DTS Outreach PNG [YWAM Ship]

After four weeks in Darwin (which you can read about here, here, here and here), Toma headed back to Canberra to be with his family, while Tim, Janet and I jumped on a plane to Papua New Guinea, ready for the next stage of outreach: serving with the YWAM Medical Ship.

Here are some photos, documenting just a fraction of what I experienced during that week.

Pacific Link

Relaxing  on our first day onboard, after our overnight flights

Exploring the ship

We ate breakfast and dinner on the upper deck

After a day of rest, we had to get stuck into our training and orientation. We were assigned teams that we would work with for the entire week, and each team was assigned a clinic to work at. This way, we could establish relationships with each other and the local nurses, and learn to work for the best of our clinic.

My Primary Health Care Team. Tim's and my orientation was to open our pharmaceutical bag and immediately look at each other, back away, and say, "Who signed us up for this?!?!?!"

PNG style - love it!!!!

Tim working with Rachel in the pharmacy corner

With the lovely nurses in the TB ward

I didn't have much to do one day...and this is a sign of my homesickness at that point of the journey

I will always, always associate PNG with cute kids!!

Tried to make friends with this boy every.single.day that week, and FINALLY on the last day, he started playing with me! We had such fun!! Such a dear boy, who accompanied his extremely ill Mum (TB) every day to the clinic

The YWAM ships website has some pages and stories from the Port Moresby phase of the journey.

Louisa is an amazing lady who coordinated my team's time at the Kaugare, and you can read her story here.

If you read this, you'll see a few snippets of what happened during our time in Port Moresby, as well as see some records of what the YWAM Ships have been able to do this year.

This is a segment from EM TV PNG, which gives a good overview of the aim of the YWAM Ships ministry.

YWAM wouldn't be YWAM without work duties!

Pretty sure I'll never complain that "my bedroom is too small!" or "there isn't enough room!" again!

It wasn't all work! Here is Kim and Phil entertaining us one night on deck. Kim is a former Australian Idol contestant, and blogged about her experiences with the team. Here is one of her posts. She also posted a few photos...can you find me??!

My heart for PNG grew even more during this week with the YWAM Ship

It is SO good to look back and photos and remember the privilege of this experience! I will always be grateful for my time in PNG, the amazing teammates I got to go with, and my Heavenly Father Who truly revealed Himself to me during that time.

~Rachel

Still Counting...up to One Thousand Gifts

Hello, everyone!

I've been busy reading a few blogs - some familiar ones, and some new ones to me - this week, and I have been inspired to open my own Blogger, and start writing again!

In my phone's memos, I have a "To-Do" list, #1 of which (for the last 2 months) has been "Blog". I've wanted to blog, but I haven't felt like it.

I've realized that, over the 6 months away from home, I was writing a lot of emails, blogging semi-regularly (how's 34 posts in 6 months?), and keeping up with things on Facebook as much as I could. Then, when I arrived back in Adelaide, I just lost all desire for anything Gmail, Blogger or Facebook [yes, I checked my emails and looked at Facebook...but the thought of emailing or posting or commenting had no appeal whatsoever].

So.

Now that inspiration's hit, I'm not sure exactly where to start!!

I still want to post about my time on outreach in PNG, with the YWAM ship and in Tauruba village. I want to share about the new season of life I'm in. I want to post a few photos of a few happenings around here...

But I feel like a good place to start is to share the things that I am thankful for, right now. I feel so blessed! Even though life gets on top of me, things frustrate me, and I'm not sure how to handle some things - I am learning that if I just stop and thank God for all the gifts He's given me, my outlook suddenly becomes a lot more sunshine-y!


I AM THANKFUL FOR...

214. My parents. They support everything I do; they're so proud of my accomplishments; they haven't mentioned board payments for the entire time I've been at home [with no job]... So many more I could list... But I just love them!!

215. Tax that has been completed and sent in! A full 7 days before it's due! Boo-yeah! =P

216. My adorable nephew, Daniel!! [for those who don't know, this is my bestie's first baby =D ]

217. Glasses. I'm pretty sure I've been thankful (here in One Thousand Gifts) for these before, but really... Suffering hayfever, working in an air-conditioned office, and wearing contact lenses really do NOT combine well. Seriously. If you've never experienced the pain and tears of these three, you may not understand. So, I am thankful that I can wear glasses :)

218. People, who, somehow, think glasses look good on me. Enough said.

219. 40-50 minutes on the train every morning. I'm loving reading a chapter of the Word; praying; journalling; reflecting. SO worth the earlier mornings!

