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...
