Discovering my ABC’s in PNG!
Hello family and friends,
I hope this post finds you well. I miss you all. Your replies to send me hurrahs bring me inexplicable joy! And somehow, I weirdly miss the sweater weather too.
Time apart from home, friends, church, and work life had me reflecting on my relationships with you. I look at my list of emails and I feel so blessed to be connected with you. You have invested some time and energy into my life, in both small and big ways, in the past and in the present. I value you all dearly. WARNING: This post includes much updates!!! I was pleasantly surprised how busy the past nine weeks have been here in Papua New Guinea. A cup of coffee or tea is highly recommended to read this with! ☕️😊 Foundation of IT
I've had the privilege to teach the foundation of computer and IT to 85 students in 7 classes, where each class has 4 to 25 students. They come from all walks of life - primary to college students, school teachers, pastors, mothers, government employees, unemployed, etc. For most of the classes, we used the equipment we brought from Hawaii - Rasperry Pi's and other hardware. One class broke my heart as 4 out of 5 could sorta read but could not write at all. So I customized the class where I can teach them how to use the computer, but at the same time teach them how to read and write as well. Illiteracy is a major problem especially in places far from the school establishments.
As development and technology are just slowly entering this nation, computer classes are very rare and very expensive. A group of students expressed how much these classes mean to them. Some have never thought they could ever touch a computer in their lifetime. Some have been praying to one day have an opportunity to learn how to use a computer. Some have been saving up to one day afford to enroll to a computer class. My eyes got watery fast. It must be sheer ignorance that one can easily assume that in this day and age, everyone should have seen/used a computer. I may be teaching technology in this nation, but this nation is teaching reality and humanity in me. The Bible Translated
For hundreds of years, the people of Papua New Guinea worshiped random things as gods such as a big tree or even a child. Demonic rituals, cannibalism, and witchcraft & sorcery practices ensued. However, a revival in the past couple of decades occurred. And so today, there is an openness and eagerness to know God.
Of the 7,000+ languages in the world, 850+ languages are from this country. Astounding fact! Most people we meet are trilingual - they speak their village language, Pidgin ("broken English" taught by Germans), and English (taught by English and Australians).
As part of the "End The Bible Poverty" project, our team brought tech-based tools to share The Gospel. First is a solar-powered projector to show a movie called "Jesus Film" in the evenings. It is a 2-hour movie on the life, death and resurrection of Christ dubbed in different languages. We play the movie version according to the tribal language of the village/town/city we're in. Second are 50sh mini SD cards with audio bibles that are again translated in various languages. Some people own basic cellphones which have SD card slots. Village Living
They say you have not experienced Papua New Guinea if you have not lived in the villages. And so we did, in four to be exact. One village usually represents one clan - an extended family with 100 to 1,000 members. I envy the simplicity of their lives. Organic produce from their gardens, small straw huts as homes, barely any furniture or belongings, vast lands and forests as children's playgrounds, creeks/rivers for water needs... and unlimited coconuts! Yaasss, coconut is life. However, due to their remote locations, the trade-offs are no immediate access to medical clinics or hospitals, no power lines, no running water, and no to little cellphone coverage. Oh and no bridges, so had to cross strong rivers bare feet! This is exciting anddd terrifying, but grateful to locals who guided us in every step... literally, with our arms locked with theirs, in every step.
Medicine is a big need in the villages. When people found out I had a first-aid kit and some medicine, there was a line up from wounds to chronic pains. One thing I was not equipped for though was when I was bitten by a poisonous centipede. Overnight, the venom moved from my thumb to the rest of my arm. It was such an excruciating pain I've never felt before! Lesson learned: bring a bigger first-aid kit and more pain killers.
Radically generous. This is simply how I would describe the people in the villages. They hosted us in their homes, served us their best meals, showered us with gifts (I got a dozen handmade bags, a handful of dresses, etc), and loved and encouraged us much! A man named Moses un-reluctantly explained it as "You are in our village. What is ours is yours." I came to serve and to give, but I was greatly moved and felt that I was served more and had received more. My hope and prayer is to grow such a heart of uncalculated, unjustified, radical generosity.
