Thursday, May 30, 2019

Holy Week and Easter


Holy Week is always a special week for me and I can’t believe this is my second year already in Papua New Guinea. Last year, I had just arrived along with Ron and Karen when we were initiated into the West New Britain culture of PNG as we boarded onto the Bishop’s dinghy, the Vatican flag waving away and 5 hours later arriving in Kahlia where we spent The Passion Sunday weekend. We attended Saturday Mass where over 200 people were confirmed in Bariai and celebrated Palm Sunday in Kahlia. Then spent Holy Week beginning with the chrism mass on Wednesday night through Easter Sunday in Kimbe. 

This year did not disappoint. On The Feast Day of St Joseph, Maria, my fellow American missionary, and I went to the village of Valipai. This was on a Tuesday, where we received special permission in advance from the Sisters to attend the confirmation of about 100 youth. I was able to get to know Fr Joseck, the Parish Priest, better while attending the Melanesian Institute together in Goroka in January and it was an honor to support him in his mission at his parish in Valapai. On the way home, it rained so hard and the roads were so muddy that the Bishop’s truck rolled into a ditch. Maria and I along with the two Brothers and the villagers traveling with us had to vacate the truck and walk up that road in pouring rain until the truck could pick us up again on top of the hill. We were wet, we were muddy, but, oh, what an adventure (especially now that I’m clean and dry).

The weekend before Passion Weekend, I was asked by Fr Bennet to facilitate a one day workshop in ‘my’ village of Vavua. I was greeted on Friday night by the student leaders dressed in their ceremonial outfits and escorted by the villagers to the parish hall where I was warmly welcomed. Saturday, I facilitated the youth workshop to over 100 youths representing 5 villages in the Vavua Parish. My workshop centered on how setting Goals are very important in each of their young lives. GOALS - G- God, O- Opportunities, A- Achievement, L- Love = S- Success. On Saturday night, the youth were joined by about another 100+ children and a few adults to watch a movie, unfortunately, the movie did not play correctly - the disappointment was felt throughout that entire hall. Other than the movie and Maria, my fellow American missionary who was to be our other facilitator, but who could not make it, the youth weekend was a success and ended on Sunday with a thank you celebration. Again, I felt so honored. 
Wednesday of Holy Week, I was picked up by Fr Bennet and taken back to Vavua to spend Easter again in ‘my’ village. The villagers welcomed me warmly. I was able to walk and visit a few of the communities in the Vavua Parish, pick and eat fresh fruit right off the trees and swim in the ocean. 


I attended Holy Thursday Mass in the packed church, once again, many people were outside looking through the windows. On Good Friday, we began the Stations of the Cross processional beginning in one village and ended up at the church in Vavua. It was simply beautiful to participate while the crowd swelled with at least 500 or more parishioners joining our processional along that potholed road with very few vehicles (I think only one or two at the most) who waited patiently until we passed. Friday at 3, the church was packed and as if on cue, the heavens opened with a major storm complete with all the theatrics of thunder and lightening that truly proved it was Good Friday. That night ended with the full moon over the ocean and the Southern Cross shining beautifully in all its glory. It was the first time I was finally able to see it and it was visible enough that I had to bring Fr Bennet outside for him to see it for himself. I think it was the first time he saw it as well. On Good Friday yet! God is so awesome! Just Beautiful!

For the Saturday Vigil, I was again honored by ‘my’ village when I was asked to dance up the isle at the beginning of the Mass with the women while wearing traditional village attire and face paint. The leaves and flowers added an additional aromatic fragrance to the almost 4 hour Mass that night. The Easter vigil is my most favorite Mass of the liturgical year and this Mass was just beautiful. The songs sung by the different villages made it extra special.  

The Caritas Sisters, Beatrice, a Korean volunteer, along with my fellow American missionary, Maria and a visiting American missionary, Matthew, who is stationed in Rabaul were able to join us in Vavua for the Sunday Easter Mass. I think they were surprised to find how warm the villagers were as they were greeted upon arrival. Fr Bennet invited them to attend a second mass in a neighboring village where they were again warmly welcomed. That village prepared a lunch for them that they were able to enjoy while overlooking the ocean.  


I was supposed to join them in the next village, but ended up walking with a group of women in PNG style. I met Margret, one of the teachers at the primary school across the street. I met her husband, the director of the school, and her family. They prepared chicken and taro for a small snack as we visited. Then we finally got on our way down the street, picking up other women along the way. Of course, we had to stop along the way to wait for some beetle nut, some mustard greens and lime. By the time we made it to the next village, Mass was over and Fr Bennet and the Caritas caravan was on their way back to Vavua. I heard that everyone enjoyed themselves that fine Easter Sunday.  

In PNG, Easter is followed by Easter Monday when most all the stores are closed and it is a day of rest. It was nice to have one last day in ‘my’ village before beginning another school week. I enjoyed swimming in the ocean. One of the biggest honors for me is that ‘my’ village gave me a village name. At first, they were going to name me after their river, but when I found out that it meant Jump in English, I persuaded them to name me after a flower instead. So my name is Gili-Gili which means Hibiscus, a more appropriate name after all. I like the Hibiscus flowers and they remind me of Florida. The name Vavua itself means small seed- yup, that’s what I am. 
So again, this year, Easter was an enjoyable time and the opportunity to celebrate in ‘my’ village made it extra special. I continue to pray for all of you as I hope you are praying for me. At this time, I am asking for extra prayers of support as I continue to volunteer as a teacher. It’s very challenging for me as many of my students don’t have the textbooks needed to teach them properly. Please pray for the Sisters, my students, my staff and the Diocese of Kimbe. I welcome your comments.

Until next time, God Bless...

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