Not In Kansas Anymore

Dorothy, you aren’t in Kansas anymore!

We finally made it to Kimbe, Papua New Guinea last Thursday.  We were met with a beautiful welcome from the community including music, dancing and flowers.  After a whirlwind tour of the Diocese grounds, Kimbe and a beautiful dinner with Bishop Bill, Fr. Gabriel and Danita Kurtz, we prepared to leave on Friday for a visit to parishes:  Kiliai and Bariai. 

Immediately following mass on Friday morning, we piled into Bishop’s vehicle for a one-hour ride through palm plantations and forests.  Absolutely stunning.  

Finally, arrived at a small village on the south coast and loaded onto a banana boat for a 5-hour trip to our first stop: Kiliai parish.  We stayed at this parish for the weekend but on Saturday morning back into the boat for another 2-hour ride to Kudeai which is an outpost of the Bariai parish.  The afternoon was spent at Confirmation Mass for over 300! 

Palm Sunday was in Kaliai and was beautiful.  The afternoon included a short trip to one of the small islands for fun in the waves. 

We returned to Kimbe on Monday and are now settling in and preparing to begin in earnest next week.  All of us came back with sunburns.  There is absolutely no way to put enough suntan lotion on this white skin to avoid burning!  Danita and I escaped the worst of it, though.  Ron’s legs burned terribly and for the past couple of days he has been moving in pain.  Today they began the blistering process, so we are hoping the end is near.  The dear Sisters at Caritas shared some Aloe lotion with the 3 of us so I believe that has helped.

We attend morning prayer in Tok Pisin followed by morning mass either in Tok Pisin or English.  Today, though, we joined the staff and students at Caritas Secondary School for morning mass and then were invited to morning repast with the Sisters. 

This week we have been ‘setting up house’.  You know, the things you always have to do when you move into a new place.  Today included setting up a bank account and shopping for items still needed.  We are still trying to figure out the internet situation and the banking was a definite experience! 

O Jesus, we surrender ourselves to you, take care of everything!