“I’m dreaming of a green Christmas….”

“I’m dreaming of a green Christmas….” 

“Baby, it’s HOT outside…(like 90 degrees)”

“Silent Day, Holy Day.  All is calm, all is VERY Bright.”  (It wasn’t silent at night, but the day truly was!)

How many other familiar Christmas songs can I change?!  Just like the songs, this Christmas was a different experience for me, many things were similar to Christmases past, but a few elements were different. 

I started celebrating Christmas with the students the week before American Thanksgiving—big no, no before this year.

The Christmas tree I made was from bamboo, and I have a few others made from magazines, and yarn and twine.  Big change from those who know I usually decorate 8 imitation evergreens of various sizes! 

A wood burnt PNG nativity set replaced of my Willow Tree one. 

Skyping with my family and Facebook videos replaced having four family Christmas get-togethers.   

Floral print and sailor outfits were the attire for our Missionary Christmas party with its Dinner Cruise theme. 

Santa is called Father Christmas, and once he was Melanesian.  I received some goodies from fellow missionaries here, and an electric toothbrush from my dental hygienist sister to help clean them all away. 

Zuppa Toscana soup; the soup my mom usually makes for us, was made with pumpkin tops instead of Kale, and I made the sausage, and it was just about as good! 

Christmas Eve we had a campfire and roasted marshmallows and made s’mores while sharing favorite Christmas memories.  It kind of felt like Christmas in July, but was a nice addition to the Christmas celebration here. 

The Meyers family had a Christmas Eve Eve party and I saw more snowmen than I will ever see in PNG any other way! 

I had a wonderful Christmas dinner with the Goossens and the Thompsons families and enjoyed the break from my otherwise wonderfully silent day at home. 

I received so much joy from giving this year—whether it was a Swedish tea ring to many friends, sugar cookies to the maintenance men, security guards, neighbor children and the asparagus man, or a remote control Drone ,purchased on Amazon, to my nephew; it was truly fun to give what I could this year. 

One thing remains the same, wherever you are.  Jesus is the reason for this season.  He comes to us wherever we are, and in whatever condition.  He is the ultimate gift and receiving him is better than any other gift we can get. 

I hope you enjoyed your Christmas season as much as I enjoyed it here, where our ‘Evergreens’ are all trees, poinsettias grow year round, and tinsel is the main decoration in stores and the churches.

Merry Christmas and God Bless your New Year! 

 

By the Grace of God...

I feel the need to catch some of you up on my last month.  November 2014 will be one that is hard for me to forget, not because of so much what I have done or what the students are doing as in past months, but because of the lack of what I have done.

 I severely sprained my ankle on October 28^th, the day before my birthday.  And, it wasn’t doing anything fun, or exciting, it was just taking the shortcut through my backyard and garden back to the hospital after a quick lunch!  Yes, falling down in your backyard and having seven or more of your neighbors witness it does make for a good story, but I really don’t feel like laughing too much yet, because I am STILL dealing with the result of that little trip.  This ankle of mine has been sprained a few (well, seven) other times from soccer injuries, Army obstacle courses and a few mishaps while hiking and I probably should have done better rehab after those prior evens.  Lesson learned the hard way, again. 

So I took it easy for a few days, and did what I was supposed to do.  I rested, Iced, wore an ace bandage, I elevated, I took ibuprofen.  I talked to the doc, did my best to follow the advice, hoping to be back on the ward with the students in just a day or two.  I graded papers, mine and other teachers.  I read, I crocheted, I prayed, I watched a few movies.  I got tired of all of the above, yes, even praying. 

I had a few meals that others brought over, and then I ran out of my frozen leftovers and was sick of them anyway.  I spent some time standing baking in the kitchen and made a few new casseroles, and then suffered the consequences of swelling in my leg and continued pain.  But at least I had some food, and I used up a few hours of my day not doing the things above.  (Other than the praying, I really didn’t give that up for long.)  I took it easy for another few days, wishing for the ease of take-out meals and frozen US dinners (heathy or not!)  By that next Monday, I was doing somewhat better it seemed and I was ready to try going back to the hospital and supervising the students on the ward.  By 11:00 am, after being on my feet since 7:00, I knew I needed some more rest and elevation, and my new almost constant companion, the ice pack.  I did that all afternoon and again felt a little better in the evening and tried it again the next day.  This pattern continued throughout the week.  By Thursday though, the swelling would no longer go down in the evening, and I was once again out of leftovers.  The evening cooking session of only 45 minutes had me in bed with my ice pack buddy again by 6:00 pm and I knew Friday on the ward with the students wasn’t going to happen. 

I called for help again at this point and was taken down to get x-rays Friday morning.  During my prayer time that morning before the x-rays, I prayed it would be broke, even though I knew when it happened I had done the exact same thing the other times it was sprained.

 Being broke would explain the continued almost constant pain and swelling and the long recovery time.   

Being broke would “justify” asking for help more often from friends who are all leading equally busy lives, and most of whom have lots more than one mouth to feed and care for. 

Being broke would warrant staying home from work that I am called to do, want to be doing, and hate missing, and that others are supporting me with monetary donations in order to be able to do. 

