Graham Joseph Nash

Born on Tues am at 7:33am, weighing in at 6lbs 10oz. I can't wait to meet him.

Everyday life

It is very common to see women carrying large bilums of something on their head. Often it is kaukau, fruit, vegetables or something to sell at market. While walking to work the other day I saw a lady carrying her bilum, but also her baby on top. I stopped to see if I could take her picture and found a young woman probably about my age. She told me she was carrying coffee to sell, and her child was riding along. I am amazed at how strong these women are.

Folks here wear anything. Color, fashion, and even the temperature are not factors that determine what one puts on for the day. Too often I see folks in very large, warm coats who are complaining of being hot and sweating while I am seeing them. At times, they will have on ski caps and I have on a short sleeve shirt and a skirt, it doesn't make sense to me, but that is ok. I am not a fashion person and so it is nice to see folks wear whatever clothes they have without worrying about if it matches or is the latest fashion. The majority of folks here probably, don't have more than a few sets of clothes, if that. I have seen guys wear reflective orange pants that you might find on someone who works doing baggage at an airport. I have seen adult men wear a kids pink dress hat, and baby boys often have pink shirts on. Last week however, was the first time I saw a bathrobe. I saw a 10 yo boy who had a cough, he came with his mom and his younger brother. When he walked into the room, I thought he had a coat on, until I looked closer and realized it was a bathrobe. Now some folks in America, might curl up in their bathrobe when they are sick and stay inside on the couch, or in bed, but most likely they wouldn't wear it outside to the doctor. He probably was just wearing it as a coat.

Quilt for Graham

With Graham due this coming Tuesday (via csection to his parents, not to Kudjip), it was time to start his quilt. Megan had picked out a pattern and the material and sent it to me a few weeks ago. So yesterday was the marathon quilting day. Gail helped me, and Scott fed me and 12 hours later we were done. It is fun to work on a quilt when it is for someone special. I enjoyed working on it and praying for Graham as I did it. Thankfully we had enough material, and the colors Megan picked out look great together. The whole day wasn't just quilting. We had some entertainment as we played Outburst while Gail and I were finishing up the quilt. The Dooley girls are Allison, Emma, and Olivia. Olivia is 3 going on 4 next month, and very cute. We all took turns choosing a category and calling it out to the others to see if we could get all the answers, including Olivia. When it was Olivia's turn, she said ok go. I said Gail, what is the category - she said we don't know. So everyone just starts calling out things that Olivia would know and recognize - donuts for breakfast, barbies, Cilia and Lydia's ice cream, naps, baths, cocky (their bird), etc. In a random way (to us at least), she would say yes or no. Then after a while she would tell us how many more we had to get, or how many more minutes we had left. It was very cute and fun. It was a nice brief distraction from quilting.

The Power of Water

Suicide Rocks has been a favorite attraction of folks on Kudjip station for some time. It is about a 15 minute hike through the bush/village to Suicide Rocks. It is a great place to cool off when it is hot outside, jumping from the 12 foot rock above the water and doing a little bit of swimming. At one point, a volunteer broke his ankle, but other than that, I am not aware of any other major injuries that have occurred there, so not sure where the name Suicide Rocks came from. Now Suicide Rocks has been changed. We had a lot of water during the rainy season, and in one downpour in particular. I am not sure if it was one large surge of water, or a lot of surges, but something has totally changed Suicide Rocks.

This weekend I walked with Bill and Scot Riggins to see what the water had done. It was quite impressive. Initially we thought that a rock just fell into the water, and was what we were standing on below. However, after looking closer we were discussing the possibility that the rock was broken apart by the water and taken away. As you look closer at the current rock formation, (bottom pics) you see that the rock there is actually underneath the top rock. I found some old photos from before (top pics), to see what it was like to compare. Sure enough, it looks like the water swept away a large section of rock that use to be above where the little kid is standing on the left. This rock is what we used to jump off of into the water below (see me jumping above). Wow, water can be quite powerful and destructive. Suicide Rocks may need a new name and we may need a new swimming hole after this.

The GREAT Furniture Exchange

I have lived here for about 18 months now, and have only use the living room when I have guests to watch a movie, or have hosted prayer meeting. These times have numbered less than 10. I didn't use my living room because I thought the furniture was very uncomfortable. I had a very comfortable old recliner in my den, and so the den is where I have spent the majority of my evenings since I have been here. On Thursday evening, Marsha asks me what I think about trading living room furniture with the Schmelzenbachs. Harmon, Cindy, Danielle, and Quentin Schmelzenbach recently joined our station family. Harmon is the new Field Strategy Coordinator, Cindy will assist him with various things, Danielle is heading to college this summer, and Quinton is 13. The problem is they have allergies, and have been miserable since moving here. The comfortable furniture in their house held a lot of dust and was creating problems for them. Mine, although uncomfortable, has nice removable covers, and arms that you can easily dust, so they thought they would give it a try. So when she asked me what I thought about exchanging furniture, I didn't have to think too long. Sure, we can switch. I made sure she knew it wasn't very comfortable, she said they know and don't care. So when I got home friday at lunch, I found a whole new living room waiting for me. I now have a very comfortable couch that I can actually lay on, a love seat, a large area rug, and a little hall rug also. (A special thanks to Verne and Natalie Ward for this great furniture that originally was theirs.) I feel like I have moved into a new house with the new furniture. I have already spent more time in the living room this weekend than I have in a long time, and will continue to do so. So hopefully it works out for the Schmelzenbachs, but it has definitely been a GREAT exchange for me.

