More Updates
Sept. 19, 2003
July 7, 2003
Jan. 2, 2003
Nov. 24, 2002
April 24, 2002
Mar. 19, 2002
Feb. 6, 2002
Jan. 11, 2002
Dec. 19, 2001
Nov. 27, 2001
Nov. 10, 2001
Oct. 1, 2001
Sept. 19, 2001
August 17, 2001
July 24, 2001
July 5, 2001
June 24, 2001
June 13, 2001
May 31, 2001
May 14, 2001
April 30, 2001
April 16, 2001
March 31, 2001
March 15, 2001
March 1, 2001
Dear Friends,
The role of missionary-with-a-car in Papua New Guinea involves a variety of tasks--even ambulance driving. Almost no village person owns a car, and many times they cannot scrape together the money to pay for a taxi and hospital fees. So when someone is seriously ill or injured, they often come to our house to ask if we can make a trip to the hospital.
This morning a tattoo-covered young man with multiple earrings knocked at the door, asking for Marcus in Tawala. I discovered he was the son-in-law of one of our good village friends. He asked several questions about Marcus's whereabouts, and was extremely disappointed that I didn't know when he would return. He said his uncle had fallen from the top of a coconut palm three villages east of Alotau, and they were afraid he'd broken his back. The nephew had been looking for transport for hours and could find nothing that the virtually penniless village could afford.
So I slipped Hannah's shoes on her feet, walked with the young man until we located Marcus (all the way he apologized shyly for the trouble) took the truck from Marcus and drove out that bumpy road to where a large gathering of people waited for whatever vehicle the nephew could find. I realized when I saw the man on the home-made wood pallet that I should have taken the time to gather some supplies. (Hope all you medical professionals aren't cringing). They made do with bush materials and strips of cloth and, at my insistence, tied his home-made wood pallet to the truck bed with coconut palms. I and a multitude from the man's concerned family edged along that impossibly bumpy road, through river-beds and over rickety bridges all the way to the hospital. Needless to say, I prayed the whole way that the bumps wouldn't further his injuries. Last I heard, the man will probably live.
There are many times when I'm thankful for that truck, but never more than I was today. It has blessed many people who desperately needed help.
God bless you all,
Diane (with Marcus and Hannah)
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