Heidiz Papua New Guinea Journal

Date: 6/12/04
Location: Pacific Orientation Course, Madang, Papua New Guinea

Palm leaf mat

Yesterday we learned how to make individual rice cookers out of palm tree leaves. We also watched our tisas (teachers) make a roof secrion, bag, floor mat, and star of Christmas out of palm tree leaves. Last night we had a BBQ outside, and we had a social night. I got to help sort cards, play a game with some of the Lord family, and play speed scrabble. It was a blessing to get to spend time relaxing with people. I also read an article about culture shock, which suggested reading only encouraging Bible verses during times of culture shock, not ones which might seem to condemn, because this is a time to be reminded of God's love for me.

Dimat with puppies

Today we went to Dimat's village house for tea. We met his wife and two of his grandkids. He had two really cute puppies and a kitten (born with only a short tail). It was comforting to see him playing with the puppies with his walking stick and to see his grandchildren pet the kitten. I think it made me feel more that they were the same as us in that they are normal people with human responses who enjoy the same little things in life. We had a fun time at his house.

Inside Dimat's house

Dimat blessed our food in Pidgin, and I was blessed by how he prayed - whiteskin na blackskin bung together in Jesus... Tyson added some humor by mixing up mangi (mischievous young boy/rascal)& monkey and merit (married) & meri (woman) with a monkey imitation and by saying: "Mi laik i kamap long meri!" ("I want to become a woman" instead of "I want to get married"!)

. He also told Dimat not to sit on the table, so we got talking about respect in PNG from that - Dimat took it all well.

Today we also went into Madang to the "artifact market" at the Madang Resort Hotel (quite a westernized place). I got some carved wood items - a pukpuk (crocodile), a seahorse, and a bird of paradise. Kristen and I went into the gift shop as well, and I got to use some Tok Pisin with the national worker there. He seemed very happy that I spoke to him in Tok Pisin and commented I spoke it well - I had told him I was looking for a little flag of Papua New Guinea. It felt good to receive confirmation on my Tok Pisin . Kristen, Tyson, and I also went swimming - I worked on putting my face in again, and got five or six strokes in a row a few different times across the short/shallow end of the pool. Josiah and Johanna, two more Discovery team members, also came today! They seem nice - but obviously jet-lagged! Orait, mi go slip nau. It's raining again tonight!

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