Waiting for the train

220. My man. Really. How did I luck into meeting this guy, him falling for me, winning me, and then getting to be with him?!?!?! Best. Gift. EVER.

221. Sneakers. Because I can walk so much faster in them =D

222. A dinner and movie date with Andre. Something he's always wanted to do "when we live in the same town". The [slightly] tense, scary movie was totally worth it :-)
 
223. Modern Family. So trivial, yet... pretty funny =P Laughing at everyday things that suddenly become funny on the show; rolling my eyes at the silliness...

224. The way Andre quotes Modern Family, even if he doesn't "get" the comment ;-) [we have to watch those sections about 5 times before we actually understand the meaning]

225. Free. Coffee. Work has a coffee machine. Need I say more??!

226. Visits from friends and family during my lunch break. This week, Mum, Amy and Jarryd came in, on Amy's birthday!

One 14-year-old, two crazy eyes, and Subway

227. Dad and Ryan's Work & Witness trip to PNG. I can't BELIEVE that, right now, they are in the exact same place where I served, two years ago!!! Ryan is having the time of his life, and doesn't want to come home. Don't I know how that feels!!

228. The blessing of being able to get up at the first alarm. No pressing snooze for me!!

229. Tissues. Always a necessity with hayfever.

230. Sunny days and sushi in Rundle Mall.

231. My new job. This is a HUGE one!! I work for Kelly & Co. in the city of Adelaide. My colleagues and managers are amazingly awesome, approachable and affirming (okay, I added that last one just to create an alliteration. Creative, I know!), and the offices are pretty fancy!

232. Hebrews 11 and 12. I have read these two chapters more in the last three weeks than I have in my entire life!! So, SO good!!!!

233. Spring, which means dandelions covering our entire front yard.

234. Sunsets. Amen.

235. A sleep-over and catch-up with a friend that I hadn't connected with since at least the start of this year.

236. The opportunity I had to nanny two precious children for a friend in need.


Caleb's icecream was filled with all kinds of un-name-able toppings. If all baby-sitters were like me, kids would LOVE them!! ;-)

237. Visiting my best friend and having dinner with her little family. A short amount of time, but time that I treasure.

238. Rain-water. Nothing beats it!!

239. The new young adults group at my church!!! This is a huge one! We've never had this many "young adults" in our congregation, and I am LOVING the opportunities to connect with these lovely friends. Our first group catch-up was at Cafe Nova, for dinner, drinks, and Jenga. Such fun!!!

240. Reading. I am re-discovering my old love!!!!!!!! YAYYY for books!!!!

241. For.give.ness. Thank You, Jesus.

242. A [successful] shopping date with my brother =D

I now know what Retail Therapy means. WOO!

243. Birthdays =D

244. People at church who ask me how my new job is going; what is happening in my life. I feel SO cared for and loved by my church family!

245. My Mum's homemade lasagne. The best!!

246. Leftovers from a morning tea that was held at work. (yes, us admins get the leftovers =P )


Nom, nom, nom.
By the way, That little pie in the top left corner? Best. Pie. EVER. No joke. I need to find out where they came from! Real meat, real taste. De-LISH.

247. Weekly devotional times with Andre. Learning together, sharing together, growing together.

248. My African friends coming to church these last few weeks - so fun having them there!

249. Cleaning jobs while I didn't have work, which provided just the right amount of $$ for those weeks.

250. The chance to walk a lot during the weeks without work. This is one scene I passed :-)

251. The good, healthy, productive feeling of making my own lunch to take to work :-)

252. Being able to afford to buy lunch every day for almost 3 weeks... and sometimes dinners... Definitely not a necessity, but a pleasure to enjoy as I settle into work (now the above Gift is to be the norm).

253. Time with Andre just sitting together, chatting, studying, reading, and drinking coffee / smoothies. I love the simple joy of these precious moments!



[although, the banana smoothie wouldn't be my first pick next time...]


There is ALWAYS something to be thankful about! I wanted to make this list as long as I could, so it took me a while. But as I thought and reflected, more and more things came to mind.

God is good, through the good and bad. He remains faithful. He remains just and loving and true. He alone is the biggest gift of all!!!

What are you thankful for today?

