Remnants of WWII

During my one month living in a Papua New Guinean Village from mid-September to mid-October, 2016, I saw quite a few remnants of WWII. My grandfather fought in WWII as a paratrooper and radio man in Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Japan. Looking at these relics of the past reminded me of days gone by. These were once nice machines which worked well and did what they were designed for. However, now they sit broken down and discarded.

Have you ever felt this way? At one time, you felt great and were kicking on all cylinders. You were passing all of your exams, you received a promotion, your marriage was a beautiful work of art, your missionary work or ministry was fruitful and blossoming. However, over time, neglect, disinterest, or life got in the way and you began to deteriorate. You feel broken down, discarded, a former shell of who you were.

However, unlike things of this world, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ doesn’t leave us this way. He sent his Son – Jesus – to redeem us. “For God so loved [you] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” – 1^st Peter 2:24

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3

“…he has sent [Jesus] to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;” – Isaiah 61:1

Jesus entered our world as a lowly child, in a manager. As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, let us not forget that he is not a lowly babe anymore. He is risen, sits at the right hand of the Father, and longs to bring healing, fulfillment, and joy into this world. “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand…” – Psalm 139:17-18

Heavenly Citizenship

This morning (17 November 2016) I awoke in the middle of the night (3:15 am to be exact) with thoughts of home. But over the years, I have had many homes in the United States– Philadelphia, New Jersey, Connecticut, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Texas, and Washington State. I am currently living in Papua New Guinea (PNG), in a small community called Ukarumpa in the Eastern Highlands Province. Ukarumpa is the main center for supporting Bible Translation work by Wycliffe Bible Translators.

I work at the center’s clinic with a great team of Doctors and Nurses. We care for the citizens of Ukarumpa as well as National PNG citizens in the surrounding area. I recently spent 1 month living in a small village called Balama (14 September – 13 October). Here is a map of what the village looks like. The black arrow is the area where I stayed. It includes my sleeping quarters, my host family’s sleeping/cooking house, and my cooking house. The next photo is a map of Ukarumpa, where I currently live. The red arrow is where I live and the red circle is where I work.

I thought I would show what my house looked like in the village of Balama and my home currently at Ukarumpa…Enjoy 🙂

Even though I have had numerous homes, lived in 2 different countries, as well as traveled to over 10 different countries, I was reminded of Philippians 3:20 – “[My] citizenship is in heaven, and from it [I] await [my] Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” My home is in Heaven…is yours?

What Are You Waiting For?

This was asked of me by the LORD when I was 29 years old. I am the oldest of a set of triplet boys. At this time, both my brothers were married with children.

I was coming up on 30 years of age and let’s be honest, I was having a difficult time with this. I had envisioned my life turning out a little different.

Now don’t get me wrong, my life had been good. However, I was not looking at what I had been given. I was looking at what I didn’t have…

I’m not quite sure when my thought process changed, but it was shortly after this question was posed to me by the LORD that my life took a turn. Starting in 2009, for the next 5 years I went to 8 different countries on 8 different short term mission trips.

Then in April 2013 I was taking a class called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. One night after hearing about Wycliffe Bible Translators I began to research medical needs on their website. A few countries came up needing medical help, and PNG was one of those places. I clicked on the link, and the first sentence read – “Do you have Emergency Room experience?”

Ironically enough, for the past 8 years I had been working in emergency medicine. First as an EMT, then a Paramedic, and currently as an Emergency Room RN. Long term missions was never in my thought process, but it was in the LORD’s.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” – Isaiah 55:8-9

It has been a 3 1/2 year journey to arrive here in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and begin work at the Ukarumpa Health Clinic. God has been faithful through it all, and I am glad and honored to be able to help support Bible Translation and the local PNG nationals around Ukarumpa.

I am so thankful to have listened to the LORD back in 2009. I have been all over the world, and it has brought me here to live and work in PNG. I am thankful I started living my life instead of waiting for my life to begin…

Traveling to Ukarumpa

I arrived at Ukarumpa on 18 October, 2016 at about 10 am. I had a great welcoming as members of the clinic were there to meet me. I flew in a Kodiak plane at an altitude of 9,000 feet. The ride was smooth and I enjoyed looking at some of the sights out my window. The ride was about 30 minutes, and the little airport was about 10 min from the Ukarumpa Center.

