Accidents happen

Everything seemed to be lining up. It looked possible that we could start the first Kovol literacy class in April. The consultants had emailed back saying that April was ambitious, but possible. If we were willing to take on the stress of being ready on time, then April could work. I emailed back to say that we were willing so let’s do it and I started to make a to-do list to start checking through.

Meanwhile Oscar was having a great time running with his pack of friends around Sobega. The group has been alternating between swinging on a guava tree, jumping on the trampoline, playing football, making bases and playing in the playground. He’s having a great time!

Until, he fell out of the guava tree. He was happily swinging on a branch, but lost his grip and fell awkwardly on his side. He ran to me and I helped him through the shock and the pain, but he continued being ginger with his wrist. The next morning when the pain was still there, it was time for a doctor’s appointment. The x-ray told us that we were looking at a broken wrist. Oscar received his first cast.

Oops, there go the plans that all seemed to be lining up. As there will be follow-on appointments, it doesn’t make sense for us to fly into Kovol on Monday as we had planned. We’ll need to push things back 3-6 weeks while the wrist heals. It wouldn’t be wise to be a 45-minute helicopter ride away from the doctor if there are complications.

So while my plans for the Kovol literacy class are now postponed 3-6 weeks, I’m not too upset. It was the Lord’s timing that it happened here, rather than in Kovol. I had two stomachs (as we say in PNG) about whether to go to the doctor or not.There was pain, but Oscar seemed to be managing it. We went the next day, but that decision would have been so much harder if we would have had to phone in a medical evacuation flight with a helicopter. As it was, we could just pop to the clinic and were seen to very quickly.

A funny part of the story is that Gerdine didn’t even know. She attended a 4-day ladies retreat. She had time for processing and reflection that we didn’t want to disturb. We kept the broken wrist as a surprise for when she came home 3 days later 😀
Oscar is quite proud of his cast after I told him that breaking a couple of bones is part of growing up and that I’ve broken my wrist 2 times.

So we’re delayed 3-6 weeks. We’re very blessed living at Sobega in the mean time. There are no complaints from us as we get to enjoy some more time reconnecting with all the other missionary families out here in Goroka. School can continue for the children and I can still keep busy. We’re sad for the Hansen family who will return to Kovol next week without us. A big part of our decision making in returning to PNG as soon as possible was that we didn’t want to leave our friends alone in Kovol. They’ll jump on a flight to return to Kovol without us, which is disappointing for them.

We had a nice time catching up with the Hansen family nonetheless. We’ve been hearing stories about the TTW (team translation workshop). Philip and Natalie received training in Bible translation and the fun part was that they brought two Kovol men with them. It warmed our hearts to hear stories about how our two Kovol friends adapted to life in a town setting. They were unsure of themselves in this new culture and environment. They watched carefully and experienced a number of firsts. Their first showers, the first time eating at a table, the first time sitting on a sofa, the first time eating as much as they wanted and still having food left over and the first time eating a burger were stories we heard about. We wish we could have been there with them!

An exciting part of the stage we’re at now is that the physical preparations for literacy are starting. I was able to go the stationery store and bulk buy pencils, exercise books and chalk. I’ve been making “lap boards” out of plywood that students can use as a flat writing surface to write on. Next week I’ll be making a blackboard. Since it needs to fit in the back of the helicopter, I’ll be cutting a plywood sheet in half and painting the face of it with blackboard paint, to be reassembled in Kovol.
Over the years we have been restrained with our money. Our hearts have yearned over and over to give gifts to our Kovol friends – but we’ve restrained ourselves. For anyone wondering why, I’d recommend the book “When Helping Hurts”. As we approach this ministry milestone of the first literacy class it feels great to be out and buying things for the community.

The last bit of news is still no missing suitcase. 18 days after arrival and we’re told that it is still in Manila. Looks as if I need to make a list of the contents and the value of it all for a compensation claim, but there are still 3 days before the suitcase is declared lost. You never know, it might turn up.