Being broke would make the daily struggle to decide if I was capable of working a whole lot easier, physically and emotionally.  In a sense, being broke, would “fix” my situation.  

But, Dr. Andy said it wasn’t broke, and I knew it even before he told me after seeing the x-ray first. 

Where to go from here?  It had been two weeks; it was a “simple” sprained ankle.  People get those and are better in a few days.  But the repeated stress and repeated injuries over time just kept adding up to more pain and swelling, and I probably had just as much emotional pain too.  I tried to listen to the advice and went home to rest again, and to my ice pack buddy.   

By Monday, I really was no better, I could handle about 30 minutes on my feet and that was it.  (I also by now have mastered the task of cooking meals in 10-15 minute spurts!)  I went down to see Dr. Andy again and was ready to try anything else.  I found Dr. Bill instead, as Andy was not there for the day.  Bill was aware of my situation, but we talked things through a little more and after a little emotion break in my façade I got news from him that was very freeing—Doctor’s orders to stay home and rest for the majority of the week for full recovery.  Daily check-ups on my progress were very nice, and I was making some progress, longer periods without pain, and decreased swelling.  I tried a half day on Thursday, and made it two hours, and haven’t had another setback, but really no more progress. 

So, the last two weeks of November, I mainly stayed home, with a few short trips to the ward to check on the students.  The college has given me the freedom to just stay home till I’m healed up and I am getting closer.  A walking cast has helped some these past few days, better than the ankle immobilizer I was wearing.  The students stop by and bring me procedure books to sign, and I ask about their progress on the wards.  I’m working on my lesson plans for next year.  I’m finishing up craft projects I started this summer when my plans changed and I knew I wasn’t coming home for Christmas.   I’m praying for the students on the wards, who I can’t be with fully but wish I could.  I’m spending extended time in the word. 

But, I’m also going a little stir crazy. 

Never before have I been in my house for so long.  Never have I had to listen to dogs barking, children screaming, crying, or playing loudly, and pigs squealing, day in and day out for numerous days in a row, with very few breaks away from my house.  I love being here, but I’m ready to be fully mobile again!  Our ladies bible study started three weeks ago and God knew I needed some time with these ladies, and some new perspectives from his word.  Thanksgiving (in the US) has now come and gone, and I was very thankful for the little bit I got here, and the reminders throughout this looooong month to be thankful for all that I do have here, even in the midst of this struggle. 

I’m able to share this today because God convicted me of being real, being transparent before Him, and before others.  During this month, only a few have known how difficult this situation has been for me.  It can be so easy to just say, “I’m fine, I’m managing alright” when it is not true.  This struggle has brought up many things that I’ve had to deal with: my self-reliance, my work ethic, my pride, my singleness, my perception of how others will view me, my lack of patience, the list could go on. 

I started an advent devotional today, in addition to what I have already been doing.  The new devotional was on waiting, waiting by grace.  I wanted to laugh when I flipped to it and said, “Really God, this is what you have for me today?” but it was right on.  It finishes by saying- “Lord, help me to see your grace in my life today.  Thank you that you have given me all I need to flourish right where I am.”  -Rachel York

My other devotional was from Ozzie, when he says, “There is no condition in life in which we cannot abide in Jesus.  We have to learn to abide in Him wherever we are placed.” And I would go on to say, in whatever physical condition we are in.  I’m trusting God to fully heal this ankle of mine is his time, and I will abide in Him throughout that time, and beyond.  I still would love your prayers though, for physical healing and continued strength to face things one day at a time with His power. 

My Utmost for His Highest—“By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain...” 1 Corinthians 15:10

PNG Pumpkins-- From making puree to cutting burlap

I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. The trees will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 34:26, 27 NIV).

I've read that passage and ones surrounding it recently and I've been pondering seasons, change, and challenges I see around me. The students have been taking their finals, and are starting back to clinical rotations in the hospitals. I also see posts on their Facebook pages that they are ready to go home for holiday. Our sermon at church yesterday was from Ecclesiastes and on are we making the right changes in our lives, living abnormally or the normal function Christ created us for. And then, there is the fact that we are getting back to rainy season in PNG, but my calendar says its fall! Changes and new normals all around!

So, this September and October have been a little different than last year. Finishing up the Second half of the Obstetric Complication class has gone well.  I only have a little grading to finish up.  I've had a few free evenings and weekends to experiment with baking, and I have some baking afternoons with the neighbor girls. It been great to share some baking tips with the girls again and even help them fill up their own little cookbooks.

This year I've been more aware also that I'm not at home doing the autumn, my favorite time of year. I guess last year I was still getting in the hang of things here, and also last year I knew I'd be home just in time for Thanksgiving.  Well, that's not going to happen this year, so I've felt the need to create a little Autumn over here in PNG. 
First it was autumn baking, pumpkin bars, apple pie, pumpkin bread, and most recently pumpkin cheesecake!  And after I about ran out of my imported Libby's pumpkin, I realized PNG pumpkin (or what Americans would call squash) will actually work quite well for all those recipes, and its sooo much cheaper!!  I also am sharing all of my baking attempts, I can't handle all the calories myself but just need at least one piece of each!