~Rachel

Papua New Guinea

Some of you will know that I went to Papua New Guinea in September/October 2010. This was for a Work & Witness Trip with 13 other Australians, for 2 weeks. We went to Kudjip Nazarene Mission Station and served there primarily by beginning the foundations for a dorm for nurses at the hospital.

This wasn't the beginning of my knowledge and experience of PNG, though.

The pastor at Little Flock Baptist Church that my family used to attend had been a missionary in Papua New Guinea for about 10 years (Mum, correct me if I'm wrong!). Our church often prayed for the Papua New Guinean church and people. We financially supported some pastors there. Whenever letters were received from those pastors, they were read aloud in church (read in Tok Pisin - more commonly called Pidgin [English] - and translated. I was always amazed at my pastor and his wife for their language knowledge!). Our church had four flags displayed on the stage, and one of them was the Papua New Guinean flag.

I remember as a child, I LOVED hearing the stories from PNG. I was always fascinated. I wanted to know more. And I remember putting $2.00 into the offering bag when we took up an offering for the pastors there. I also wrote a letter to one of the pastors - I was SO excited to give it to my pastor to send for me! And I remember the smile on his face as he promised to send it :-) Such happiness!

In PNG in 2010 with the Hydro Church of the Nazarene. Special people.

I didn't expect anything back from this pastor or any of his church - but guess what?? They sent a bilem to me, with two notes of thanks and encouragement! I was STOKED!!!!!!!!! I still treasure that bag! - in fact, it is hanging on my bed, partly to decorate my room, and partly because of the specialness of the gift.

One of my most treasured possessions

You may be wondering why I'm rambling on about my "history" with Papua New Guinea!

Well, yesterday morning here at YWAM, we had base intercession. And our focus yesterday happened to be Papua New Guinea. A relationship is being formed between YWAM and PNG (I don't know details, but I am guessing that there is some connection with one or more churches there), so we were to be praying over that, as well as the YWAM ships.

As we watched the video of the YWAM Medical Ship travelling around Papua New Guinea - seeing those beautiful faces, the gorgeous children... My heart started beating faster as memories came back from my time in PNG. I could feel tears forming, but for that moment I was just entranced with this video.

However, after we formed small groups to begin praying for Papua New Guinea, the tears started rolling down my cheeks. I cried as I prayed for this country and its people. 40% of people in PNG live in poverty. Yet when I was there, all I saw was smiling faces. There is just something special about these dear people.

It was in that moment that I realized the burden I have for this country. I want something more. I want to do something for this country. I know I am just one small, insignificant person, but I know I can be used in a big way, if I let the Lord guide me.

Before going to PNG in 2010

I will be going to Papua New Guinea later this year for my Discipleship Training School, which I can't WAIT for - but I feel something beyond that. It would be amazing to serve there one day, for a season. Ah! The possibilities!! It is all up to the Lord, but I am definitely praying about this and just seeking His guidance.

This is the country that is on my heart in a HUGE way right now.

Could you pray for me? Could you join me in prayer for PNG?

And I encourage you - if there is a country or a nation or a people group or a community on your heart - NEVER STOP PRAYING. In fact, get others to join you in prayer! Prayer works wonders, because the God we serve is SO big and SO mighty and SO powerful and SO loving.

In HIS mighty name

~Rachel

The Beginning of a Lifetime Adventure - PNG W&W 2010 (3)

I would like to share with you some of the cultural experiences I had when I was in Papua New Guinea.

Being with a Work & Witness Team, I was blessed to have some induction and advise by people who had spent time in that country previously, and from those who lived there at the time. Because of this, I was probably a little more prepared than what many people would be, when visiting a country like PNG.

Basically beginning in the Brisbane airport, through to Port Moresby, overnight in Moresby, flying up to Mount Hagen, any time spent in town or collecting luggage, etc - basically, whenever we were in public places - we had to be very aware of ourselves and anything that we were carrying, at all times. I took a small sling-across bag, which was perfect for that trip. I was able to have the bag secured to me, hold it in front of myself and see it all of the time, without being too uncomfortable. We would never, ever leave any personal belongings at the table of the restaurant when eating out, for example. I never let my bag out of my hand or out of my sight. PNG has many problems with people "pick-pocketing". This is very common, and basically a way of life for anyone who lives there. The pick-pocketers are very talented, and you may not realize that anything had been taken until later in the day.

