guinea.  Doing what I know He’s designed for me to do. 

I love reading in my journal from a year ago, where I was, what I was praying about and such.  Seeing all my prayers answered and finally being here, where generation have gone before me and now I get to following in the footsteps, but also tred new ones of my own. 

There is a deep satisfaction that I feel here, not because I’m perfect (just look at my house or read my journal), not because its perfect here, believe me.  But because I know that I’m doing what I’m suppose to for His Glory.

Every year I ask God for something on my birthday, this year I asked Him for more of His Holy Spirit in my life.  I want to go deeper, stronger, and emptier (is that a word?) than I’ve ever been. 

Paul took me to 4 diffrent beaches for my birthday, it was so special to play with my boys, in this lush, rugged land.  I love it.

Thank you Jesus for a great Birthday! He is so faithful, His joy is my strength.

July 18, 2008

Its offical friends, my son is now Papua New Guinean.  Today him and his friends Pei Pie (left, Rhoda, and Junior) found a lizard.  Mason was out of his mind excited, as were all the kids.  They played outside with it for over half and hour, then I heard my son yell out, “Mama, I killed the lizard.” Truth be told it was an accident, they were all playing to rough with it.  They stood outside for over an hour taking turns throwing the dead lizard up in the air and catching it.  Then if that wasn’t enough, Mason came running in shouting, “they’re cooking the lizar.” Yep, his friend and him decided to cook the lizard over the open fire behind our apartment (open fires are everywhere here.) Just so you know mom, I didn’t let Mason eat it. 

July 18, 2008

 Sorry to all my faithful readers (my two moms) these pics and stories are going to be repeated on our family blog.  It will be talked abou in our next newsletter but I couldn’t wait.

Saturday our church and youth group here in Madang did an outreach to a settlement area close by.  Many of our church members live in this settlement area and so there was allot of excitement to show the community the love of God. 

   The outreach primarily to feed. I think the craziest thing here is for a church to feed 300 people in PNG it takes hours of hard work.  You can’t just go to the Costco and get bread or frozen chicken and put food together.  The woman here gather together early in the morning and will cook over an open fire for up to 8 hours to prepare.

     I had just received some packages of balloons (thanks Monica and mom) and I brought them all with me to the settlement.  I started blowing them up and handing them out to 3 or 4 kids.  Within a half our there were over 100 pikinini’s (children) with balloons.  These children have nothing some of them don’t have clothing, but them came out in force to get a balloon, eat and hear the music and testimonies. 

    This picture below is not a good picture but this young boy really tugged at my heart.  He was so hungry he just held his plate and shoveled the food inside his mouth.  He was obviously malnuritoused by looking at his face enflated stomach. He barley smiled and showed no sign of joy, but quickly ran up for second helping, then third.  I can hardly wait to go back to the settlement to feed him again.

 

Feeding the Hungry July 18, 2008

The day of the outreach, Paul and I decided to leave Ezra home with Wena (pregnant bible school student), and take Mason to the settlement outreach.  Since it was held in a field with all the church youth we felt it would be safe and good for Mason to help and see the need.  Mason had so much fun and made friends with almost every child (over 100).  He handed out balloons and helped me find kids who didn’t get one but were to shy.

    Now, like a good little missionary, I knew all the food we prepared was for the settlement people, so I made Mason a big dinner and brought along a sandwich, carrots and bottle water, so he wouldn’t want any food.  But when he saw all of his new friends eating and getting food he begged me for food like the kids were getting.  It was so funny, watching him stand in a huge line patiently waiting for his plate of rice and chicken.  All the youth laughed at him as they served him food with his friends.  Then he was so happy to sit and eat with all the other children. 

   I wasn’t surprised that he couldn’t finish his food, but my heart broke when I realized several children were staring at his half eaten plate.  All of them had finished eating their food and since they were still hungry asked me what if they could have the food Mason didn’t eat. 

   In August we are going back to the settlement for another feeding outreach, Mason and I can’t wait!!

 

Kids eating in Settlement July 18, 2008

Mason and I had so much fun sitting with the settlement children while they ate their food.  Most of these children were, if at all barely dressed.  They were so excited to eat and even more excited to talk with a “white skin meri”.  Its amazing to me how many people here have never spoken to a white person before, let alone a woman and her child.  Mason and I played and talked and shared Mason’s carrots and sandwich with them.  The whole time we were at the outreach I kept remembering that scripture when Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me?”, Peter answers, “yes” and Jesus says, “then feed/love my sheep”.  I kept thinking how much Jesus loves these people and these children.

 

Land of the unexpected June 26, 2008

No pics today, but had to tell some great PNG stories. 

George Butron, a former missionary to PNG told us that he calls PNG “cowboy town” or the wild west.  You just never know what you will see. 

Here’s an illistration:  Going to the bank is usually about a half hour event.  ATM’s are new here so there is usually a line of 20 people or so (who stare at the funny white skin people).  Yesterday we went to the bank and the line was long so me and Mase and Ezra waited in the car while Paul stood in line then wait inside.  There are 2 guards that stand in line with bush knives to protect the people.  As I sat in the car I “Guard Dog Security” truck pulled up next to mine (double parking) and 6 guards with M-16 machine guns got out and surrounded my car.  Mason thought it was cool but I was scared until I realized they were picking up a deposit from the bank. They have to have machine guns because often times they get shot and robbed while picking up a deposit from the bank.  Just another day in PNG. 

June 16, 2008

 

I wanted to thank all of you who prayed for Mason and our family while Mason had malaria.  We’ve only been here 4 months but it feels like I’ve grown up allot with all the different things we’ve been through.  Living on the other side of the world away from home, family, friends, TARGET, I’ve had to ask myself what I put my trust in.  What brings me comfort.  My greatest fear was that one of my kids would get malaria.  In the states I worried and prayed about this terrible disease, but since we have had to face it, I’ve found great grace and peace and protection in my heavenly father.  I tend to worry (especially about my kids) but the thing I’ve learnt is that even during the toughest storms, my God is with me.  That’s enough. My El Shaddai who loves us, is right here.  During the strange battle with the fever and pain Mason had , I was surprise at the joy, the great peace that God gave us. 

  My favorite author Elizabeth Ellitot wrote: “you can’t forecast grace.”  Its easy to think the worst, but that’s not trusting that our BIKPELA PAPA GOD is with us.

   This picture of Mason was taken the day after his fever broke and he started eating again.  As you can see he looks tired and weak, but we took him to the ocean (his favorite place) and watched the waves crash against the shore.  It was such a beautiful afternoon together, like a hug from God who brought us through to the other side, safely, like He said He would.