Teacher Stories from Kudjip

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.