Faith Goes Walkabout

Thoughts and reflections

Tag: Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea Bishop of Norwich Lent Appeal 2024 The Water of Life

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On February 16, 2024

In Diocese of Norwich, Lent, pilgrimage, Uncategorized

Ten years ago I went to Papua New Guinea on a pilgrimage with the Diocese of Norwich.

Since then I continue to be active in supporting projects to help people in that country. In 2024 we are hoping to raise enough money to supply water tanks for the student accommodation at Newton Theological College. This will bring then freshwater and enable sanitation too.

A great project and to get the appeal started, three of the committee at the Diocese of Norwich PNG Link group, including myself, are presenting a series of talks at Norwich Cathedral Library this Saturday morning.

More info will be posted Saturday afternoon.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Papua New Guinea and Heartwood C of E Primary School, Norfolk

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On March 18, 2021

In Faith goes walkabout, Papua New Guinea

Our link with Papua New Guinea remains strong in the Diocese of Norwich. We are aware that life is tough for the people of PNG at the moment as Covid19 hits the area.

We have a presentation to deliver to a school in Norfolk, Heartwood C of E Primary School, on  Thursday 18th March to help Year 2  discover a different land. This is part of their curriculum in geography and RE. What a great way to explore our world.

We journeyed to Papua New Guinea on a Pilgrimage in 2015 and I will be using many of the photos I took at the time to illustrate the session with the Year two children.

The video below is of our greeting by the people of West New Britain(an island in the South Pacific) as we were welcomed into the island.

Rev’d Sue Martin

On this day…

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On April 9, 2020

In Easter, Faith goes walkabout, Holy Land

Six weeks ago I was one of a number of pilgrims from Norwich Diocese on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We stopped in the Garden of Gethsemane and looked over the valley to Jerusalem. We visited the house of Caiaphas, the High Priest where Jesus spent the night in his dungeons. It was a dark and dismal place.

Today is Maundy Thursday, and amazing that we are all, in some ways contained in our own houses with the Corona virus pandemic.

We hope soon to be able to journey away from our homes and get back to some kind of normality, whatever that will look like, but I strongly suspect that for so many of us life will not be the same again.

The events of the crucifixion and Easter happened over 2000 years ago. Jesus lived among us and died for us. Life can change for us all, His resurrection meant that life would never be  the same again.

Amen

Rev’d Sue Martin

Welcome, Warriors and Worship

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On March 6, 2016

In Lent, Papua New Guinea

m_Image 1Papua New Guinea is 0.6 degrees south of the equator. It is an Oceanic country just to the north of NE Australia, with offshore islands in Melanesia in the South West Pacific Ocean.

It is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world with 848 languages. It’s 7 million people live in mainly rural populations and in the few towns and cities. The country is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire and there are earthquakes and active volcanoes. It is surrounded by coral reefs and in the highlands there are dense rainforest and a rugged terrain across the mountains, the highest of which is Mt Willhelm at 4,509 metres.

Our pilgrims in 2015 came from 3 countries and 3 dioceses. Norwich Diocese in the Uk, Waiapu in New Zealand and Rockhampton in Queensland Australia.

We journeyed together as pilgrims in anticipation of what was ahead in this far away place, certain that we those we would meet, would share our love of God.

How would it work with warriors? How would we be worshiping and what kind of welcome awaited us?

Rev’d Sue Martin

Faithgoeswalkabout.org/papuanewguinea

Diocese of Norwich

Lent 2016

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On February 5, 2016

In Lent

m_IMG_0378Lent is a church season after Epiphany and marks the time when Jesus went into the wilderness before returning to Jerusalem and eventually into the Easter story.

The time for Jesus to be alone, with only God by his side. He faced many difficulties and problems, he met with hunger and thirst, he met with the devil at his back, he knew what lay ahead for his time on earth.

But still he continued and lay down his life for us.

So, what do we do today to mark Lent, to acknowledge the season and be at least aware of all that we are given. There are many Lent courses, which can lead you into a path of understanding and a journey towards Easter.

This year our Diocese of Norwich has a Lent Appeal to raise money and awareness of Papua New Guinea and specifically to raise money for a school called Christ the King in 8 Mile Settlement in Port Moresby.

In September last year I was fortunate to be part of a pilgrimage to Papua New Guinea and it was a life changing experience. A country where 98% of the population are Christians, mainly from Anglican, Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches. The Norwich Diocese has strong links with Papua New Guinea through their first bishop and subsequent bishops.

For now, please look at the Lent Appeal in Norwich and also visit my blog on faithgoeswalkabout.papuanewguinea.It will give you some initial information.

My intention is that I will write a blog entry every week about Papua New Guinea and a prayer for every day. I hope you enjoy reading this and understanding the links with Lent, in reflection, in wilderness, and in dreams for mankind.

Rev’d Sue Martin    Norwich Diocese

Welcome at West New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea

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On November 7, 2015

In Faith goes walkabout, Uncategorized

IMG_0378In September 2015, I arrived in West New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea. The warriors were the most spectacular sight and a welcome of dance, colour and warmth. We were to see the dancers on a few occasion, they were with us at church, at the Franciscan Friary in the middle of the rain forest.

In the two months since I have been back, these moments sit in my heart. A welcome warmth as we approach November darkness. A time when we were with Christians in a very different place  and surrounded by love and faith.

A lasting memory is of being in the middle of the rainforest and waiting for the warriors and dancers to arrive, which they did in complete darkness, amazing! We returned with some songs and actions, I led the warriors, dancers and children with Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes! Still  a teacher at heart then!

Somehow I know that this place will stay with me and I hope that I can go back there soon. There is a great deal that we can do to help the people, they have nothing and yet they have everything. There’s is not a life of need for material things. It is a life of family, tradition and faith with all the love and joy in knowing Jesus.

Rev’d Sue Martin Diocese of Norwich

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