Papua New Guinea | alaynaheart4missions

My Trip To Papua New Guinea

The burden that God has placed on

my heart....

It all started when....

It all started when I was 14. We were in the process of returning from our second furlough. While traveling I met many teenagers that were my age and they all talked about the missions trips that they had been on and all the fun that they had. That is when God really started to work on my heart that I should take a missions trip. I had never really thought about it before then. But the more I thought about it, the more sure I became, that it is what God wanted me to do.

Asking

permission....

After a couple months of thinking about this I finally got the courage up to go ask my parents. I remember it as clearly as if it was yesterday. We had just walked in from church and I asked my dad and my mom to sit on the couch. I proceeded to tell them that I would like to take a missions trip (to Papua New Guinea). They laughed and told me that I was a missionaries kid and I live on a mission field (hehe which is true;). I told them that the Philippines is'nt a mission field to me it is home. Then they both agreed that I could take a missions trip to Papua New Guinea if the Lord provided the money. So I just started praying.

The miraculous provision of the Lord!....

I prayed consistantly for the next couple of months for God to provide the funds so I could take my missions trip. By this time we were back home in the Philippines. I wrote a prayer letter telling the churches in America about my burden. I prayed that God would answer my prayer and provide the money. Within two months God miraculously provided all the money that I (and my dad needed) for plane tickets and all the expenses for the month, that I was going to stay in Papua New Guinea.

Going...going...gone....

It didnt seem possible to be but here it was the day. February 19, 2013. Only ten days after my fifteenth birthday me and my dad flew out of Mactaan International Airport into Papaua New Guinea. I just remember thinking how GREAT the Lord was. All my prayers He answered and gave me more than I could ever imagine. I was in Papua New Guinea!

God gives miracles to those who believe, courage to those with faith, hope to those who dream and love

to those who accept.

My First Day in the Jungles of PNG

My first day in Papua New Guinea was amazing!

We landed in Port Moresby that morning and we were met at the airport by a fellow missionary, whom I later learned to call Uncle Matt. He took us to a hanger close by where his plane was parked. I watched as Uncle Matt checked the plane, and his wife (Aunt Becky) loaded the groceries. The plane was so small. It reminded me of the toy airplanes that me and my brother used to play with. When everything was ready we all hopped in the airplane and we prepared for take off. It was not my first time to fly in an airplane but it was my first time to be in an airplane that small. Since it was so small I could feel every bump and jerk, so it certainly was an adventure:) After an hour or so we touched down on a airstrip close to the village where we would be staying. After unloading the plane, we got in their mule (a golf cart type thing, but made for rough terrain). I was so happy when we arrived in the village. The missionary daughters made me feel right at home. I was so exhilarated to see my prayers becoming a reality.

Giving My First Shot

It was only one day after I got there that I got my experience of a lifetime.

The clinic ,that I would be working in for the next month, was closed for the day.So I started to unpack my things, and get settled in. All of the sudden I heard Mrs. Allen (the nurse that I would be working with) call me over to the clinic. As I waked over there, I saw the lady on the bench outside the clinic. Mrs. Allen called to me from the inside of the clinic, and invited me to come in. When I stepped inside I saw that she was preparing a shot. I was so excited to watch her give the shot, but when she turned around she handed it to me! I was so shocked! My hands started shaking as she explained how to give the shot. Five minutes later she watched me, as I gave my first shot. Even after the careful instructions that she gave I was still nervous. The lady was so gracious. She knew it was my first time, but still she rolled up her sleeve, and gave me a huge smile of encouragement. I found out that I love giving shots. Mind you, giving not recieving shots:) Just like the Bible says....."It is better to give than to recieve." I think most of us will agree on that point:)

First Day at the Clinic

I could not believe it the day that I had been waiting for, for months had finally arrived.

My first day at the clinic. I woke up to a beautiful morning. The sky was a beautiful baby blue. The clouds were white and fluffy like little cotton balls. And the air smelled so clean and pure. It truly was a beautiful day. I walked over just as the clinic opened. I was thrilled to see that there were already people waiting. I followed Mrs. Allen everywhere. She told me many stories, and taught me many new things.Throughout the day we treated many people, for tropical sores, malaria, skin hot (fever), coughs, runny noses, tuberculosis, and much more. I learned how to say "Are you ok?" in Pidgin '"You i stap alright?". I fet like I was in heaven. I have known for a long time that God has wanted to use me in medical missions. And to see that happening right before my eyes, was like a dream come true. God was comfirming in my heart that medical missions was truly what he wanted me to do.

Sunday in PNG

Sunday in Papua New Guinea was very different.

