Garoka Market Day
Posted in Papua New Guinea on November 14th, 2008 by PK Kurth – Be the first to comment
Archive for November, 2008
Coffee Anyone?
Posted in Papua New Guinea on November 14th, 2008 by PK Kurth – Be the first to comment
PNG Rec
Posted in Papua New Guinea on November 13th, 2008 by PK Kurth – Be the first to commentHi all, it’s Karey 
Today we had our first day of rec with the kids, and its amazing how we have the feel of Hume here and yet our background consists of the highlands of PNG… it’s absolutely gorgeous! I’m having the time of my life taking photos everyday and I can’t wait to share them with everyone… (the ones here aren’t edited right and all I can say is I’m bummed and sorry ) The kids are so excited to be here and it’s really easy to see in their energy during rec…
Here is the rec field that backs up to a village that’s on the other side of the fence. No matter what the weather does the scenery is just amazing.
Just a little excited…
Kyle did a great job revving the kids up…
A little kajabe action…
And if you are wondering where all the hype for the day got started, here ya go… just for Kari 
Spiritual Emphasis Weekend at Interface
Posted in Papua New Guinea on November 12th, 2008 by PK Kurth – 1 CommentThe road to Interface.
Derek and Nathan hanging off the back…
The amazing scenery along the way
Christina enjoying the view before she headed back for the Jr. High camp.
Our chapel during camp here at Interface.
Dave leading worship
PK bringing the Word.
Camp photo!
Cultural Awareness
Posted in Papua New Guinea on November 12th, 2008 by PK Kurth – Be the first to commentThis morning we leave for camp. It will be good to engage students en masse. We have spent the few days seeking them out, engaging them in conversation, eating lunch with them in their dorms and homes… Sometimes it feels a bit like a hunting expedition: where are those elusive students? School, practice, off doing homework… We went to the high school girls’ basketball game. They played the 8th grade boys’ team. It was fun to watch.
We wrote earlier that life here is much like life at Hume. And in many ways it is. But there are several key ways in which it is distinctly different. In the social structure of this country men are the pinnacle of society. Next in line are pigs, then dogs, then women, then children. If you were involved in a car accident, it would be better for your personal safety to hit a women or child rather than risk injury to a man’s pig.
Here in Garoka (the Highlands region) more so than other parts of PNG, the daughters of missionaries suffer most. When a young girl begins to show signs of puberty, she is considered of marriageable age. She is expected to be traded as a sign of goodwill. It is a badge of honor to grope, molest or have intercourse with a white girl. For their own safety mission daughters rarely leave the compound. This place becomes a virtual prison for them. Furloughs and Spiritual Emphasis Weeks (that’s us) are just about the only time they travel outside the gate. Add to that the knowledge that tribal work: translation of the Scriptures, establishment of local churches, is suspended because fathers must protect them. This can lead to tremendous amounts of guilt for unfinished work in the light of eternity…
Pray for these young ladies. Pray for Jen and Amy and Karey and Christina as they seek to meet needs they cannot comprehend.
Another key difference between Hume and PNG lies in life after high school. For Hume kids there may be college, there may not. They may be hired to work in the ministry, they may not. New Tribes kids don’t have that option. If they want to work for the ministry, they must return to the States for education. If parents want to help their children adjust to college life there are significant financial challenges. It is expensive to fly. We spoke with one family who knows that over the course of the next six years, they will have three children entering college. They know they will have to save at least $1000.00 dollars a month for the next six years to pay for airline tickets in order to help their children enroll in college. That does not include flying their children home during semester breaks. What faith! What pressure! Students know and understand the burdens their parents carry for them.
It also occurred to me that everything on this compound has been paid for by faith. Buildings, books, machinery, utilities, airplanes… everything has been paid for by donated monies. There are no stores that sell to the public, no exporting businesses to offset expenses. Everything here is about giving things away – either to the indigenous people or the next generation of workers. Everything is by faith. For more than 35 years God has supported this work through the faithful offerings of his church. Truly incredible!
