Kudjip Christmas in Review

Crossing over the Highlands highway, we make our way over the muddy, garbage strewn ditch, and enter the Kudjip rot bung (market). This Christmas season, it is a reminder of when God came into the world in the person of Jesus Christ. “The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us.” (John 1:14) I like how The Message translates this as “God moved into our neighborhood”. The hollow stares begin to warm as we call out moning olgeta (good morning all). We move among the vendors with their kaukau (sweet potatoes), corn, peppers, greens, and pik (pig) cuts of meat spread out on tarps. The smiling faces, and the outstretched hands that welcome us, are a constant reminder that regardless of the color of our skin, our living conditions, our backgrounds, or our current place in life, we are no different. We are all in need of a personal relationship with the one who calls us out of the darkness into his marvelous light. May God through his son Jesus, move into your neighborhood this Christmas season and each day of your life.

It has been a full week of Christmas here at Kudjip. We finished school last Friday looking forward to a week off for vacation. Frosting cookies and making shrinky-dinks was a big hit with our students the last day. Friday night our students hosted their Specials Showcase where they shared what they have learned this semester in their music, art, maps, and inventors class specials. Saturday we were invited to a mumu (food cooked in a pit using heated stones) by a local tribe. The purpose of this tribal gathering was to honor mothers, wives, and sisters. This is one tribe that is trying to make a change in a culture where domestic violence against women is very prevalent. Sunday morning found us navigating muddy roads up into the mountains with our friends and neighbors, Matt, Tammy, and their two children Elana and MJ; and Daniel, who took a break from his residency program in Colorado to come and work in the hospital for a month. Our destination was the bush church of Sengen Church of the Nazarene. Monday, Brenda enjoyed teaching her friend Rita how to make a cake. With only a fire to cook over at her own home, Rita was very amamas (happy) to make a cake to share with her family in celebrating Jesus’ birthday. On Christmas Eve we joined the other families for a time of caroling and passing out gifts in the hospital wards. Early Christmas morning, we served homemade cinnamon rolls to the 45 nursing students who are staying here over break for their clinicals at the hospital. That night, we enjoyed a delicious, lasagna dinner at Ben and Katherine Radcliffe’s home, along with other friends.

Wishing friends and family a Happy New Year!

David & Brenda

Naomi greets visitors to our
school Specials Showcase

Josiah and Amber Joy are ready for
questions about contour maps and inventions

                                   
                                 

                                                                       

Elana shares what she learned
about texture in art class

Entering the Kudjip market

A few of the 38 pigs served at the mumu

Walking the last mile to the Sengen church

Christmas Sunday at Sangen church

Waiting for church to begin

Lunch after church

Enjoying some good kaikai (food) 

Guests are presented with handmade bilums

                                                             
           
                           

Rita prepares the icing for her cake

Caroling in the hospital wards

Each child patient receives a stuffed animal and a blanket

     
         

A quiet Christmas Eve shared with our
friend Ame, the high school teacher

Christmas dinner at the Radcliffe's

                                               
           
                                                   

Kids in Ministry

Our students passed out

 "prescriptions" to each of our doctors.

Students share the prayers they wrote for
the doctors.

Once a month, our students are involved in some sort of ministry project directed toward a specific people group here at Kudjip Station. In September, we honored the national workers who helped remodel our schoolhouse. In October, we honored our doctors with lifesaver prescriptions, and the students prayed with them. This last month, we visited A-Ward or the pediatric ward at the hospital. Upon arrival, our students sang one song in English and another in Tok Pisin.  Our students visited each young patient and passed out wooden “Jacob’s ladder” toys to them. They showed them how to make the ladder work, which brought smiles from patients and family members alike. Brenda and Stephanie, one of our chaplains; prayed with each family as we moved through the 32 bed ward. Each young patient has a watchman, or caregiver that stays with the patient for the duration of their hospital stay. Many times other family members are there. Caregivers will sleep in a chair or in the same bed as the patient. They are responsible for bringing food for themselves and the patients who are not on a special diet. A lot of times you will see their hand-washed laundry spread out on the hospital grounds to dry. The main illnesses affecting children in PNG are pneumonia, diarrhea, malnourishment, meningitis, and injuries. Unfortunately, due to the isolation of villages and lack of transportation, many patients do not make it to the hospital until they are in the latter stages of these illnesses. Another illness that is often associated with big feast events is pik bel, (pik meaning pig, and bel meaning stomach.) This bacterial infection affects children 1 – 12 years of age, and is picked up from eating a large amount of protein, mainly from undercooked pork. In PNG, kaukau or sweet potato is the staple, and very little meat is consumed. Their diet is therefore lacking in protein.  During special events when meat is available, the children tend to “pig out”. Children most susceptible to pik bel, are usually suffering from malnourishment and intestinal worms. Mild cases are treated with medicine, moderate cases require surgical removal of parts of the small intestine, and severe cases result in death.

Simeon writes Jisas laikim mi
on the Jacob's ladders.

Josiah tests out a ladder.

Singing songs in English and Tok Pisin.

Anna demonstrates a ladder.

Praying together.

Bringing smiles to patients.

Brightening a child's day

Levi and Josiah reach out to patients. 

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

-      Jesus