Cholera, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be…
Ok, I really thought that with this new blogging system, I’d be a bit more diligent in my writing…alas, once again, I have proven myself wrong…I’m just a horrible communicator no matter which way you look at it.
How to summarize the last two months? That just might be nearly impossible. I’ve been doing a lot of traveling back and forth to Laiagam…which is about 2 hour drive from Mambisanda…I’m not talking highway driving, I’m talking the only reason you speed up is to get to the next pothole, which may swallow your car whole if you are not careful. I’ve been working with Anna Kaipare and her family to do mobile VCT testing and HIV awareness up there. I’ve also been working with the hospital to assist them in providing services for those infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. Of course, it’s not all work…being in Laiagam is always like a small holiday…no one there knocks on my door or really bothers me for any reason, it’s nice.
United to Be is…what can I say? It’s struggling, which it does…the work ebbs and flows…right now, it’s ebbing. Although, if I say to be somewhere at a certain time, I know that several people will show up, so it’s “not dead yet”…(to quote Monty Python). There are the faithful few who show up rain or shine…whether other people are there or not, so that’s nice and comforting…so, please, continue to keep UTB in your prayers.
About a month ago, a new disease was introduced into PNG…Cholera. While, it’s not new to the world, it is new to PNG. So, that jumpstarted the LCMS mission workers to do awareness, create pamphlets, build “Cholera” beds, clean out old wards to be used as isolation wards…that initial drive to work lasted all of 2 weeks, maybe…then, one by one, as media forgot to mention Cholera the intensity with which people were working began to fade…except for UTB…and me…I’m still creating new pamphlets, advising the provincial government, going to schools, markets, etc…talking to kai bars (restaurants, of sorts), creating dramas for UTB.
While I feel a bit guilty for admitting it, I find Cholera exciting. It’s something new to learn and it’s a bit exhilarating to be on the front lines of a new, deadly disease…to have to create an approach on how to fight it and then modify and reorganize your thoughts as you implement your plans…realizing that, sometimes, it just doesn’t work out the way you want it to…
As for my social life, the Lord has blessed me with some amazing new friendships in the past year. A family to call my own…it’s like having 6 younger siblings that I never wanted but cherish more than life itself. And several moms away from home (because they call their Aunts “mom”) and, yeah, it’s been a breath of fresh air from the friendships I had known.
The Lord continues to bless me and see me through difficult times. As I look toward to my final days, I try not to be too sad…because it’s just absolutely amazing that I was given this opportunity to serve the people of Papua New Guinea. Although, to be honest, I’m probably going to have a nervous breakdown as even the thought of leaving breaks my heart into a million pieces.
I guess that’s about it for now. I’m actually up at Amapyaka today, so I might try to add some pictures while I’m at it. I don’t have any pictures of Cholera awareness, but I do have some of HIV awareness in Laiagam…and my new “little sister” (aka my PNG niece).
Peace and God’s blessings to each and every one of you. There really is a hero in all of us. We’ve all been designed by God to be a blessing to many- a hero to some. Be passionate about something and challenge yourself to be a blessing to someone today. And never forget that you are clutched in the grasp of God who will never let you go.
Peace and blessings,
Liz