Then I had to do some decorating, This required a little more planning, some trips to the second hand clothing spot at the market, and waiting until my monthly trip to town to get a few things I had seen I thought I could adapt to make my creations!  (I also budgeted for a little data to use up on Pinterest, a weakness of mine and something I can't use quite like I would in the states, which is probably a good thing!)  I also got a little inspiration from Danielle, a fellow missionary crafter here who is also missing fall in the USA.  We even got together one day and worked on some pumpkin projects!  She graciously shared some Chai and we had a great morning of piecing together some of our pumpkins.  She also shared some PNG crafting secrets--- Black poster board works well for a one time use chalkboard, (paint is very expensive!) and burlap is available here in the form of PNG coffee sacks!!  Oh the projects you can do once you have these two extremely cheap materials!!

What follows are my creations over the last 6 weeks or so, and I've started on some Christmas items as well, but you will just have to wait for those.  I'm enjoying my Autumn, even if I had to make it myself. 

Pumpkins made from old shirts I actually wore, and wore out.
They are also stuffed with old shirt scraps, and plastic bags.
The basket is another project, T-shirts form second hand,
cut up into yarn and crocheted.  This is my second basket,
the first is various grays. 

 

My favorite pumpkin!  The stem is material from my favorite capris from last year.
They also got worn out and torn from some wire on a hike
but work great here! 

My bed with a burlap pumpkin pillow. 

And my living room also got some T-shirt pumpkins.  I also recently got this rug and a third blue chair from the warehouse. They fit well into the room and the rug adds a nice autumn touch that will last all year round!

Then here is my "chalkboard" creation, placed over a picture of PNG and can easily be removed and changed again, or changed back.  I loved the previous picture but a little change for the dinning room wall for a month or so is nice. 

I will give thanks with a grateful heart for all that God has done for me this year, for all he has allowed me to do, enabled me to do, and continues to challenge me to do. These little additions to my place here are daily reminders of those things. Nothing here is as "easy" or "instant" as it can be in the US, from making pumpkin purée instead of popping open a can, making your own yarn from shirts you searched through piles and piles to find, and then the adjusting to challenges on the labor ward and constantly working on forming and building relationships. But I'm looking forward to these blessings and I am thankful for them and ever grateful to be growing closer to my God.
 

Gardening Steps in PNG…. (At least how it works for me)

Step 1- Wait at least 6 weeks from when you weeded/attempted to plant something.  This allows plenty of time for weeds to grow and possibly some of the plants you wanted to, and a few you had no idea would come up. 

Step 2- Put your gardening tools out on your front porch.  Then go back inside and get your water bottle, sunglasses and possibly a hat.  This allows plenty of time for the neighbor girls to see that you intent to work in your garden today and for them to come out and start to work.  A great time to do this is 7:30 on a Saturday morning.  They are all up, and it’s not too hot for the white meri.   You never have to ask for help, and you really don’t expect it get it, but you will every time anyway. 

Step 3- Let go of whatever plans you possibly had for your garden.  This allows your neighbors to do what they were going to do anyway and you feel good about it.  If you thought it would be great to have a row of something at the front of your garden, be alright with those flowers to end up in the middle and just smile when they come up right in the middle of something else.  Giving a little direction in planting is fine, but be prepared for anyone at any time to run home, grab/cut some flower and come back and plant it where they believe it needs to go. 

Step 4- Decide on one thing you want to accomplish and do that.  This allows neighbor girls to do whatever else they think needs to be done and you still feel like you possibly accomplished one task and didn’t have them do ALL the work.  (Today, my task was to fill up with soil two large planters I received two months ago from the Deuel’s and plant something in them.  I did have a little idea of what I wanted to plant in them, but I was prepared to apply step 3 here as well.)

Step 5- Offer some refreshment at some point in the process.  This allows your volunteer staff to stop working for a moment so you don’t feel so bad that you need a break after only an hour of work.  Cold water is always appreciated, but if you have crackers or cookies, this works well too to allow you a few minutes to stand up straight and give your back a break. 

Step 6- Have fun, chat with the girls while you all pull weeds, shovel piles of dirt and pull out small rocks.  This allows you to work on your Tok Pisin, make the girls laugh and see plenty of smiles. 

I accomplished my task today, got the whole front of the house weeded and also got a unexpected new rose garden in place of my crazy patch of Zinnias (or possibly it will turn out that the roses are just in the middle of the patch.)  I also got all the girls names right for the first time! 