I feel very much at home here in this community, and am thankful for the LORD’s guidance over these past 3+ years as I have pursued coming to Papua New Guinea. “Now the LORD said to [Joshua], ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you…'”

packing for Ukarumpa

Madang, PNG air strip

PNG country side…

…from the air

I have pineapples growing in my little yard

HOME 😉

Stewart & Village Living Preparations

This week Josh & Stewart began to prepare for spending a month living in a local village called Balama for 4 weeks starting on September 14th. There will be no internet access during this month, so check back in mid October to early November for the next post :-).

While Stewart made out the meal plan for the 4 weeks and went shopping in Madang, Josh spent an overnight in another village called Kaleg about 3 miles from the POC center.

They thought this was a good split because Josh does not know how to spell “Menu Planning” and Stewart is not strong enough to carry the large backpack. Anyway, here are a few photos of the past week….

Stewart “Menu Planning”

A small portion of the 3 boxes of food Stewart bought

Great Hiking Buddies & Friends

few of the creeks we had to cross…

to get to Kaleg

Elijah and his “liklik” (little) garden

cooking granola 🙂

Stewart & the Kamba Hike

Monday of last week, Stewart and Josh took a hike to a village called Kamba. In total, we walked 9.1 miles (5 miles to Kamba, and 4 miles return trip). Josh carried a hiking backpack that weighed a little over 15 pounds (7-8 kg). Stewart thought it would be best if Josh carried the pack :-). This little hike was training/practice for the overnight hike they will be taking on Thursday-Friday of this week (8-9 September, 2016)

Here are a few photos of the hike in total….

 

Stewart ready for the hike

Josh does all the work 🙂

Local village home

some of the trails…

along the way…

were easier…

than others… 🙂

They have some huge trees!

View near POC Campus of local village homes

Stewart & Translating Tok Pisin

This past week, Stewart & I have begun to translate Tok Pisin into English and English into Tok Pisin. A few weeks ago, Josh recorded a short story told by our Tisa (teacher) Edward in Tok  Pisin. We then listened to the story and wrote it first in Tok Pisin, then translated the story into English. We then turned this assignment into to see how well we did.

We also wrote a short part of our Testimony in English and then Tisa Edward helped us translate this into Tok Pisin with proper grammar :-). This was a very brain heavy week, so we decided to take a break one day and took a few pics of scenery around POC Campus.

Working on translating my Testimony into Tok Pisin

Some of my tools…

A few words in Tok Pisin

Sharing my Testimony in Tok Pisin to all the Tisa’s (teachers)

Local Village near POC

“Gutpela Tru” (Beautiful)

Stewart & His Wasfamili (host family)

Since the 2nd week of the Pacific Orientation Course (POC), Stewart and I have spent one day a week with our Wasfamili (host family) here in the Nobnob Community. We have had dinner with them here at the POC campus, went to their home for dinner, spent an overnight at their home, and attended church with them here at the local Lutheran church.

Stewart and I have very much enjoyed our time with them. Stewart does not have any pictures of them playing volleyball with the local village called Dimipa, but he played for about an hour and Josh played in his bare feet!

Stewart was too busy having fun to be in these pictures 😉

Wasfamili (host family) dinner at POC

Dinner at Wasfamili (host family) home

Martin – Waspapa (host papa)

sleeping underneath the mosquito net in their home

Dmat – Waspapa Grandfather

Nobnob Lutheran Church

Stewart & Cooking With Fire

This week Stewart learned about cooking over an open fire. This past weekend, he and Josh did just that with their two roommates. They were tired after the two days, and have greater respect for the PNG locals who do this day in & day out. Here are a few pics of the process ;-).

Begin by saying your prayers…

planning out your meals…

buying produce and food from local market and store…

know how to use these tools…

starting to boil water…

for a cup of instant coffee…

to be able to think straight…

to make this meal of tuna, rice, and bannanas

Stewart & the Outdoors :)

This week at the Pacific Orientation Course (POC) Stewart has been learning a lot about PNG. From learning the history, to taking 2 hour hikes, to learning how to swim 1 mile (8 laps in an inlet part of the ocean.) He has made it 2 laps so far before having to stop and rest. He has also met his host family from the NobNob Community here at POC. They will be helping him with learning more language and culture, as well as hosting him for a couple of overnight stays at their home in their village. Until next week!

Learning the history of PNG

Ready for a 2 hour hike

View from the top of hike

Learning Tok Pisin from “Tisa” (Teacher) Edward

Learning Food Market phrases

Ready to swim

“Wasfemili” (host family) dinner

Building “hauskuk” (outdoor kitchen)