Market Open Air
I had no idea what "open air" really meant until I had a microphone in one hand... in the middle of a very busy market... with close to three-hundred people surrounding me. Open air, indeed. After our team dramatized the good ol' Everything skit by Lifehouse, I shared a word on faith and love in action. They were all ears, vendors and shoppers, men and women, young and old. They listened to understand, not to condemn or ridicule. They listened to understand, and so they understood. Lots raised their hands to be prayed for after. Moments like these make this journey all worth it. Hospital Visit
Out of the eight members of our team from Hawaii, two got malaria. I'm the only who chose to take anti-malaria pills from day one. Though I have less chance of getting malaria, I can still get it but with the meds masking the symptoms. That said, I was advised to get tested when I'm back home and off the meds.
Malaria, a big threatening word for us in the western world; but it's so common here that it'd be hard to find a local who has not had it. The hospital was full of malaria patients. We approached every patient's bed and offered our prayers. Everyone said yes without any hesitation. One I cannot get my mind off of was a one-month old girl suffering from malaria and asthma. I wouldn't even try describing her condition. It was heartbreaking. Corporation Visit
A national secular company with 1,000 employees provides an optional time and space to meet weekly to discuss the bible. I had the opportunity to speak in their meeting. I focused on the topic of discovering your purpose on earth. "It's not about you." was my introduction to faith a few years ago. The best selling book by Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life, was a game changer. The talk was well-received and so we were asked to speak at a college as well. But alas, our schedule was already packed. Prison Visit
I don't fear many things, but I'd say that my biggest fear in life was to go to prison. The 24 hours leading to our visit to a jail with 800 prisoners was full of reflection and anxiety. The day came and we were stripped off our cellphones, purses, jewelries, pens, and hats upon entering the facilities. Before I could say my first word, I was all tears. It dawned on me why I had this fear. And so I fessed up to a room of female prisoners dressed in blue uniform, all with the same buzz hair cut, and whose eyes glistened in wonder.
Prison represents falling short of perfection. I am imperfect, we all are imperfect. Prison represents brokenness. I am broken, we all are broken. Prison represents guilt. I am guilty, we all are guilty. Perhaps not of murder, but of lies, white or whatever colour we name them to be. But when I realized these subconscious notions of what a prison represents was just half the picture, I was finally reminded to fear not.
I've had the honour to share a word in various public settings about ten times, one even up to four hours (I literally lost my voice towards the end of it!) But this fifteen-minute talk in prison was my most heartfelt. So what can I share to a group of prisoners?
Hope. Hope that these momentary prisons we all are in, physically or metaphorically, do not define us. Death is inevitable and no amount of good works can secure us a place in heaven - not even by abiding by the law as good citizens, and not even by me serving here in PNG. The full picture is that God is not asking us for the unattainable perfection, but His unconditional love offers us to live a life in relationship with Him as our Father. Such bond is what takes us through the journey of renewing our minds and hearts. Our identity and destiny are rooted in our choice to answer God's call to be his sons and daughters. It is a choice, the gift of free will.
I tightly hugged as many of them as I can before we left. It was a bittersweet day. Business Consultation
For those of you who know me well know that if there is a need, I'll try to meet it. But if there is a need and it meets my skillset and peaks my interest, I'll relentlessly pursue it with much passion and energy. This gets me in trouble sometimes. Let's just say the following are beyond our team's initial definition of mission...
A local business was started by a YWAM leader to provide employment to women in the villages. A couple of years into it, it is now ready to grow and expand its production to continuously support its cause. I provided consultation on product packaging, marketing and branding, social media presence, online sales, etc. And camera gear to the rescue! I captured and produced a video to capitalize on online crowdfund sourcing. Stay tuned for when we launch it on Indiegogo site.