We will try to post a slide show before we leave today. I don’t think we will have Internet while at camp. Know that we’ll post again Sun PM for certain.
PK
Market day in Garoka
Posted in Papua New Guinea on November 12th, 2008 by PK Kurth – Be the first to commentCultural Awareness
Posted in Papua New Guinea on November 12th, 2008 by PK Kurth – Be the first to commentThis morning we leave for camp. It will be good to engage students en masse. We have spent the few days seeking them out, engaging them in conversation, eating lunch with them in their dorms and homes… Sometimes it feels a bit like a hunting expedition: where are those elusive students? School, practice, off doing homework… We went to the high school girls’ basketball game. They played the 8th grade boys’ team. It was fun to watch.
We wrote earlier that life here is much like life at Hume. And in many ways it is. But there are several key ways in which it is distinctly different. In the social structure of this country men are the pinnacle of society. Next in line are pigs, then dogs, then women, then children. If you were involved in a car accident, it would be better for your personal safety to hit a women or child rather than risk injury to a man’s pig.
Here in Garoka (the Highlands region) more so than other parts of PNG, the daughters of missionaries suffer most. When a young girl begins to show signs of puberty, she is considered of marriageable age. She is expected to be traded as a sign of goodwill. It is a badge of honor to grope, molest or have intercourse with a white girl. For their own safety mission daughters rarely leave the compound. This place becomes a virtual prison for them. Furloughs and Spiritual Emphasis Weeks (that’s us) are just about the only time they travel outside the gate. Add to that the knowledge that tribal work: translation of the Scriptures, establishment of local churches, is suspended because fathers must protect them. This can lead to tremendous amounts of guilt for unfinished work in the light of eternity…
Pray for these young ladies. Pray for Jen and Amy and Karey and Christina as they seek to meet needs they cannot comprehend.
Another key difference between Hume and PNG lies in life after high school. For Hume kids there may be college, there may not. They may be hired to work in the ministry, they may not. New Tribes kids don’t have that option. If they want to work for the ministry, they must return to the States for education. If parents want to help their children adjust to college life there are significant financial challenges. It is expensive to fly. We spoke with one family who knows that over the course of the next six years, they will have three children entering college. They know they will have to save at least $1000.00 dollars a month for the next six years to pay for airline tickets in order to help their children enroll in college. That does not include flying their children home during semester breaks. What faith! What pressure! Students know and understand the burdens their parents carry for them.
It also occurred to me that everything on this compound has been paid for by faith. Buildings, books, machinery, utilities, airplanes… everything has been paid for by donated monies. There are no stores that sell to the public, no exporting businesses to offset expenses. Everything here is about giving things away – either to the indigenous people or the next generation of workers. Everything is by faith. For more than 35 years God has supported this work through the faithful offerings of his church. Truly incredible!
We will try to post a slide show before we leave today. i don’t think we will have internet while at camp.
We wrote earlier that life here is much like life at Hume. And in many ways it is. But there are several key ways in which it is distinctly different. In the social structure of this country men are the pinnacle of society. Next in line are pigs, then dogs, then women, then children. If you were involved in a car accident, it would be better for your personal safety to hit a women or child rather than risk injury to a man’s pig.
Here in Garoka (the Highlands region) more so than other parts of PNG, the daughters of missionaries suffer most. When a young girl begins to show signs of puberty, she is considered of marriageable age. She is expected to be traded as a sign of goodwill. It is a badge of honor to grope, molest or have intercourse with a white girl. For their own safety mission daughters rarely leave the compound. This place becomes a virtual prison for them. Furloughs and Spiritual Emphasis Weeks (that’s us) are just about the only time they travel outside the gate. Add to that the knowledge that tribal work: translation of the Scriptures, establishment of local churches, is suspended because fathers must protect them. This can lead to tremendous amounts of guilt for unfinished work in the light of eternity…
Pray for these young ladies. Pray for Jen and Amy and Karey and Christina as they seek to meet needs they cannot comprehend.
