Teacher Stories from Kudjip

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