What's in a Bilum?

Before I tell you what’s in a bilum, it would probably be helpful to know…what is a bilum?! A bilum is a bag made from plastic string, yarn, or natural fibers (like from a tree or something similar).

Two of my bilums; the one
on the left is made of string
and the other is yarn.

The women work on these bags in the evenings while they stori (talk) or even while they’re walking to market! (Yes, I have seen a woman working on a bilum while walking along the road!) They come in various sizes, from small enough to only fit a water bottle, to big enough to carry gallons and gallons of water in small Coke bottles, all their produce coming and going to the market, and even their babies!

One of the babies taking
a nap in a bilum.

The women carry their bilums on their head, with the load resting on their back. Mothers give their daughters bilums with only a little weight in them, then gradually add more weight, in order to strengthen their neck muscles. It's totally normal for men to carry a bilum, too. They generally carry it around their neck, hanging in front or over one shoulder, cross-body style.

The Gecko in the Window

I’ve been sick and quarantined to my room all week, so I’ve had lots of quality time with just me and the gecko in my window. I haven’t been able to go hiking or swimming this week, since I’m supposed to be resting, so I thought I would introduce you to some of the characters that hang around the Pacific Orientation Course (POC) campus.

You Know You are a PNG Missionary When...

There are several things that were so strange to me when I first arrived, but now, after eight weeks in Papua New Guinea, they seem totally normal. So here you have it:


You know you're a PNG missionary when...


1. Driving on the left side of the road is normal. (Well, actually, it’s whichever side has less potholes, which isn’t always easy to determine!)

Five Perks of a Bucket Shower

I'm sure some of you may be wondering how we bathe here at POC...do we run down to a river? Or maybe we just do without for 12 weeks? (Yikes, that's a scary thought!) No, not to worry! We do shower...with a bucket!

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!