Another key difference between Hume and PNG lies in life after high school. For Hume kids there may be college, there may not. They may be hired to work in the ministry, they may not. New Tribes kids don’t have that option. If they want to work for the ministry, they must return to the States for education. If parents want to help their children adjust to college life there are significant financial challenges. It is expensive to fly. We spoke with one family who knows that over the course of the next six years, they will have three children entering college. They know they will have to save at least $1000.00 dollars a month for the next six years to pay for airline tickets in order to help their children enroll in college. That does not include flying their children home during semester breaks. What faith! What pressure! Students know and understand the burdens their parents carry for them.
It also occurred to me that everything on this compound has been paid for by faith. Buildings, books, machinery, utilities, airplanes… everything has been paid for by donated monies. There are no stores that sell to the public, no exporting businesses to offset expenses. Everything here is about giving things away – either to the indigenous people or the next generation of workers. Everything is by faith. For more than 35 years God has supported this work through the faithful offerings of his church. Truly incredible!
We will try to post a slide show before we leave today. i don’t think we will have internet while at camp.
Social Justice
Posted in Papua New Guinea on November 11th, 2008 by PK Kurth – Be the first to comment
Yesterday we went to the market in Garoka. Thirteen white people in a sea of five to six hundred. People staring, pointing… I now have a greater appreciation for the definitions of awkward and freak show.
They prepped us for our market experience by telling us that thievery has become rampant. There has been a dramatic shift from opportunism – if you leave it you must not want it – to robbery – you are rich enough to buy another one. We were to be very aware of who was around us and how we carried cameras, backpacks, etc. We were also made aware that groping is culturally acceptable. They are a very touchy society. In fact, it is often a sign of respect and admiration if seventy year old ladies walk by and give you a little “atta boy” on the backside. Can you say, “Awkward? Freak show.”? For our ladies it’s not so nice to be complimented that way. I wonder why.
In any event, several of us guys assumed the role of body guard and security detail for the ladies. I finally found an outlet for the intimidation factor so many people accuse me of possessing. We paid special attention to Karey, who was disappointed to only shoot 120 or so photos in the 15 minutes we were there. “I’m so frustrated. The ground is so muddy and slippery I have to watch where I’m walking.” She wasn’t kidding. Ryan White purchased a two foot piece of sugar cane two inches in diameter. At 6’7” he towered over the crowd, looking like a giant gnawing on a log he couldn’t wait to beat someone with. Needless to say, we made it through the crowd with several smiles and nods. Karey was slipping and snapping photos, resisting our prodding to leave… much like a little kid who’s not ready for bed.
As we made it to the parking lot, others were in the van waiting. The general crowd had grown closer to a thousand or so. This is a crazy place.
As Derek and I were the last to enter the van, a little commotion breaks out in a back seat. Apparently, while waiting for us, those in the van were being stalked by a couple of “rascals”, the local term for thieves and druggies. One fiend was particularly brazen. As Derek and I entered, this guy had gone to the opposite side of the van reached through the window, between Nathan Pearsey and the seat, grabbed his camera and bolted in less than a second. Nathan yelled. We looked. The crowd looked.
They prepped us for our market experience by telling us that thievery has become rampant. There has been a dramatic shift from opportunism – if you leave it you must not want it – to robbery – you are rich enough to buy another one. We were to be very aware of who was around us and how we carried cameras, backpacks, etc. We were also made aware that groping is culturally acceptable. They are a very touchy society. In fact, it is often a sign of respect and admiration if seventy year old ladies walk by and give you a little “atta boy” on the backside. Can you say, “Awkward? Freak show.”? For our ladies it’s not so nice to be complimented that way. I wonder why.
In any event, several of us guys assumed the role of body guard and security detail for the ladies. I finally found an outlet for the intimidation factor so many people accuse me of possessing. We paid special attention to Karey, who was disappointed to only shoot 120 or so photos in the 15 minutes we were there. “I’m so frustrated. The ground is so muddy and slippery I have to watch where I’m walking.” She wasn’t kidding. Ryan White purchased a two foot piece of sugar cane two inches in diameter. At 6’7” he towered over the crowd, looking like a giant gnawing on a log he couldn’t wait to beat someone with. Needless to say, we made it through the crowd with several smiles and nods. Karey was slipping and snapping photos, resisting our prodding to leave… much like a little kid who’s not ready for bed.
