The
Melanesian Institute was a wonderful experience. There were 13 priests, 4
Religious Sisters, 4 Religious Brothers and two Lay Missionaries. They all represented
the world and I was the only American. Goroka was so nice and the weather was
cool and refreshing. We had three weeks of training (beginning January 7) and I
developed great new friendships.
The seminar itself was very good. It answered questions
about my mission and helped to put my almost first year experiences into
perspective. We had many opportunities to share our various experiences and
received many great suggestions and ideas on how to help us move forward in our
mission.
A few of us had a chance to visit the Don Bosco School in
Shindu Province as a side field trip. It took us 3.5 hours to get there, but a
beautiful drive through the mountains. That was a special day with a few of my
fellow missionaries who were associated with St. Don Bosco. The church was very
nicely decorated and the community spirit was warm.
A few of us took another e- ride adventure as we drove to
the top of one of the Goroka mountains (the 4 wheel drive was necessary) where
we toured an outhouse commode and shower making factory. We saw how they
manufacture and install them under sanitation regulations. The ones they had
completed were locked and we could not see inside, but was told there was a
small sink to wash your hands. ???? Would have liked to see proof of that.
The
grounds were beautifully landscaped and lush with flowers, trees, fruit, a
waterfall and other beautiful vegetation. There were animals there as well and
the view was awesome. The clouds parted and the mountains and valleys opened
up. But again the road was a dirt road filled with potholes where a four wheel
drive was necessary, especially after the continuous rains during the rainy
season in PNG. This e-ride adventure took about two hours. The countryside, the
village huts along the way were always nice to see.
The meals were really good and very tasty and nourishing.
But what was truly interesting, no dessert besides fresh fruit. Nothing. At an
American seminar, there would be all kinds of goodies - cakes, cookies, ice
cream, candy of all varieties, etc. Here
- no sweets except ice cream and cake for feast days and special occasions (a
birthday or two).
Our last day in Goroka, we had an international food
fest where we made a dish representing our culture. Fr Jacek, a Polish Priest
from my own diocese of Kimbe helped me make stuffed cabbage representing
my Polish background and his country of Poland. I can’t believe I made this
dish, but the cabbage was just so beautiful in the market place and I was so
hungry for it, too. If Fr Jacek wasn’t
here, I probably would have kept with something really simple, like guacamole-
the avocados were nice too. There was a variety of food to sample from
different countries. It was especially fun going from kitchen to kitchen with
others making dishes representing their countries and sampling the food they
were making. Everyone was joyful and proud of their cultures and were eager to
share what they had. Everyone who tried our stuffed cabbage, some eating it for
the first time, enjoyed it and it was yummy.
This is the end of part one (the good...) of my
Melanesian Institute experience. Thank you again for your support and prayers.
God bless you all and I welcome your comments.