A YWAM school campus in a village is in need to replace its temporary building as it cannot withstand the strong winds and heavy rain. It is made out of tree logs as posts, tarps and cloths as walls, and without floors. First, I wrote their captivating story in a script, flew the drone over the property, recorded some dramatized scenes, recorded an interview of the school leaders... and voila! An awareness and fundraising video was captured and produced to be launched on GoFundMe site. Overcoming Challenges
It's easy to list down the discomfort and inconveniences as the so-called challenges of this trip, but they were not. Not the sharing of a small bedroom with twelve ladies, nor the sharing of a bathroom with twenty people. Not the two-hour hikes in the rain walking in bare feet with our big backpacks on to move from one village to another. Not the numerous mosquito bites, ant bites, and poisonous centipede bite. And not even the outhouses. I learned a few years back that the best way to get to know someone is not by working with them, not by living with them... but by traveling with them. You get to see that 10% only traveling can unveil. In the same manner, you also get to know yourself much better. Both your strengths and weaknesses are heightened. How do I survive being the only minority in a school program where all students and 90% of its staff all come from one deeply rooted, strong culture? Moreover, how do I survive a trip with a team of six students and a leader who all come from one deeply rooted, strong culture? I learned to choose my battles wisely. I stand up for finishing the video productions. I stand up for donating all the surplus from our budget. But for the most part, I fight through prayers. First, thanking God for these tests are growing in me a faithful heart. Secondly, surrendering to him our inadequacies for this load was not mine to carry to begin with. And lastly, asking for a refreshed joy. This helped channel my energy to get to know the locals more and therefore work on other projects on top of my main responsibilities. Grateful that though from day one in Hawaii was the most challenging time I've ever experienced culturally and socially, it made for the greatest time to grow spiritually and emotionally. If I can turn back time, will I change anything? No. If I can do it all over again, will I? Absolutely not hahah. Along the way, I did develop some lifelong friendships. I also learned to embrace my strengths and to face my weaknesses. There truly is a reason for every season and that each one is a preparation for the next. I've many takeaways and learning from this one. This was the vessel that introduced me to PNG. And for that, I genuinely only have a thankful heart for such a time as this. What's Next? I had peace with my direction from A to B, from quitting my job to pursuing missions school. But from B to C, I had to think and pray through six different routes. I hasten to say, it's not irresponsibility that I quit a career without a solidified and well-defined one, two, or five-year A to Z life plan. I just needed and wanted to calculate for some room for God to reveal to me his plans that I know are greater than mine ever will be. Because with or without faith as a factor, life do not fully materialize anyway according to meticulous time planning and goal setting. Yes I do have big dreams, but I've experienced that God-sized dreams are much much better!
It's a persistent prayer and pursuit to see certain doors close and certain doors open. This is how I find confidence in pursuing my B to C. And yes, sometimes certain doors are left ajar for the time-being. It's been a process of hearing, obeying, and trusting God.
Business with a mission, otherwise known as a social enterprise, is where my heart has grown to focus on. I am an advocate for alleviating physical and spiritual poverty through sustainable mission. How fitting it is then to marry business with mission - to build a business whose mission is beyond profits, but to maximize its human and socioeconomic impact.
Papua New Guinea peeled my eyes open to see a land of opportunities to pursue that passion. My vision is to see God’s transformation of this nation by using business as a tool to sustain the education, employment, and empowerment of the people through the use of natural resources and technology. I have three business prospects. One of which I do not have any experience or background on, but one that has the most doors opening for the greatest potential and connections! How do I distinguish my big dream from God-sized dream? The latter is usually beyond my immediate comprehension and capacity. It requires me to grow my faith and to lean in to wise counsel. I believe this particular business prospect is exactly that. I cannot end a post without sharing some media of sort. This 200 GB worth of media I captured must be utilized somehow. So here is a minute video of my ever so wonderful and blessed time in Papua New Guinea - https://vimeo.com/205994204. How do I look in a purple mary blouse dress?? Hahah only in PNG! I have grown to appreciate the modesty in their clothing. Thank you for your support, prayers, and interest in my journey. Please let me know if you'd like to stay posted as I explore my B to C.
Much Love, Janice [original email sent on 03/02/17]