Something that was extremely interesting to us Aussies, was seeing men walking hand-in-hand down the street, sitting on benches, going to work, etc. In Papua New Guinea, men hold hands simply as a sign of their friendship and companionship - nothing more complicated than that!! One absolutely hilarious [for me] moment, was one of the Papua New Guinean workmen grab my friend Alex's hand and walk / march across the worksite with him. So odd for this Aussie girl's eyes to see, but GOLD!

The women in PNG all wear skirts. And their skirts must be below the knee. Why? Because thighs are seen to be very sexual in PNG, and could possibly be the worst part of the body to expose.
One day on the worksite, I was busy working with a bunch of the local men, and suddenly - poof! - a gush of wind came, and I was Marilyn Munroe with the full skirt and bike shorts... Yes, my skirt was blown up, and the next thing I hear is "Eyyyy!!!" HA! Dear old Alex couldn't stop laughing at the local men's responses - in complete unision, when my skirt flew up. He also pointed out that there were two groups of workers that day - a few men on one site of the worksite, and me with at least 8 men working on the other side. Hmmm. I prefer to just laugh at those memories!!

The Beginning of a Lifetime Adventure - PNG W&W 2010 (2)

To read Part 1, go here.

The Work & Witness Team consisted of 14 people from SA, NSW, VIC, ACT and QLD. It was such a pleasure to arrive at the mission station with them and experience the newness of this culture together.

We were taken on a tour around the hospital and various buildings. The people in the hospital, whether patients, family of patients or other visitors, were so patient. Not only patiently sitting in the hospital, probably with nothing to do and very little food to eat, but also with us tourists who wanted to take pictures again and again and again. In fact, they just LOVED having their pictures taken!!!
The craziest time was in the emergency ward - there was a young boy who had a huge gash in his leg. Blood was pouring out onto the floor, yet he did not make a sound or complain once. No one looked at us as if we shouldn't be there. We hesitantly took photos, and were not scolded.

We stayed in Barnabas House. This was a new house, built on the mission station, by previous Work & Witness teams. We were SO blessed to stay in this massive new building, full of the comforts of home - soft mattresses and pillows, plenty of blankets, sofas, electrical appliances and running water. In fact, it was so nice that I was slightly disappointed. Inside, I had been picturing much less-established accomodation for the team, and I had been looking forward to living very simply. I didn't care where we stayed - if we stayed in a grass hut, I would have been happy! One other reason for my slight disappointment, is that I was there to help others, not to be living just as rich as I would if I were at home. I wanted more sacrifice and more discomfort. At the same time, with the long work days we had, of course I was grateful for every provision.

In the middle of the grass just near the house was a lovely grass hut - a rotunda-type structure. It was round, and shaped around one large pole in the very middle. Around that pole was a counter-style bench. All the way around the outside of the hut were benches to sit on. We ate meals here, mostly at lunch-time on work days - we would come up from the work site with the other workmen and eat together, and often laze on the grass before going back to work. On our last day, we also had a barbeque with the workers and a bunch of the missionaries. After eating, we shared, prayed and sang together. It was such a sweet yet sad time with everyone that we had come to love.
I have one particular fond memory of this little spot. On the only Sunday that we were in PNG, after lunch I was feeling a bit tired and needed some space to myself, so I went and sat in the hut. Clouds were coming in and the sun was fading away. My head was heavy and my eyes were not willing to stay open, so I just laid down on the bench. Next thing I knew, I woke up to very grey skies, rain and thunder. It was just amazing. I felt much more refreshed, too!
I did not realize that no one knew where I was... Everyone was worrying about me, and a some of the team had been looking for me. Along with that, there were two "suspicious-looking" men lurking around the fence behind Barnabas House - right near where I was sleeping. Alone. Thank God for His protection!

I will continue to share my PNG experiences!

...come back for more...

The Beginning of a Lifetime Adventure - PNG W&W 2010 (1)

This marks the beginning of the adventure in serving God in whichever way He wants me to.

Since the beginning of this year, God guided me down the path to go to Papua New Guinea, and His direction meant that this year was full of PNG planning, organizing, dreaming, excitement, waiting.........

As a result of this, from September 26 to October 10, 2010, I was in Papua New Guinea.

The experience was AMAZING!!!!

Words really cannot describe the journey as I spent two weeks in a foreign country, at the Kudjip Nazarene Hospital. The sights, the smells, the people, the landscape, the travel, the hygiene [or lack thereof], the smiles and handshakes of the people, the work, the joy and passion of the missionaries, the language... All of these things are so imprinted in my mind, and I hope that I never forget them.

