Naomi writes:
We are in Papua New Guinea! They call this country “The country of the unexpected”, and for good reason! This is where our individual heart and passion for the people of the Pacific started for both of us years ago. The first time I came to PNG, I joined some nurses at the local hospital in Madang. It was a very eye-opening experience where I saw a lot of heart-breaking situations but also saw a lot of hope and healing. Those few days at the hospital moved my heart for healthcare and that is part of why we are here in PNG where I am participating in a primary healthcare school for 5 months. This is also the base where Sammy (Naomi’s brother) came for outreach during his DTS!
We have 3 months of lectures covering a large variety of topics like physiology and anatomy, tropical diseases (fx. malaria, TB, HIV), advanced first aid course and most importantly, Gods heart for healthcare and holistic healing. This lecture period is then followed by a 2-month outreach into the rural areas of PNG where we will be doing health education in schools, helping at remote clinics and spending about 3 weeks on the YWAM PNG medical ship. I am especially excited to go on the ship!
This first month in Papua New Guinea has flown by! It’s taken a while to adjust to the routines of being a student again, but it has also been freeing being able to focus on studying and not having too many other responsibilities. I am very much enjoying the IGHD school (Introduction to Global Healthcare and Development), and Eivind is staying busy with base maintenance (servicing the generator, setting up UV water filtration system and cleaning bathrooms!) and taking care of his online studies. We have both had a rough start health-wise and been struggling with diarrhea for 2 weeks but are thankfully feeling a lot better.
Life here at the Jetty YWAM base is quite different from what we are used to in that there are a lot more comforts and conveniences than we’ve previously had. It’s taken a bit of adjusting to a very different lifestyle here with washing machines, AC and being surrounded by an electric fence, rather than cooking over the fire and being drenched in sweat constantly like we are in the Solomon Islands, but it also helps us stay focused on our task here and my healthcare studies. Our days are full, with lectures in the morning, helping with cleanup and cooking dinner in the afternoon, and evenings are often spent on homework. But Eivind and I make a conscious effort to get out for walks and play games together as well.
Eivind is currently in the Solomon Islands for 2 weeks where he is following up on his university studies, helping pack and send a solar system for the Munda base and preparing and launching the Vaka Hope sailing boat in preparation for Billy and others using it for outreach. Both local boys who did the YWAM sailing school in Fiji last month are now back in Solomon Islands and committed to helping with the boat ministry. We don’t know exactly what ministry will look like, but our dream is for it to be used for Bible engagement in the local language and water well drilling.
Thank you for your prayer and support. We really could not do what we are doing without the support and prayers of friends and family.
Please pray for:
- Eivind as he has a very busy schedule in the Solomon Islands. That he will get all the things done he needs to before returning to me in PNG.
- Continued good health and safety.
Thank you and God bless you!