Uninvited Guests

It is common to hear noises in the attic which runs above my house and the McCoys. I don't usually pay much attention to them as it is often a cat, but recently it has been the footsteps of mice and rats. One of the first indications that the noises weren't just Buster, the McCoy's cat, were the 2 holes in the McCoy's wall. Since Buster wasn't taking care of the rat problem, the McCoys took up the responsibility. From traps to glue to more traps a total of 12 mice/rats have been caught. We think they are mainly rats, but one was a little smaller to suggest a mouse.

On Sunday, we caught 2 of them. I was checking email and I heard a trap go off. I went to the door connecting our houses and heard Bill going up the attic to check on the trap. It was empty, but he set it again. Less than an hour later it went off again, this time we caught one. I was still talking with the McCoys and went home about an hour later. As I walked into my den area, I found a rat walking in small circles under my coffee table. I let out a little scream, as it startled me, and went to tell the McCoys. Marsha heard me and came over and Bill wasn't far behind. This was likely the first trap victim from earlier in the evening, as it was injured. Using an old tennis racket and a shovel, Bill scooped him up and took him outside. Bill is gracious enough to kill and dispose of all these rats. Thankfully, we didn't catch any while he was gone recently. We are hoping that is about all of them, but we can't be sure. We are also hoping Buster will start to use his cat skills and catch some of these himself, but we aren't going to wait on him.

He is Risen . . . He is Risen Indeed!

Today the missionary family gathered together for an Easter sunrise service. Sunrises are special here because of the amazing view of the Whagi Valley around us. Today was a special sunrise as we gathered to celebrate and remember the resurrection our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Over 2000 yrs ago Jesus, willingly, went to the cross and took our sin upon Him and died in our place. He died so we don't have to. He died so we can have eternal life. I am challenged by Matt 26:39 "Yet not as I will, but as you will." Jesus lived this out each and every day. He gave up heaven and came to earth. He gave up the life of a carpenter to travel around teaching and preaching. He ultimately gave up His life for us. I wish I wouldn't win so much and could be more like Him and live for others and do what God asks of me each and every day. We heard a reading by Anne Graham Lotz that reminded me that all I/we need is Jesus. No matter what comes in this life, Jesus has overcome it all, He overcame death and will help us each day with all that we face. What a comfort. I pray that all of us can proclaim, like the centurion who was guarding Jesus, Matt 27:54 "Surely he was the Son of God." He was the Son of God and He is also the Savior of the world.

Jesus Film Showing

The Jesus Film is the story of the Gospel of Luke which has been made in many different languages so people of all tongues and tribes can hear the truth of Jesus in their own language. This weekend around 100 people of Kudjip Nazarene Hospital heard of Jesus and saw Jesus in Pidgin. Many had heard of Jesus before and some had even seen this film before, but for others, it was their first time.

Mal came to the hospital just yesterday after a rascal had beaten her up. She sustained an injury to her L arm which we are caring for. Her husband, Martin, has come to be her wasman and is staying with her in the hospital. They live in Banz, just 5 minutes away and attend a church there. However, tonight, was the first time they heard the truth about Jesus. This was the first time they understand that Jesus died on the cross for them and and their sins. Tonight was the first time they believed in God, and understood that only by believing in Christ and His saving work on the cross is one saved. Tonight they were awakened to the understanding that they were children of God. Tonight they became part of the family of God, my brother and sister in Christ. Pray that as they go back to their church, that they may grow more and more in their knowledge of their Savior. There were others who saw and heard this truth for the first time, some who told us and we prayed for them, and others who didn't. There were many who saw and just wanted prayer for something in their lives. Pray for all those who saw, that the Spirit would continue to work in their lives, would convict them of sin, and bring them to a further understanding of who Christ is and what He did for them.

Communion

Jesus commanded his followers to take communion in remembrance of Him. This week as we think of the Passion week, we remember what He did for us. We remember that He hung on the cross for our sins, He died so we don't have to. On Thursday of Passion week, we remember the Last Supper. Jesus ate with His disciples and explained to them that the bread represented His body, and the wine represented His blood, which He poured out for us. Thank you Lord for your gift to us, may we remember you always.