All steps applied and worked out great.  These steps were learned over a year and a half process.  Not applying all steps will just get you dirty, sweaty and worn out (and possibly a little frustrated.)  ;-) 

Isaiah 55:8-13

8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  ¹⁰ As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, ¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  ¹² You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.  ¹³ Instead of the thorn bush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.  This will be for the Lord’s renown,  for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”

 

 

Skin Deep

On my recent trip to Southern Highlands I was struck by a lot of things.  The beauty of God’s creation, the fun I can have with the students outside of the classroom, love for the people of PNG, how God is working all over the place, and then the ever present phrase, “Wait Meri.”  Yes, that last one is a bit different than the others on my list.  We were in quite a remote place, and not many of the people see white women on a frequent basis and some of the kids had never seen white people before.  So driving (or while we walked for a bit) you go by groups of people on the road side, and I hear that phrase, “Wait Meri, Wait Meri.”  Often it is said excitedly, with waves and lots of children jumping around.  Sometimes you see tears, or looks of confusion.  You never know what reaction you will get, but the first one is easier to take!  The kids in church are great too, for mixed reactions come all the time.  Luckily, I only made one little guy cry just by looking.  Lots more smiles from the rest of the kids. 

While we were driving back, I got to thinking about these reactions, as I waved for the twenty-fifth or fiftieth time to a group of small kids.  For some reason Martin Luther King Jr. came to mind and his statement about his children, that he wanted them to, “not be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”  (Forgive me everyone for taking this slightly out of context, I in no way desire to downplay his “I have a dream” speech.)  I wish the world was color blind like this, that skin color didn’t cause a reaction but that character did.

 I thought about three of the young boys in the church, probably between 9-12 years old, who sat up front and couldn’t seem to take their eyes off of the three college boys who were leading worship.   I thought of the teenage girl, Ruth, who seemed to become fast friends with Robina, one of the 2^nd year college students.  We had sat next to her while waiting for the first service to start and she had that same look of admiration that the boys did.  Robina talked with her the whole way down to the baptism service, a half hour walk.  I remembered being a little kid and looking up to the college age singing groups or camp counselors that would come to church or be at summer camp.   The college of nursing students got to be those ones that were being looked up to.  The numerous kids and many adults were able to see their hearts for Christ, and hearts that worship!  I was excited for them, and for those kids that were able to spend even a little bit of time with some wonderful Christian examples.  The students showed what Christ is doing in their lives, and what hard work and studying can lead to.  Education is not a given here, and it was especially evident in this area.

I pray that those children would be impacted by that short trip and that they would have other role models of Christ and what He can do in our lives. 

I pray that I can make an impact here that isn’t based on my skin color, but on the character of the one who lives in me, Jesus Christ.     

I pray that we can all get eyes like the Lord, that go deeper than skin deep, that we can learn the lesson Samuel did in 1 Samuel 16:7 when God said, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at, people look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 

The Independance Day Project- Student's Mumu

 This year the college did something different in celebration of Papua New Guinea's Independence Day.  They gave the students a pig (a very large one!) and all the other necessary items to cook it, and gave most of the kitchen staff the day off. 

Around 9:00 this morning, I walked on down to the area where they were preparing their own feast.

 Now, the college has about 100 students, and about 40 of them were there, working together to make this meal.  These students come form all over PNG and at least 10 different areas were represented today.

 I saw some great examples of team work and leadership.  By this time, the pig had been killed, and had it's little operation to remove all the "insides."  Those "insides" had been cleaned out, and were now being used in the preparation of the meal.  The stones had been heated up for the allotted time, and the blood sausage had already been made.  The greens and banana leaves were gathered.  The kaukau (sweet potato) and other vegetables were being pealed and prepped for cooking and the fire pit was being prepared for all to be placed inside. 

I did mention that the students are from at least 10 different areas, right?  Each of these areas has some slightly different ways of performing this PNG custom.  Some "heated" discussions over hot stone placements and correct way to do this and that took place.  They all kept their cool though, as many hot stones were placed in seemingly the correct spot and a only few fingers got a little too much exposure to the heat. 


I got to hear from a few different students of how this was done at their place; what they did different and what they did the same.  I also am sure I heard lots of phrases said by parents and relatives of the students while doing these same actions.  "More greens here," and "Do not put the stone there."

You all did well, your parents would be proud, I loved seeing your teamwork and I hope you all enjoy your feast!





  Happy Independence Day PNG! 

Little is much…When God is in it. (Remembering Lorrie Klem)

It has been an interesting few weeks.  Its week 4 of second semester, I still have no clue how time goes so fast here.  The days are often long, but the weeks seem so short!    

My Obstetric Complication class is going pretty well (based on the first test I'm just about finished grading.)  I've struggled a little more with it that I have the Normal Obstetric class I taught last semester.  Mainly, the struggle has been figuring out what the students actually need to know and what can we actually do about it here. 

We got some new text books from Northwest Nazarene University (thanks sooo much, they really are a great help!!)  A few of them are relevant to my class and the students are using them for their major assignment.  But then the really interesting questions come! For instance, our PNG text book, written in 2002, briefly discusses, in two paragraphs, placenta previa (condition where the placenta is attached to the uterus close to or covering the cervix) and what needs to be done here.  The US text book has pages on the condition and its treatment!  One of the pages states that the condition can resolve in many cases.  There is nothing about it resolving in the PNG text book, only treatment when the woman comes in bleeding.  First question from a student, "How can placenta previa resolve while the patient is bleeding?"  Answer from me, "Well, it can't, the book is talking about placenta previa resolving when it is diagnosed early on in pregnancy by looking at an ultrasound, and then as the uterus expands the placenta ends up not covering the cervix…" Next comes some blank stares from a few students and more explanation is given by me. 