If I had photos with me, I would insert some into this post... Unfortunately I don't, so head to Facebook and check out my PNG Work & Witness album there!
On Saturday September 25, I left Adelaide with Alex, Peter and Debbie, and we flew to Brisbane. We spent Saturday sight-seeing in Brisbane, stayed at the Ibis Hotel Saturday night, and then met the rest of the Work & Witness team at Brisbane airport early on Sunday morning, September 26. It was a tiny bit daunting, knowing I would be spending the next 2 weeks with all of these people I'd never met before. Everyone was so friendly though - I was desperately trying to keep all of their names in my mind!!

Our flight was delayed by 3 hours. Pacific Blue's electronic check-in system was down Australia-wide, and two of our team members were stuck in in the check-in queue for over 2 hours. Eventually we flew out of Australia - which was SO exciting for me, because I've never left the country! At least, I was excited on the inside... I was a bit exhausted from waiting around all morning, I probably didn't look too thrilled!

When we arrived in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, we were struck by the intense humidity and heat. Because our original flight was delayed by 3 hours, we had missed our connecting flight from Port Moresby up to Mount Hagen. So we spent a couple hours sitting at the airport, while our team leader Grame and other team members searched for accommodation and alternate flights to get us to Mount Hagen. The very last hotel on the list they'd been given had the exact amount of rooms that we needed - AND it was owned by a Christian Pastor in that area!!! The hand of God is amazing!

So we ate tea in Port Moresby and then stayed the night there. It was really quite scary... Driving around town, there was people everywhere; fences 9 feet tall with barbed wire strung around the top - just really didn't feel very safe. I was in a room by myself, which was quite daunting. Many prayers went up from me that night!

So the next morning we headed back to Port Moresby airport and jumped on a small plane for our flight to Mount Hagen. To give you some small insight to the sights and smells, I was sitting next to a man on the plane [each side of the aisles had just two seats together] who was really quite dirty, and a fair few times throughout the flight he was blowing his nose on his t-shirt. I admit, my tummy really didn't feel good after seeing that and being so close to that... Such an eye-opener and a bombardment to the senses!

When we arrived at Mount Hagen, we met Judy Bennett, who is from the Kudjip Nazarene Hospital. She drove us out to the mission station. Even just that drive was amazing. The mountains; the clouds; the little grass huts in the bush; so many people walking along the main road; families sitting under trees...

Driving into the Kudjip Nazarene Mission Station was SO special. Knowing that I had been called there for even just this short time was really overwhelming. I had such a yearning in my heart to do all I could for these people! Seeing the nurses in the "waiting room" (a tin shed with some wooden benches), looking at the patients; seeing so many people just waiting to see a doctor... really touched my heart and opened my eyes to all I have here in Australia. I am SO blessed!! God definitely used this time to make me much more grateful for what I have.

...to be continued...

The Countdown...

Wow! It has just been a little while since I posted... At the time of my last post, it was 44 sleeps until I am to head to Papua New Guinea. Now, it is just 10 sleeps!!!!!!!!
:O
Crazy, crazy, crazy.
Everything is now in place for the trip. All the "big" things have been organized, anyway. Our flights from Adelaide to Brisbane have been booked; we've booked train tickets from Brisbane airport to our hotel; our hotel rooms have been booked.
And, I have my passport :D
Now I just have to do all of the little bits and pieces. I have a lovely long list of things to do and things to buy before I go... Here's a sneak-peek!

TO DO:

• Get copies of passport, drivers licence, hotel bookings, flights, train bookings, daily schedule
• Get script for malaria tablets filled
• Pick up my "kina" - PNG currency (that should be exciting!!! :P )
• Prepare a devotion (as a team we'll be having a devotion every morning, and each team member has to prepare one devotion)
• Get some game ideas (for kids of all ages) for the kids clubs we'll be running
• Label suitcase
• Take inventory of everything that I take (we were told to do this)

TO SHOP FOR:

• Suitcase labels and padlocks
• Money pouch
• Hat
• Head-bands
• Suitable working skirts
• 3-quarter pants
• Stuff for kids
• Bouncy balls
• Australian clip-on koalas, etc
• Crayons
• Paint brushes
• Coloured pencils

