Their answer - anywhere in a 2 day hike radius. Waikuna, Kotidanga, Paingoba, Ipamangi, Mewari, Kotumbaiwa, Pangoni, Watapaiyu, Kemu, Mbewe, Ipaiyu, Nankampaiwa, Komako, Ivandu, and many more.
On another afternoon, we girls all sit around the table. Sila had hiked to her mountainside garden earlier that morning to harvest kumu and kaukau (greens and potatoes) to share with us for dinner. From her garden on the neighboring mountain, Selestin brought taro or siko (roots and veggies). We spend an hour around the table telling stories and singing the newest choir song Mary Beth has taught us in Tok Pisin while "straightening the kumu" in preparation for dinner together. We make our second version of taro soup with onions and chicken cubes. The food is delicious, but company is sweeter. The girls’ smiles tell it all. We laugh until we cry at mishaps in language (literally lost in translation) between Kamea and Tok Pisin and English. A common topic is to share memories - and again we ask "Wanem ples blo yu?" So the stories continue about Tennessee, Georgia, Ipamangi, Louisville, Kotidanga, Texas, to name few.
During the week of Polio Patrol, we took a "wokabaut" with Ellie to the other side of the mountain to inquire for vaccines. It is a beautiful morning; the sun shines brightly and has dried our dirt path for easy walking. Greetings are exchanged to each passerby "Awi! Monin! Gut de! Apinun! Or Qa’afaina!" as the day progresses. Mothers carry their littlest one in a bilum hanging from their head in front of them, often with a load of produce in a second bag on their back. Some gather on the roadside for a rinse in the river, others to rest and eat. As we pass each village or house line, Ellie names the "ples" and usually someone we know who lives there. We share stories and ask Ellie what it was like when she when she grew up or went to school. She shared that instead of hiking mountains to garden, she used to get in a canoe and row to her garden since there were an abundance of waterways. She shares of her mother being a cook for a mission house, and her moving away to attend high school. So naturally we ask, "Wanem ples blo yu?"
On Friday night we gather just after dark, sometime around 7pm once you have heard the bell rung twice and the guitars playing inside church for Yut Bung (Youth Meeting). Between thirty and forty youth find a friend to sit with, lay aside their flashlights for the walk home, greet everyone within eye sight with a handshake and "gut nait!" or "hamamas lo lukim yu!" and pull out their song books to join in singing. Their energy and smiles - contagious. No matter how tired we may be by the end of the week, I am always glad I went. Several sit at the front, having just tuned their guitars, and lead us with their strumming. Later Pastor Ben preaches, and the night ends with a game and cheering your team on. But this night as we began to sing, the words of the song, albeit simple, struck me. All the enthusiastic voices echo in the tin walls and roof, a wonderful sound! It begins:
God Em I Papa, Em I Papa Bilong Mi, {God is my Father} …
Spirit Em I Helpim Bilong Mi (the Holy Spirit is our Helper)…
Baibel Em I Tok Tru, Em I Tok Tru Bilong God (The Bible is God’s true Word)…
But last it says "Heven Em I P'les, Em I P'les Bilong Mi" (Heaven is my home.)
All throughout the week, we talk about pleses (homes, places, villages, my ples, your ples, etc…), but what a powerful reminder this was to me that Heaven is my home! My true home. As many people the Lord brings across our paths, as many places He leads us, this is just a short while until we will be with Him forever in eternity. We are from all over the world, each called to obedience, each loved, each seen, each given the opportunity to be reconciled to Him because of His ultimate sacrifice on the cross for our sins. And one day, all of my brothers and sisters in Christ will sing together!
By these two things that we ask every patient - name and place - are we most known. Who are we and where we live. They are common identifiers universally. And both are known by our Heavenly Father. He knows our name. Think about it - the God of the Universe knows you, and has not forgotten any detail about you. Truly, He knows us more deeply than anyone else. And on top of that mind-blowing truth, He sees us - right where we are, every place, far or near.
This month has brought the Polio Patrol. Nationwide, 18 kids have been diagnosed with polio, which instigated a further pursuit to vaccinate children. This definitely increased our patient load in clinic, but the team did a great job at rallying together. We were also thankful to find twins twice this month in prenatal check-ups. Confirming twins with ultrasound can be life-saving because it allows time for mom to walk to Kerema's hospital before she goes into labor. This is a 3 day walk and not for the faint of heart. We praise the Lord for the two kids we have seen recover from meningitis this month. Both were very ill and not able to walk, and their parents were very diligent in bringing them twice a day for two weeks for treatment. We have greatly enjoyed having Sam resume Bible classes upon his return from Australia. The lessons of doctrine about God's character and the timeline of Scripture from creation to Christ have been convicting and an encouragement.
How has life been? Life is hard, similar, wonderful, new, growing, simple, stretching, complex, a blessing and a challenge. And it is all a journey home. Each day - just a step closer to heaven
· John and Lena Allen: currently at Ukarumpa, working on the New Testament Kamea translation and Tok Pisin Study Bible
· Pastor Ben and Anjuda, Selestin, Nosa, Becky, and Ishmael: also working on Kamea translation and pastoring Kotidanga Baptist Church
· Sam and Mary Beth Snyder, Tommy, Leland, Bethany : teaching choir, doing prenatal check-ups, teaching Bible School with Blumen translating, and fixing everything in between, including helping us set a broken bone this month
· Laura Lee Alford : lover of languages and translation, working in the clinic, teaching guitar lessons and leading girls Bible Study
· Emma Stout: registered nurse, working in the clinic, manages all well-baby checkups, and teaches children's Sunday school with Anjuda
· Sarah Glover: literacy teacher. clinic worker, and also assisting with translation, currently on furlough, and returning in December
· Clinic Staff: Ellie, Judas, John Mark, Linda, Manandi
· Brother Yali: leads our congregation in singing, and also working with the Kamea translation
· And me…