Ultrasound is not something that is done routinely in prenatal care in PNG.  Overall, in the country, it's rarely done.  Very few places have a machine, and only a few of the patients would be deemed medically necessary to have a scan done.  So, very, very few placenta previas are getting diagnosed on ultrasound and "resolving" in PNG.  Where do you go from there?  Why can't every woman get an ultrasound in pregnancy here? Why do babies (and mothers) most likely die every day from this condition in this country and very, very few probably die yearly from it in the US?  Why do I have to teach that there is basically no treatment for hydrocephalus, when I know there is one, and the US textbook explains the treatment in detail?  Why is most of what I need to teach basically the same few steps for treatment, for such complicated conditions?  Why are there only so many steps that can be done here?  Why can't the care plan at the end of that US textbook also be in our PNG textbook?    

One of our Doctors here, Mark Crouch, shared recently about his similar feelings on the OB ward.  I totally understood his frustrations and it hit home with what I had been experiencing these last 4 weeks trying to teach all of this.  (see my Facebook page for the link to his blog)

Tonight in Fellowship, the first year students sang the song "Little is much when God is in it."  And I was holding back tears the whole time.  My frustrations with what to teach had set in again as I finished the second test this afternoon and gave it to the ladies in the printing room to print for me.  Also, a wonderful lady at my church in Illinois, a friend of mine, has just passed away after a valiant fight against cancer.  Lorrie embodied this song.  She could throw a party for a whole community with $50 or less it seemed!  She always saw a harvest field in front of her.  One of my best friends (and many other people) is a Christian today, because Lorrie witnessed to her at work, and invited her to church and showed her what being a Christian is all about.  Lorrie did much with little all the time.  So I sat there tonight, hearing the students sing the following lines, thinking about what little we have here, and what little Lorrie worked with much of the time as well. 

In the harvest field now ripened
There’s a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling
To the harvest calling you.

Refrain

Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.

Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.

Refrain

Are you laid aside from service,
Body worn from toil and care?
You can still be in the battle,
In the sacred place of prayer.

Refrain

When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
“Welcome home, My child—well done!”

Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.                                (Kittie L. Suffield, 1924)

If that wasn't enough to get me straightened out, Pastor Joseph then shared from 1 Samuel 16 about the time when David was chosen over his seven brothers to be King.  "The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."  (verse 7b)  Another wonderful message, but I wrap up with the prayer that is now on my heart. 

Oh help me Lord to see what you see, to look at what you look at when you see all that is this place Papua New Guinea and its beautiful people, and not see this place you have called me to labor as "too small and little known."  It is great because you, God, are in it, and I know you will not forget your own.

And may a little(or much) of Lorrie Klem live on in each of us, as we make the best of what little we have, with you, Papa God, always in it. 

The People of Papua New Guinea

Back in May, I shared a little about my prayer request for what I am to do the next few years.  I just couldn't come to peace with leaving and not returning after December.  I prayed about what this would mean for me, how it would work out, and if staying was really even necessary here, or what God wanted.  The answers have come and I am now planning to stay in Papua New Guinea through March of 2016.  I am not planning to come home until then.  That date was chosen because I would like to see the class of students I started teaching last year graduate and that is when they will!  These are the students I am currently teaching an Obstetric Emergencies and Newborn Complications class.  These are the students that are on my heart all the time.  I love all the students here, all three classes, but the current second year students are the ones I have taught the most, have seen the most, and who have put up with me the most!

I was thinking the other day about what I am thankful for lately and mostly it was people who came to mind.  I want to share some of them with you all. 

First, there is Angela, one of the women who works in the College printing room.  She knows I am really trying to working on my Tok Pisin.  She loves to make me laugh by starting out a conversation with me in Tok Pisin and then switching to her Tok Ples halfway through our conversation and seeing me get all confused!  As soon as I realize she switched languages, I roll my eyes and she just laughs more and more, until we are both laughing so hard others come to stare at us!  I got her the other day by asking another of the tutors a Waghi phrase (her tok ples) and saying it to her before she had a chance to talk to me! 

Next, there is Sister Grace, one of the senior tutors at the college.  She asks how my lesson plans are going and is always there if I need some input on how things work in PNG.  She also has a great laugh, and thinks I'm extremely humorous, (even though I doubt most others do!)  She and her daughter love to read and Grace has been so thankful for all the books given to her when the missionaries recently cleaned out and downsized the station Mission library.  We chat about books, obstetrics, our families, and our love for the students and love for Christ.  She shares from her garden with me, and I made a cake for her son's birthday.  You have never seen anyone happier over a simple chocolate sheet cake with "Happy 7^th Birthday Moses" written on it! 

There is Emily, and Lin, Ann Marie, Queensley, and Sylvia, my neighbor girls that love to do anything with me from weeding my garden, to taking down laundry to baking cookies.  They also like yelling "Hi, Sister Staci" as often as they can as I try to get their correct name out.