[Any ideas of what I can get for the kids?]
We found out that it is not acceptable for women to wear shorts and pants in PNG... So, I should have some lovely photos of myself wearing skirts and work shoes, up to the knees in mud, shovelling cement.
Or something like that :P
On Sunday, Alex and I went to the Croydon Nazarene Church and gave a presentation on the PNG Work & Witness trip, and then had lunch with Peter and Debbie, the other South Aussies who are going on the trip. It was lovely! We ate at a shopping centre, and then went to Peter and Debbie's house and spent all afternoon there. We got to know them, which was really nice, and spoke a lot about the trip [of course!]. It was good to hear their thoughts on the trip, and what they've learned from talking to various people. It was really encouraging just knowing I'm going with other people, too.
So. 10 days. Trying to get my head around the fact that in 10 days' time, I will be going to a foreign country with a completely different culture, different climate, different people, different beliefs...
Over the past few months I have had people ask me if I was nervous about the trip. My answer was always, "No, not yet..."
Well, I am nervous now!!
Really, really, REALLY excited, but nervous at the same time. It has just become so much more real in the past 2 weeks.
Something else I really feel I should share, is how amazingly supportive my church has been with the trip. Seriously, other than putting all of my birthday money towards this trip, I did not put a cent into the original cost of the trip, which was $2,200.00. That in itself amazes me!!!
I can't think of much more news in this department...
I am thinking of getting my suitcase out and starting to chuck some stuff in there. I know it's still 10 days away, but hey! These next days will fly!
Your prayers for this trip will be greatly appreciated :)
~Rachel

Papua New Guinea

A lot has happened this year, for me. Many things that I did not have expect... yet now I am in the middle of them, wondering what will happen next.

At the beginning of the year, we had Youth Camp in Sydney. One night I was talking to one of the leaders, Andrew - who is also a pastor at the Croydon Park Church of the Nazarene - and somehow the subject of missions came up. I think I said that I wanted to be involved in missions, somehow, somewhere, some day. He mentioned a short-term Work & Witness mission trip that was coming up later in 2010. He couldn't remember when it was, or any of the details, except that a team would be going to Papua New Guinea.

It was awesome just hearing about a mission trip that was going to PNG, because my old pastor was a missionary there before returning to Australia and pastoring our church, so I have grown up hearing about PNG, and many stories from that country.

Pastor Andrew was really enthusiastic about the whole idea of the trip, and basically suggested that I consider going. He told me he would send me some information / brochures about the trip.
I tried not to get too excited about potentially going on a mission trip - you know, not building up hopes and getting disappointed, etc.

A month, or even two months, later, my Pastor [Doug] emailed me information about this mission trip. I hadn't spoken to him about it, or asked about it, so I was kind of surprised when I received it! [I still hadn't received the info from Andrew]
I then spoke to Pastor Doug about it, and he encouraged me to go as well.
I will still hesitant, because I didn't have a job at that time, and I wasn't sure if I could commit to this trip when I had no idea what my work situation would be by the time of the trip.

Eventually I decided to send an application through to the Work & Witness Co-ordinator. Basically I had to fill in a form with information about myself, what skills I could potentially use, my experience, etc.

Then, I had to wait.

I don't know how long it was until I got a response, but after some communication with the Co-ordinator, I was on the list to go to Papua New Guinea from September 26 to October 10, 2010.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has taken a very long time for it to sink in that I am going overseas, on a mission trip - something I have always wanted to do - and... well... it has all just been very surreal!

Now, it is just 44 sleeps until I leave. Crazy!!

There are three other people from SA who are going, and others from NSW, VIC and QLD will make up our team of 14. A guy from my church will be going, and a married couple from the Croydon Park Nazarene Church are also coming.

Us four Adelaidians will be flying to Brisbane on Saturday September 25. We will stay at a hotel overnight [and do some sightseeing by day ;) ], and then join the rest of the W&W team at the airport early on Sunday morning. We will then fly to Port Moresby (PNG's capital), and then from there, hop into a small plane and fly way, way up into the mountains, to Mount Hagen.

We will be staying at the Kudjip Nazarene Hospital. The project for the two weeks is to build accommodation for volunteer doctors and nurses. So it will be very full-on, hands-on, physical work.

I am really, really looking forward to the challenge! I know it will be hard, and I am also trying to be somehow prepared for emotional challenges as well.

Your prayers would be greatly appreciated. There has already been challenges in our preparations for the trip, and more things are bound to come up! PNG isn't the safest place to travel to, either, so safety is needed - both physical and spiritual.

Hopefully I will be able to share more with you before I go, and upon my return :)

Blessings
~Rachel