Kudjip with Tyronza

It is really hard to believe that Scot and I have only two weeks left on the particular trip to Kudjip, Papua New Guinea! I really enjoy our time here. I've shared some in the past and have posted pictures, but I thought I would give you a bit more detail in this blog.

While Scot's days or fairly set for him and not that different from his medical time at home (seeing patients, delivering babies, performing surgeries). My responsibilities vary from day to day. On one morning, I might help Joani Goossens or Marsha McCoy with filing at the Melanesian Field Office which is located here at the Kudjip station. Many of my mornings are spent with or directed by Judy Bennett in the storeroom or searching in the old storage areas for items of use or cleaning and sorting an unending volume of medical “stuff” that is here and that has accumulated over the years.

The last two weeks, another short term volunteer, Linda Elerding, wife of general surgeon Steve Elerding, and I have enjoyed each others company as we have sorted and boxed needles, syringes, cotton, etc.

It's a dirty and dusty job, but there is satisfaction in completing a task and helping take some of the load from Judy's shoulders.

The two weeks prior to that, I helped in the elementary MK (missionary kid) school.

I was with the 4-6th grade students. The school uses a home school program by Abekka, a Christian based education curriculum. Each student has a DVD player and a set of DVD's. The student watches their class and follows the instructions given by the videoed teacher. It's very straight forward, although amusing, when each student verbally sings or recites their work – all at the same time, but different! I basically monitored, graded papers and was there to assist. (If this program had existed when Keara and Gavin were young and asking to be home schooled, I might have seriously considered it.) Now that, new couple, Ted and Rachel Henderson, have arrived, I have been relieved of school duties, other than occasionally assisting Cathy Hartwig with art.

Dr. Ted is a new physician here and his wife, Rachel, is actually a teacher from home. They are living next door to us.

There is also the opportunity of baby sitting with various of the young MK's.

All “Auntie's” are willing and happy to provide services on a needed basis.

Typically my afternoons are free for the abundant cooking and baking that I do. I know my family and friends at home are amazed by this; but if I don't cook, we don't eat. Part of the social time on station is inviting other volunteers and the missionaries and their families over for meals. Scot and I enjoy this and the invitations go both ways. We are truly blessed by our friendships with the dedicated families of Kudjip Nazarene Hospital.

Evenings are typically spent either having dinner with someone at their house or inviting them to ours. We enjoy playing card and dice games and visiting. Scot and I also enjoy reading books on our electronic readers and watching a few DVD's we brought.

We are currently beginning to look forward to returning home and our plans for this fall. We are also scheduling our return to Kudjip for next February through May. 

God's Blessings,

Tyronza