random thoughts

Wow! It's hard to believe I only have 2 weeks left in this beautiful country. For the most part time seems to have flown by. I found myself this last week intentionally soaking it all in wanting to remember every sight, sound, and smell. As I was sitting at the ocean as the waves came crashing in I remembered how blessed I truly am. The freedom to go to another country and not have to hide why I am here. My housemate and I had dinner this week with some friends from Malaysia, they have been translators in PNG for many years and they talked of how they are unable to visit certain countries. How strange and incredible to know I have been given so much freedom and sad to know there are so many opportunities I have let slip away. I have learned that I can not allow those missed opportunities to hold me back, but to take every chance given to share this freedom I know.

I had the opportunity to rest this past week. I thought I might feel guilty about it, but when the time came I embraced this blessing. I enjoyed 2nd hand shopping and also shopping for those back home. I ate in restaurants with ocean views. The greatest time was snorkeling. Even though I have snorkeled before,I am still intriqued that there is a whole other world lying just beneath the waves. Of course I found Nemo. Also discovered lots of coral, sea cucumbers, blue starfish, lion fish, and many others. My favorite fish was black and white striped. I don't know it's name so I call it the zebra fish.

The last few days of the trip we headed to POC (Pacific Orientation Course). It's on top of the mountain and the view,well there are no words to describe how amazing. People come to POC to learn to speak tok pisin and also how to live in villages. We were there towards the end of the course. I was able to help some with their infirmities.

Cooking outdoors in housecooks, bucket showers, outhouses (liklik houses in pisin),
I must admit I admire these people. I enjoy camping and the outdoors, but I am still questioning whether this type of living could ever be for me. I slept under a mosquito net while I was there and of course took my malaria medicine religiously. I am sure I could adjust to that kinda life, but not sure if that's the life God has for me. I don't have to decide that now, but I'm not closing the door, I'm open.

Our trip home from Madang was quite eventful. As the girls have said it was an epic road trip. First of all there are 6 of us (5 girls and Papa G). Things were looking good as we headed back on our "5 hour" road trip. Many potholes awaited us, that was painful. Our first stop was about hour into the trip when we popped a tire (40 minutes). Our next stop about 3 hours into the trip because of a way to big truck trying to get up the mountain and was stuck in the mud holding up about 11 cars (40 mins). Then our nice pit stop in the sugar cane (5 mins) and a few minutes after that a petrol stop where Donna, as she was standing next to her door had a man reach in and grab her wallet. She ran after him and 20 people ran after him and caught the guy and wallet was returned successfully. (30 mins) So our 5 hour trip quickly turned into 8 hours, but it made for a good story at least. Needless to say arriving through the gates of Ukarumpa was a welcomed sight.

I started back at the clinic today. I now have a door to my therapy room. So exciting. It's good to be back in my temporary home. Looking forward to sharing some of my stories with you when I return to the states. Hope all of you are doing well.

Until then...