There is Moris, the woman who has come over a few times a month for the past few months to help me clean and do yard work.  Her cheerful spirit while doing these simple tasks puts me to shame and makes me smile at the same time.  She too is helping me learn Tok Pisin, and loves to find a new word or two to teach me each time I see her.  At K10 ($4) for 4 hours of work (the going rate around here), I truly get the best part of the deal just by getting to know her. 

I could go on and on; about my national friends, about the missionaries here as well, about patients I met on the ward that I think about and pray for but I'll end with sharing the names of those 38 students who now make up the second year class and are continually in my prayers.  –There is Andrew, Bruce, Chris, Danny and Dimas.  Everlyn, Elizabeth, Israel and Louis.  Jacob, John G and John M, Joshua, Jonah, Joy, Josephine, Jennifer and Jeminah.   Mata, Max, Mec, Moses, Madelyn, Mero and Michael.  Nathan, Philemon, Robina, and Rebecca.  Samson, Shedrick, and Sera. Tracy, Timothy, Tom, Thomas, Terry and Wilfred.  And there are a few that are no longer in the class that are also still in my prayers.  (And yes, I did that without looking them up, it helps that I attempt to grade their papers in alphabetical order to make it easier to record grades.)

These are many of the reasons I've had to be thankful lately and there are so many more, but I'll leave that for another day.  These are the some of the people who are my "People of Papua New Guinea." 

 

 

The Humbling Hike

So, yesterday I went on a hike with a group from Kudjip.  The 12 of us "white skins" met at 6:00 am and headed out to get our national guides for our hike to Kurumal.  We picked up Isaiah, a 3rd year Bible College student, at Tamban church and got to see a glorious sunrise there. 

I was feeling good and ready to enjoy a fun day of hiking with some friends, old and new.  Erin, my physically fit, doctor friend, had told me that the hike was more difficult than the previous one we had went on, and there would be times we would hike straight up the mountain through peoples gardens and then hike back down again, and that we would cross the river a few times. 

So I was prepared for it to be a tough hike, but that explanation doesn't do it justice by any means!!  I've seen patients in the hospital that have fallen out of their garden, and sustained major injures!  Crazy to understand for this Midwestern girl, that falling "out" of a garden is a real thing here.  I'm also not in the shape I was in college when ROTC hikes and strolls in State parks were something I could accomplish with minor aches (and Illinois, Wisconsin, and Washington are nothing like PNG!)  But I have been swimming regularly recently, getting some cardio and strength/flexibility in for my back and feeling pretty good. I also love nature and getting any excuse to be off station and enjoying it sounded great. Our last hike, with basically the same people was at a nice pace, not overly fast, not rushed and had plenty of stops for pictures and chatting with those we went by.  I guess I though this is sort of what our day would be like, just longer and a bit harder.  Little did I know what was in store for me! 

It started out easy enough, good pace, wide enough, well-used, packed dirt actual "trail."  Then our group began to grow as we went.  A few kids would join here, some ladies there, a man as we crossed his garden, till we had about 51 people in our crew.  The trail took us higher, up more narrow spots, and really wasn't a trail anymore, but worn down grass, and rocks and mud.  We got to those vertical gardens and by now I have a man in front of me who must be a trained trail guide.  I don't know at what point he decided he was going to be my personal guide but at some point he just made it clear he was. 

Now, I think of myself as a pretty easy going person, but I also am very independent, and very use to doing things for myself, and all by myself.  I'm a nurse, a former Army officer, a missionary, a first born child, an introvert, a 32 year old single woman; I've done well, just me and Jesus, making things work so far.   I kind of had a hard time accepting his "help" the whole way up.  I wanted to put my hand in one spot to push up, he would grab my hand with a death grip, and pull me up.  I'd let go, he would grab my hand again.  All of this was done in a very respectful, thoughtful manner, but I just could NOT do what I wanted to do, without this man, or some small child, or who knows who else right there to "correct" or "hinder" me!  The pace was no longer something I was in control of.  I was being dragged up a mountain I wished to climb.  I couldn't stop to breathe when I wanted to.  I had to put my foot there, and not there.  I couldn't get my hand out of his.  I couldn't stop if I wanted to without ten people crashing into me (at least it felt like this!) There was little shade at this point and I was getting very hot and thirsty.  I finally somehow was able to communicate that I had to stop and got my hand free.  I was able to get some water then, but was so hot, stressed out and claustrophobic and too many eyes were watching me that the shortness of breath I had had, quickly turned into wheezing and now I was really panicking.  Here I am on the side of a mountain, now hours from medical help, and even with a doctor, a CRNA, and 4^th year medical student in the group, I knew none of that would matter if I couldn't calm down and figure out how to make this work.

 PRAYER.  Short, and specific.  The wheezing calmed down some, the water helped and then Sid, the CRNA, a former Army man, and a dad, said the first words I heard clearly in a while, "Sometimes the lessons we learn on these things are not the ones we hoped for, humility…." I can't remember the rest now, but that one word was enough to bring Philippians 2:3 to mind, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of your to the interest of others." 

