This is the Way We Build Our Haus Kuk

Pacific Orientation Course (POC) is designed to teach us practical skills that we may need to use in our ministry (especially if someone will be living in a village), including how to cook over an open fire. In order to practice our cooking, we have to build a haus kuk (kitchen). Today the staff and local workmen gave us a demonstration on how to build our own haus kuk.

First Impressions: Week One

I'm off to the Pacific Orientation Course (POC)! These are some of my first impressions, and a general idea of what we're doing on a daily basis.

Heading Out!

Well, tomorrow is the big day! The P2 bus is picking me up at 6 am to go out to the airstrip and from there I’m heading up to Madang for the Pacific Orientation Course (POC). Madang is about 90 miles north of Ukarumpa, only a 30 minute flight!

Differences

Many of you have been asking me if I’ve experienced any culture shock during my three weeks in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Up to this point, I would say no; Ukarumpa is a very unique place—there are so many different countries and cultures represented and mixed together here that Ukarumpa has its own culture. That being said, just because I haven’t experienced culture shock, doesn’t mean that everything is exactly the same as it is in the United States!

The Journey

After a whirlwind year and an even crazier three months, I’m finally in Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea (PNG)! Almost exactly a year ago, I went to Monterrey, Mexico once again with a group of friends to build a house and do a VBS with the kids there. I have always known that God was calling me into missions, but hadn’t gotten the “go ahead” from Him to act on it. Shortly after I returned to Wisconsin, a Wycliffe missionary pilot and his family visited my church. They spoke about Wycliffe, a Bible translation organization, and how teachers are desperately needed, specifically in PNG. So after much prayer and seeking advice, I applied to Wycliffe Bible Translators and was accepted as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher!

A month and a half ago, I was able to go to Orlando for three weeks for Wycliffe orientation training. While there, I was privileged to meet 36 of my co-workers who are heading all around the world, either as linguists and translators or support staff (like myself—teachers, pilots, boarding home parents; pretty much any job you can think of is needed). Many of us were/are headed to PNG, including one of the girls I roomed with while in Orlando. She and I were able to book our flights at the same time and we flew all the way from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Ukarumpa together, which was a huge blessing.

I’ve been in Ukarumpa for almost two weeks now, and what a two weeks it’s been! I’m (finally!) learning my way around and getting settled in.