Bepi and Tuman

Bepi came to us after having delivered a baby at home. Per her wasman, she started having seizures at midnight the night before she delivered and delivered her 6th child that am at 10 while still seizing. She was brought to us in the midafternoon when her seizures hadn't stopped. While in the ER she had 2 seizures before we got them temporarily stopped with medications. I presumed she had eclampsia, a sometimes deadly complication of preeclampsia that occurs during pregnancy, and started treated her as such. However, her vitals signs and labs, didn't go along with eclampsia, and made me alter my course of treatment. The next day she was still having seizures, but thankfully that was the end of them, as we adjusted her medicines again. She remained somewhat comatose for 2-3 days after her last seizure. I was concerned that I was still missing something, thinking she should have woken up by now, so I got Bill's opinion. Thankfully, I didn't need the extra help. That am when I went and rounded on her, I found her awake and talking. She wasn't fully recovered, but this was a huge improvement.

Over the next week she has continued to recover to the point of being discharged. She doesn't remember that she was pregnant or had a baby, but is walking and talking. Thankfully, her baby has been cared for by a relative and is doing well at home. While in the hospital, her husband, Tuman, was faithfully at her side. He sat with her the early days when she wasn't really responsive, doing whatever needed to be done. This isn't something I often see in PNG men, them really loving their wives, so it was nice to see. I was able to have some conversations with him about the Lord. He isn't a believer, but felt like this illness of Bepi's had opened his eyes, and he wanted to know more. He got some reading material from the chaplains and each day I would find him learning more about the Lord when I rounded. I shared the gospel using the PNG flag before Easter to the ward, and they understand the truth. On discharge, I encouraged them to keep reading and praying to God, and trust Him to continue to open their eyes. I pray that this new life she got physically, would pave the way for a new life for her and her husband in Christ.

Planted Seed Bears Fruit

Today I met Amos. Amos came in complaining of a cough and shortness of breath. I was suspicious of COPD and asked him if he smoked. He assured me he didn't, but said he use to when he was younger. I asked him why he quit smoking and he told me he became a christian in 1989 and stopped. I told him that was great, and was encouraged that God had helped him to change his life. I asked him who told him about Jesus. He said William Bromley. The name was familiar to me. I have heard stories of the some of the first Nazarene missionaries to PNG, and Bromley was one of them. I don't know a lot, but I know he went out to the Jimi valley and shared Christ with the people, and that he died and is buried out there.

Amos continued to say that he had heard about Christ from Bromley when he was younger, but he continued to live his life for himself for a number of years. It was years later that the Spirit awoken his spirit and he became a christian. This was encouraging to me. As missionaries and as christians, part of our job is to share His Good News, but we often don't know what happens as a result. 1 Cor 3:6-7 Paul says, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." This was a great reminder to keep planting the seeds of His truth and to trust God to make them grow into new creations in His timing.

Meghan heading home

This past Saturday a small group of us gathered at our circle to say goodbye to Meghan Harlan, including an elephant and toucan (not sure why Emma had these). Meghan joined us here for 3 months. She came as a volunteer and did a lot while she was here. She, initially, was very involved with the hospital dedication, and since then has helped out the McCoys in various projects, taught different classes at the MK school (including PE when I was away, helped organize the library and more. She enjoyed spending some time in the hospital shadowing myself and other doctors, seeing surgeries, and visiting patients on the ward. She also enjoyed hanging out with all the single folks who have been here. Unfortunately, they all took off, without her, to Madang with the Riggins and Radcliffes, so they weren't here to say goodbye, but the rest of us were. I went with the McCoys to the airport to see her off. She grew up in Oroville, Ca, where Bill is from and has a lot of family connections to the McCoys. She is praying about heading to India on another mission trip this summer, and hoping to eventually settle down and start a coffee shop. You can learn more about her time her on her blog http://mharlan22.blogspot.com/

Baby of Anna

I was on call Friday night and was in the delivery area for most of the evening. I had heard something during the day about a little baby who was abandoned and found by someone and brought into the nursery. So while I was there suturing a mom, the nurse told me about the little baby who wasn't breathing on her own. As I was working, I told her, I know, she is too small there isn't anything we can do. The baby weighs only 900 grams, this is very small. We don't have a neonatal intensive care unit, a ventilator, or any other specialized meds or equipment for this little baby. We started her on antibiotics, gave oxygen, and put the bag and mask at her incubator to use to help her breathe. When I finished suturing a patient, I went in to see the baby. I knew there wasn't anything more to do, I just felt I needed to see the baby since the nurse kept telling me about her. When I saw the baby, I knew I was wrong, there was more I could do, I could pray. I was captivated by this little baby in front of me, this little person whom God had created, who had ten toes and ten fingers, who had a heart that was beating, and eyes that opened, who was struggling to breathe on her own. I put my finger to her hand and she held on, how precious. I stood there for a while letting her hold my finger and praying that God would intervene and help her.

I didn't expect her to make it through the evening because she was having a lot of apnea (periods of not breathing). Saturday morning I was pleasantly surprised to see her breathing on her own more and looking pinker. I talked to Anna, the lady that found her, and told her we need to keep praying, so we did. Sunday, I went back to see how she was doing, and she is still holding on. Pray that God, who breathed life into Adam, may do the same for this small child of His. "The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being." (Gen 2:7)