I had to let go of what I wanted to do.  I had it fixed in my mind that I could do this myself, but fighting for that was getting me nowhere.  I resigned to the help.  He wanted to help, I probably did need it.  Not being selfish in this instance meant relying on those around me, and one man in particular.  I still haven't sorted through all the implications that can be taken from this like I like to do, but for me yesterday, that one man, became a symbol of my pride.  That man, whose name I could never pronounce right even after three attempts and I have no clue how to spell, wanted to help and I had to let him.  I caught my breath, and then we moved again, me still struggling with the whole issue, but determined to be humble. Once we got to the top of that section, we were able to talk and worked out a plan a little better to help them understand my pace and back issues and all, but a lot of the success of the day just came from me reaching out and accepting the offered hand, or foot hold or whatever it was.  And there were many of them, and many spots I still didn't want help but it was there and I took it.  I hated having my hand held like that, but it was the lesson I needed yesterday. 

I came to Papua New Guinea to teach and to serve and go as He commanded, and I have done some of all that, but God wanted me to learn something yesterday and receive some help.  As I looked at the Philippians scripture today for my personal study, I went back to the first verse of chapter two. "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in the spirit and of one mind.” (Emphasis added)   I received encouragement, comfort, love, shared stories of our common faith, and got lots of compassion yesterday.  Pride goes before the fall, and I fell a lot yesterday, and that pride is gone, along with the backside of my pants, which now have a significantly large hole in them.  Hard to have a lot of pride when you have to borrow a shirt to cover your backside!

 

 

 
I'll say the hike to the waterfall was worth it, even though the uphill climb was tough, and going back down wasn't much easier, crossing slippery rocks in the river was difficult, and hanging on to barely a ledge alongside the river was crazy.  I won't forget the hike, the views, the smiles, the lessons, the stress, or that hand that kept reaching back for mine. 

Not Malaria

After an exhausting 24 hours yesterday of aches, chills, fever and some GI symptoms, I called my friend Dr. Erin this morning. I'm sure she appreciated the interruption to her breakfast, with my long list of symptoms. We set up a time for me to meet her at the clinic and I then called my fellow tutor Sr. Grace to let her know I wouldn't be coming to the Maternity ward again today.

I hate missing work, and we have a good group of students on the ward I want to be working with. While the last few weeks on the ward have had their share of challenges, it's been rewarding as well and some good changes are taking place. I was excited for this week on the ward.

On Saturday I had gone swimming with Erin, Tim and Karla in our new reservoir built for the hydroelectric project. The reservoir is the new craze here at Kudjip, probably 100's of people are coming to use it weekly. Swimming, sliding down the "water-holder-backer" walls, washing clothes and bathing all takes place. It's quite a site (and probably means there are quite a few organisms in this water as well). This was my real first swim in a long time, and while it was refreshing to be in the cool water and swim some lengths, I also got a reminder of how out of shape I am! I've only gotten in a few runs and some short hikes lately and need to be doing more. We planned to get in some more swim sessions as often as we can.

Monday, two of my students informed me they had Malaria. Last Friday, one had Measles symptoms and there is a outbreak of them in the area. We gave health talks on vaccinations to all our patients on the Maternity ward and had some more talks planned for this week. Then those symptoms hit me on Tuesday. I prayed it was only food poisoning, but no clue how I could have gotten that because I know I cooked everything well and I haven't been eating anywhere else recently. When the symptoms continued on onto a second day I knew I needed to call a doctor if I wanted to get back to work as quickly as possible. I got my exam and an order for a CBC and malaria smear. I had my least painful lab draw ever and then waited for my results. One of my students with malaria was there for follow up labs, and also one of the college secretaries also had malaria symptoms. I really didn't seem to have the same symptoms they have and was just wondering what it could be. I'm just getting familiar with all these tropical diseases. (Working on the labor ward and not in a clinic or the Medical ward doesn't help too much with this.) We chatted a bit while we waited for our results and had a few laughs because of one little probably 18 month old that was waiting not so patiently with her mom. I wished I had some of her energy.

After about an hour my results came. No malaria. Pretty normal CBC, slightly decreased white cells. Back to Dr. Erin I went. The news from her, "Typhoid." Hmmmm, well at least somewhat quicker recovery than malaria! I got my antibiotics, and a new stash of Tylenol and headed home for another day of mainly sleep. 10 hours later, I'm feeling a little better, fever is controlled and I'm getting tired of myself and a little bored, so I wrote this!

Second year in PNG, second tropical disease. So glad this isn't Giardia like last year. Grateful for friends who have been there for me, concerned coworkers and students and their prayers. It was also a good experience to witness first hand the care that is given at the hospital and relate a little bit more to our patients. And I got a PNG health record book! Thanks for the continued prayers.

