Apr-Jul: I'll be in the South Pacific.
Team arrives in PNG
We arrived safely in PNG after safe and smooth (but exhausting) travel. All flights were on time, and we had very few hitches along the way. We flew out of Los Angeles on Thursday evening, June 2, and somewhere in the night we crossed the International Date Line. When we landed in New Zealand 12 hours and 6000 miles later, it was 5 a.m. on Saturday, June 4. From there, we had three more flights before we finally landed in Madang, PNG, shortly before 5 p.m. local time.
Our first destination was an SIL training facility near the city of Madang on PNG’s north coast. The camp is located on top of an old volcano, and the ride up from the coast is very rough and bumpy. We have breathtaking views of mountains, canyons, and the coast and sea in the distance.
Sunrise over the Bismarck Sea.
Banana trees and coconut fronds screen distant mountains.
The vegetation is lush and colorful, and we have a continuous supply of bananas, papayas, pineapples, and other fruits from the local gardens.
Orange-flowering trees grow on the canyon’s steep sides, and Madang town lies far in the distance on the coastal plain.
A papaya tree and other food crops grow in this steep Papua New Guinean garden.
Birds, bats, butterflies, moths, and mosquitos are diverse and abundant. The buildings are all relatively open (because they are not air-conditioned), so we share them with crickets, moths, and chirping geckos.
I’m sure this beetle was friendlier than it looked. Er, at least, I hope so.
I found this butterfly on an afternoon walk.
We sleep under mosquito nets at night, and there are always various creatures in the showers with us — but hey, at least we have showers. We’ve also had two chances to swim and snorkel in coral reef areas, which has been amazing.
We are about one week into a two-week introductory and training program. Each morning, we have lessons in Tok Pisin, the trade language used in PNG. After a lecture time, we break up into smaller groups to spend time with national teachers. My teacher’s name is Dimad, and tomorrow we are going to his house for morning tea.
Dimad with Brendon, Emily, and Sara.
The language learning is going fairly well, considering we’ve been at it for all of five days. The vocabulary is 60-70% English in origin, and the grammar and morphology are fairly simple. That said, it’s still difficult and frustrating trying to communicate with people when I can’t understand them and can’t say much to them. In the afternoons, we have practical skill-building sessions like hiking, kerosene stove operation, market shopping, etc.
So far, we have been blessed with good health and safety overall. We’re all taking our malaria medicine, and though several people have fallen on the slippery mud trails, there haven’t been any injuries. I’ve felt fine most of the time and have had minimal trouble with allergies. (Praise the Lord!)
The team navigates a slippery downhill trail.
Please pray that I will learn quickly as we continue our training. As I mentioned above, the language barrier is frustrating; I alternate between hope and despair. Once the formal lessons are over, we’ll still need to continue learning the language so we can communicate for the rest of our stay here. And my actual work assignments haven’t even started yet, so there are more learning curves ahead for sure.
Anna works on her pidgin homework.
Please pray that all of us will continue to be protected in body and in spirit. A couple of the team members have chronic illnesses that could be problematic, and there are unfamiliar dangers in this country.
Please pray for continued personal and interpersonal growth and development. We are diverse bunch, and we can’t let the little frictions and differences distract us from what we’re here to do. Also, it’s easy — even here — to give into selfishness and fears. Please pray for empowerment and focus for me and for all of the other team members.
categories papua new guinea
Comments
Comment from Lynn
Time: June 11, 2005, 8:41 am
Apinun!
Watch out for the volcano.
God be with you all.
Comment from aduma
Time: June 19, 2005, 11:12 pm
We just watched a video that bubbles parents have of bubbles when he is 6, and it shows the area you apparently are. It seems like a really beautiful place, although a good bit backwards. I am sure you will enjoy it though, and i heartily look forward to hearing stories when you return. Miss you bud.
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