When I walked in the doors to the church I was so surprised! The were no benches, chairs, or pews (except for two in the back on each side). There was mud everywhere I looked. So I watched the missionary kids to see what they would do. They just plopped down on the floor heedless of the mud. So I did likewise. As I looked around I noticed something else that was different. The boys and girls were seperated. All the men sat on the right side of the church, while the women sat on the left. I was shocked that even the husbands and wives did'nt sit next to each other. We started Sunday School and immediately I was surrounded by people singing in Pidgin. I loved it! Thirty minutes into Sunday School my back started to hurt from sitting on the floor, but I could barely shift because there were so many people around me. During the service I happened to look back and I saw that the baby behind me was peeing on the floor. When the baby's mom saw what her child had done she nonchalantly grabbed the rag from her shoulder, wiped it up, and put it back on her shoulder. My eyes must have got huge because she started to giggle. It was just a normal thing to her.

As service drew to a close I thought about all the wonderful things that I had gotten to see and experience, but little did I know that it was just the beginning.

My First Pre-Natal Checkups

I felt like it would never get there...but finally Tuesday arrived.

The day for pre-natal checkups. I have always been fascinated by pregnant women and their babies. I love babies!

It was such a joy to check on the babies, hear their heart beats, measure the tummies, and weigh the mommies. My first time doing the pre-natal checkups was pretty exciting. The very first lady that came in was having contractions. Everything would have been great except for the fact that, it would have been a breach birth. Mrs. Allen tried to change the position of the baby, but it would budge. Right as we started to get nervous, the contractions stopped. So we sent her home. The next lady that came in was going to have twins. When we checked the position on the babies, the mommy passed out. Come to find out her baby's head was underneath her rib cage, and was causing her a lot of pain. After those first two the day seemed to flow by smoothly. I loved filling out the charts, and seeing all the pregnant women. It was everything that I thought it would be, and more:)

My Little Burn Boy

My heart ached when I saw him sitting there on the chairs in the clinic.

His whole back and side of his face had been burned. It was the first time that I had seen a burn this bad before. When I looked at him all I could see was the pain in his eyes. Mrs. Allen called me over to where he was sitting and told me to give him a shot (for the pain). I felt so sorry for him. His back stiffened when I gave him the shot, but he never cried or complained. Then it came time to change the dressing. He sat very still as I cleaned his burns, put silverdine on them, and attached new dressings. He was such a brave little boy.

The Baby that Died

Her name was Antoni.

She came in to the clinic on March 13, 2013. Little did I know, she would die within 24 hours. She had been sick for a week and a couple days before coming to us she had stopped drinking. So when she came to us she was severly de-hydrated. We gave her fluids and prayed she would get better. Every two hours we gave her fluids (even late into the night). The last time I saw her alive was at ten o' clock (when me and Mrs. Allen gave her fluids). Early the next morning I heard Mrs. Allen shouting for the other nurse that worked at the clinic. I ran outside thinking that I might be able to help. As I neared the clinic I saw the looks on their faces as they talked. I asked them what happened. I was not prepared for what they said next. Antoni had died early that morning. I shook my head in disbelief as they gathered their medical kit. It was a sober group that walked over to the hut. I still could not believe that she was dead! As I ducked in the door of the hut, I saw her lying in her mothers arms. Her mother looked at me with grief stricken eyes. I could tell she hoped that we could tell her that her child would be alright. Mrs. Allen grabbed her stethascope and put it to the baby's chest. She looked down and just shook her head. That is when I realized, it was true. Antoni was dead. Her mother cluched Antoni to her chest, and started rocking her back and forth, like she was putting her to sleep. She started to wail and soon the whole hut was filled with the wails of Antoni's grieving family members. I cried, and cried, and cried. I briefly remember the missionaries coming in and giving words of encouragement, but other than that it is all fuzzy. I sat there and grieved with the family for three hours. You may ask why did it affect me so. I knew that if there had been a clinic closer to where she lived, she might have survived. I prayed, and God eased the pain, but her death is forever etched in my memory. At that moment I felt the leading of God more than ever. I knew God was leading me into medical missions so I could reach those people (like Antoni), for the gospel, by helping them before it was too late. I only pray that God will call (direct) more people to reach those lost and dying people.

The Amputation

Her name was Maria.

She came in a few times during the last couple of weeks, that I was in PNG. She had been working in her garden when a snake bit her on the hand three times. We cleaned the wound, but the venom was eating away the flesh. We took pictures of her wound and sent it to a doctor in the states. He replied and said that it would have to come off. The surgery was scheduled for the very next Thursday. Early that Thursday morning Antoni died. We were all heart broken, but we knew we couldn't wait any longer. So around 2 o'clock that afternoon we started the surgery. Since I had no training whatsoever, I got to hold the flashlight. (Since the clinic didnt have any electricity it was very helpful to have a flashlight close by). I watched (for four hours) as they slowly cut down to the bone, carefully took her finger off, and stitched her back up again. It was amazing to watch. I have never been more fascinated in my life. I saw how truly amazing and complex our bodies are. It was the first time I ever saw a bone that was attached to a human.

It was an amazing experience. I am so thankful that God gave me the opprotunity to experience that.

What I Thought:

Stitches

False: You stitch someone up with a straight needle and thread.

True: You stitch someone up with something similar to a fishhook. And special thread.