A day on the Maternity Ward

So I've been asked lately by a few friends what my days are like now that I'm not teaching in the classroom but working on the Maternity ward. Today might not have been a typical day but it wasn't completely out of the ordinary either. Woke up at 5:30 prior to the pig in the garden behind my house, had some Bible time and then a quick shower, breakfast and started a load of laundry before leaving at 7:25 to go to Monday morning Hospital chapel service.
8:00 attempt to listen to change of shift report (spoken in Tok Pisin. English and PNG nurse acronyms) while counting heads to see if all 17 of the assigned students are present.
8:20 assign each 2nd year student on postpartum 4-5 patients and have them work with 1-2 of the 1st year students, assign two students to work in nursery, make sure the 2 students in the delivery room aren't doing a delivery by themselves, and make sure the 3rd year student charge nurse knows what he is doing for the day.
8:30 supervise the students beginning their daily care for the moms and babies, while Doctor rounds on patients. Begin signing procedure books for all 17 students for procedures done on Friday afternoon when it was too busy to sign then books.
8:45 check on students in delivery room, no one in active labor, one student starting an admission on a multipara.
9:00 continue working on procedure books- sign Sr. Staci approximately 150's times throughout said books, wonder where my coworker that is suppose to be working on postpartum is, so I can fully supervise in the delivery room.
9:20 continue to go back and forth between labor and postpartum, watching one procedure after another, point out some things in the chart for students to pay attention to, chat with a few patients
9:45 coworker arrives, inform him of students task on postpartum and then concentrate on patient in deliver room with 2nd year student Joshua. Time contractions (using hands and wrist watch and patient reports) review labor process, assist with filling out paperwork.
10:15. John now is beginning to admit his patient in the next delivery bay, go back and forth between both bays assisting both students.
10:30 remember I need more latex free sterile gloves to do these deliveries and go to central supply and find my stash. Place gloves in both rooms so I can quickly put on when needed.
10:45 while helping John, hear Joshua's patient make a noise that basically only means one thing on a delivery ward in PNG and run back over to them (10 ft away) and put the gloves on while making sure Joshua is ready for this delivery.
10:49 help Joshua delivery baby boy, try to prevent tearing, not quite successful, big baby
11:00 bleeding controlled, give assistance with suturing but realize this is over my head as American RN's don't suture and I'm still learning, so trade places with my coworker on postpartum
11:05 begin supervising 2nd year students giving scheduled meds after the medication prayer time, avoid 3 medication errors
11:35 switch places with coworker again and assist with breast feeding on Joshua's patient and them do assessment on John's patient. Now she is 7 cm dilated, amniotic sac still intact, and its her 5th baby in 7 years. Fully get her history, it's her first time ever to come to a hospital. Has not had prenatal care, last two babies died at 11 months and 4 months. Wants to avoid another baby dying (why she came to hospital this time) but also has husbands permission to get a tubal after this delivery. Has only had girls. Last baby born 13 months ago. Not the best history, not the most common, but I've seen many similar stories here before.
12:05 let hospital staff know of our patients status, tell John to run and get some lunch fast and head home to get a quick lunch and hang up my laundry! (We are allowed to take a one hour lunch, haven't done it recently!)
12:40 back at labor ward, John is already there and monitoring contractions and fetal heart tones as needed. Amniotic sac still intact. Talk with Joshua about things we could have done better in his delivery.
1:50 Joshua begins to admit another patient, help with assessment and paperwork. Check on John and his patient periodically.
2:45 John's patient remains unchanged. Contractions are not very close together, 7-8 minutes. Decide to break her water. John performs procedure. All is looking good. Contractions pick up.
3:10 Assist with Joshua's patient. All admission done, waiting for more orders as she had prior c-section is now post-dates, not active labor
3:45 John's patient is getting closer to delivery, 9 cm, but wants to keep walking around the bed, of course, right at change of shift. All midwives on ward are at a staff meeting (not located on ward) and all CHW (community health workers, somewhat like an LPN) are in change of shift report out in the postpartum area. We remain with John's patient.
4:15 John's patient suddenly makes the same noise that Joshua's patient made earlier, except she is still walking around the bed and isn't on the side that has the step to get up into the bed. She squats before I can get out any Tok Pisin that would have gotten her to get up into the bed and that motion was enough that we know have a baby coming and no way to get the mom up to our sterile field. Quick instructions to John and we have the field under mom and I have a baby head in my gloved hands (thankful I had them ready to go a few hours ago). I've never delivered a baby this way before and John was suppose to do the delivery but no way it could happen with where we were each located in the room. Baby boy safely delivered and placed on our clean field at 4:20, followed quickly by the placenta. John gets to help at this point, cord clamps and cutting, and we then get them both up into the bed to do continued assessment. I'm still amazed nothing bad has happened but that this lady came to the hospital to deliver safely and we end up delivering on the floor!!! She is smiling though, very thankful we were there to help and loving that she got a baby boy! Some more assessment and we control bleeding and discover a prolapsed cervix to add to all our fun. John and I keep on praying!
4:30 All the nurses return from their meeting in time to help us finish putting mom together and then get her and the baby cleaned up and assessed.
5:15 All paperwork completed, patients successfully moved to postpartum ward. We informed them we would see them in the morning and to keep a close eye on her bleeding. I head home to get my laundry off the line before it really starts to rain.
5:25 Second shower of the day with my lovely heated rain water!

So just another Monday on the Maternity Ward, Kudjip Nazarene Hospital. Love it and this life God has called me to.