Category Archives: Papua New Guinea

Friday September 4th:
A day of visits!

5q. Christ the King School, governor & HeadteacherFirst visit of the day was to Anglicare offices at the diocese in Waigani and the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. As well as the HIV work there are training and literacy programmes for young and older people.

Next visit was to a settlement, on the perimeter of the airport. There was a striking difference between the two. The area was incredibly dry and dusty but the houses had space and there was a good community feel. If you ignore the broken, rusty cars and see the people with their smiling faces you can see some happiness in severe poverty.

Christ the King School was a wonderful place. Set at the top of a hill we met the school children, standing waiting for us in 38C sunshine! We had gifts to give and children sang their songs, Paul played Happy Birthday to them all on the trumpet.

Trumpet Image
Trumpeter and audience!

A tour of the classrooms and the large and cool chapel were brilliant. The teachers are largely voluntary, the classrooms varied from sheds to a container with windows, provided by Sue Ramsden. It was surprisingly cool.

 

We met some of the Melanesian Brothers and talked with the Chair of the Governors.

Outside Parliament House image
Outside Parliament House

Next visit was to the War Memorial Graves kept by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in beautiful grounds and incredible to see the headstones for nearly 4000 Australians, some Papuan’s and some British soldiers, airforce personnel and sailors. They fought to save Papua New Guinea from the Japanese army and to prevent the creation of a ‘launch pad’ for an attack on Australia.

Our last visit of the day was to the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea and to  Parliament House.

Papua New Guinea 2015
Papua New Guinea 2015

Saturday 5th September:
Picnics, birds and dining…

Orchids in PNG...
Orchids in PNG…

Port Moresby Nature Park was the first stop of the day and by 10.30 it was already about 36C and we were given a tour of the Nature Park.

There was a graduation party from a primary school with 1000 people celebrating with picnics in cool boxes! Bit different from yesterday at the schoo

I was really interested in the orchids, and PNG has 3,800 species.

We then travelled to St John’s Cathedral, which was in the port area, next to the smart Grand Papua Hotel. Lunch there was very welcome and made us pretty sleepy for the two hour meeting that followed.

In the evening we had a celebration meal at the Laguna Hotel, very elegant with an enticing pool. A lovely meal and we managed a little dancing to the two musicians with Bishop Jonathan singing on the ‘mike’ for a while.

Reverend Sue Martin

Papua New Guinea 2015
Papua New Guinea 2015 – a day of contrasts…

Sunday September 6th:
Slow starts & preparing for home…

The night had been noisy, with karaoke next door, dogs barking and some street sounds at 4.00am, so we had a sluggish start.

waitingacongegation
Awaiting our congregation at St. Martin’s…

We went into three groups for church, St John’s Cathedral, St Martin’s and Holy Family Church. Our group went to St Martin’s with Bishop David and had an excellent Eucharist with a congregation of around 300.

Canon Sally and I wore our clerical shirts for the first time in PNG, and this was very well received. At the end of the service we were asked to talk about our work etc.

Over some cake and tea we had chance to talk and this was a parish with some good people in good jobs in the city, e.g a psychiatrist, a lawyer, an ex High Commissioner.

There were many blessings for Bishop David to give and it was with some sadness that I realised that this would be the last chance to share worship together in Papua New Guinea.6b St Martin's Church Boroko, Bishop DavidThe afternoon was restful and a chance to catch up on rest and writing, or even pack the case!

In the evening we had a farewell dinner at St Martin’s and the spread was enormous and we also had some wine. The warmth of feeling and a sens of a sharing of ministry and lives was clear and after some serious speeches we ended the evening with gifts being shared and in song.

6c Friends farewellMonday morning we will leave Papua New Guinea and some of us will be coming home, whilst some are continuing on their journeys.

 

 

Farewell to all those brothers and sister with whom we have met and shared this pilgrimage.

sm png

Rev’d Sue Martin

Papua New Guinea 2015
Papua New Guinea 2015