My time in PNG

I would have liked to crank out some thoughts as soon as I returned from PNG, but I was still a bit dazed from everything I experienced. I suppose I should mention that I might have over romanticized what my time in PNG would be like, specifically focusing on the adventure, the work, the people, etc… while one of the most affronting aspects to me while I was there was the poverty in the city of Wewak, and extreme “living” conditions of people in general. Not just that, but the complete difference (I cannot iterate this enough) of their world verses mine, and maybe this is so extreme to me because of my worldview or personal values, regardless it was different = hard.
As you probably know I spent days traveling to PNG, my final destination being the village of the Alamblak people, however, we did hold up in Wewak, to rest (coming and going), gather supplies (we pack in all our own food), etc. We were supposed to initially be in Wewak only 2 days before heading to the Village, but then Mr. Dr. Bruce got sick so we stayed a little longer. I did however, head down to the airport to see if the plane would still take me, they said no, it wouldn’t be worth it just to fly me out there, so we waited another 4-5 days, during which I got sick
Finally we headed out to the village, upon arriving the people greeted us, and the kids swarmed the plane (after the propeller stopped rotating). My first few hours involved walking around with a fairly large group of children, running back to my hut to grab the mosquito spray, more walking, and even a bit of swimming. I asked the kids to show me different trees and plants that I had read about, and they were just generally curious about me I suppose.
My week involved meeting lots and lots of people, going to different villages, to meet more people, sometimes having the opportunity to give stuff away, and participating in their life (to some extent). As I was not even close to proficient with the language I did a lot of watching (conversation watching) and smiling, and when that got boring, I watched other things, and when I ran out of things to watch I simply zoned off, which was actually quite nice. It seems to me, that when school is in sessions, and work is… doing whatever work does, and all the other things are going on – it’s difficult to truly have your thoughts to yourself, to think about what you want, anyway…
I ate all my meals with the Bruces, and I usually took this time to ask my newest 300 questions about what I had observed or considered about these people since our last meeting – this was truly the most valuable for me. Asking questions, making observations, working out problems/difficulties in missions and evangelism, practically speaking, is what I am most excited about. This missiology is what truly quickens my heart and caused my initial interest. To be clear, I love people more, but as a part of the Imago Dei, I believe that God has also given me certain desires, as He nuances His creation, toward this aspect of the Misseo Dei. I might also add, that while the Bruces are brilliant, they are also wonderfully humble Christians, I cannot tell you how much I learn from them by simply doing life with them, I have truly never met anyone like them.
By day 3 in the village I was already counting down the days before I left. I couldn’t sleep, the rats opened up and ate everything, and what the rats didn’t finish the ants and cockroaches did. I was experiencing some sort of culture shock, there was a part of me that did not want to leave my hut, my feet got infected and were only getting worse, and it was hot as hell, and all these things seemed constant… but things were getting better – or I should say I was getting a little more used to my environment, thus accepting my lot, so on day 5 or so I went for a run, which brought on some pretty amused/confused looks. Once when I passed by some children who were looking at me as if I just squeezed up through the ground as if it were a birthing canal, I patted my bare belly and said, “too fat!” they continued staring agape. When I got back from my run, I was feeling better than I had felt all week, and it dawned on me that I had been a little down, or at least not myself. I imagine that had I spent a few more weeks in the village my experience would have been different, as I would have had more opportunity to adjust, oh well, next time I’ll definitely have time for that.
In conclusion: I still want to go work with the Alamblak people, working with them in helping them understand how the Scripture and the Holy Spirit are working in their lives, to work through day to day issues, and to see them develop as a community in sustainable ways. At one point I thought, this is too horrible, but then I realized that it was only my comfort at stake, and that God’s highest calling for me is not to be comfortable, but to love the Triune God above all else with everything that I am, and to love my neighbor.
HERE are some pics i posted on FB, which are open for public viewing.
or highlight and past this http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=179237&id=692347413&l=1dbfadc0fa