As we made it to the parking lot, others were in the van waiting. The general crowd had grown closer to a thousand or so. This is a crazy place.
As Derek and I were the last to enter the van, a little commotion breaks out in a back seat. Apparently, while waiting for us, those in the van were being stalked by a couple of “rascals”, the local term for thieves and druggies. One fiend was particularly brazen. As Derek and I entered, this guy had gone to the opposite side of the van reached through the window, between Nathan Pearsey and the seat, grabbed his camera and bolted in less than a second. Nathan yelled. We looked. The crowd looked.
I thought about chasing. He’s young and has a head start. I’m… old. (That hurts!) Camera’s gone.
Then out of nowhere we witness social justice PNG style. As this rascal is sprinting full speed to safety, a forty-something man sticks out his arm and clotheslines this rascal. Knocked him flat on his back. Way to go old guy!! Derek and I instantly run as a crowd forms around the punk. I think a few kicks and punches were thrown before the he managed to escape. Apparently, the crowd realized we were with New Tribes, who is highly regarded in the community, and didn’t want them to be offended. Social justice for a criminal can result in severe beatings for the offender that brings him dangerously close to death.
Mr. Clothesline had secured the camera and returned it to us as we approached. As the crowd pressed in for a front row seat I realized I might not be in such a good position. Giving our new friend a good handshake, pat on the shoulder and a little reward, we beat a hasty retreat to the van which was attracting its own crowd. For those in complete suspense, you should know that we survived and are here to tell you the story. God is good.
Then out of nowhere we witness social justice PNG style. As this rascal is sprinting full speed to safety, a forty-something man sticks out his arm and clotheslines this rascal. Knocked him flat on his back. Way to go old guy!! Derek and I instantly run as a crowd forms around the punk. I think a few kicks and punches were thrown before the he managed to escape. Apparently, the crowd realized we were with New Tribes, who is highly regarded in the community, and didn’t want them to be offended. Social justice for a criminal can result in severe beatings for the offender that brings him dangerously close to death.
Mr. Clothesline had secured the camera and returned it to us as we approached. As the crowd pressed in for a front row seat I realized I might not be in such a good position. Giving our new friend a good handshake, pat on the shoulder and a little reward, we beat a hasty retreat to the van which was attracting its own crowd. For those in complete suspense, you should know that we survived and are here to tell you the story. God is good.
Coffee Bean Warehouse Tour
Posted in Papua New Guinea on November 11th, 2008 by PK Kurth – Be the first to commentSteve is friends with the guy who runs or owns this coffee warehouse and he graciously took us all on a tour when we got back from visiting the tribe which was awesome… this is the name of the coffee plant…
Visit to a tribal village in the Finistere Mountains!
Posted in Papua New Guinea on November 11th, 2008 by PK Kurth – 1 Comment1. The team before take off with our sweet planes.
2. Once we landed we had fun visiting with the tribe, I fell in love with this little one.
3. The missionaries, tribe and Hume team
4. Dave and a little one.. when he went to give her back she didn’t want him to let her go, super cute.
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13. 2 of our new friends running around the village
14. The literacy hut where the teaching goes on for the tribe
15. We were invited into one of the huts for a meal of cowcow (sweet potatoes), roasted corn, cucumbers and roasted bananas. We weren’t sure if we would like it but it was all really tasty. It was quite a feast, the people are gracious hosts.
16. Our gracious host. He assists the missionaries translating the scriptures to the tribal language.
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18. Once we finished our feast they showed us how they build fires… and it was quick. Pretty amazing.
19. We thought the fires were for cooking.
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21. From the air
22. Safe landing in Goroka
Sweet trip.
~Karey