Quick update of prayer requests!
(again, news at http://lydia-in-png.blogspot.com/2011/06/sunday-tuesday.html)
- Please pray for the 10 pastors and 9 wives that were ordained at Church here on Sunday. It was great to hear a bit of their testimonies and to see them publicly committing to the Lord's service. It was also really encourgaing to see the acknowledgement and support of the wives' roles in the ministries (which is quite counter-cultural).
- Please pray for the patients on the wards who are hearing about Jesus from the hospital chaplain; particularly a family who have just been told that the mother has incurable cancer, and another family who are saying they want to take their child away for a few days to do 'customs'. Please pray for the truth and comfort of Jesus in their situations.
- Please continue to pray for the missionaries here, serving under often difficult circumstances.
- Please pray for me to not get too busy with medical activities that I do not spend time listening to God.
Many thanks! Lydia

Update from PNG

Hello! I have managed to get on a laptop and send out an update!
[for general news see: http://lydia-in-png.blogspot.com/]
Firstly, I must say an enormous thank you for all of your prayers! I am certainly aware of being held up in prayer, and want to encourage you that your prayers are being heard and answered by our awesome God!
Thanks to God for safe arrival. I have received many blessings and encouragements (examples: a CD in my accomodation with worship songs of Bible verses given to me before I came; Sending out a light-hearted prayer request for fruit and being brought a pineapple by someone here within the hour!)
I am settling in and getting to know the missionaries based here. Please pray for strong friendships to grow which will be mutually encouraging and a real blessing.
Please pray for me as I get stuck in at the hospital this week - that I would be able to get on well with the staff and adapt well to the way things work here. Please pray for Addy and Sharon - 2 missionary doctors here. Addy has just returned from 6months leave, and Sharon leaves for hers at the end of July, so it is a time of adjustment for them. Daniel is the other doctor, who returns in 2weeks time after a short break with his family.
Please pray for the MAF plane based here to soon be fixed. (www.maf.org)
Love and thanks to you all!
Lydia xx

Before I leave

I leave tomorrow!
Please be praying for a safe and trouble-free journey (it is going to take 2 days to get there!) and that I will be met the other end.
Please continue to pray for God's peace and protection as I go out.
I will update when I can!

About where I am going

Papua New Guinea (PNG)
- Population: 5.8 million
- 87% live in rural areas.
- High infant mortality (7 children in every 100 die by the age of 5)
- Approx. one doctor per 10,000 people (mostly in urban areas).
- Rural health services are poor.
- Strong beliefs & fears around spirit involvement in life & health.


Rumginae
Rumginae is a former mission station, consisting of the Rumginae hospital, a Community Health Worker School, Bible school and Primary School, as well as a Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) base. The 60 bed hospital is a church-run but government funded ministry to the remote rural community. Along with fifteen associated aid posts and the support of MAF, it serves much of Western Province. It is staffed by two or three expatriate doctors with the remainder of the staff from throughout PNG.


Rumginae Hospital

Why am I going?

Rumginae is where God has directed me to do my ‘elective placement’ as part of my medical studies. The elective placement is an opportunity to experience medicine and healthcare in a different setting to the UK NHS, and many students link with ‘mission’ hospitals to serve God in a medical context.

I believe that my medical training is part of God’s plan for my life, so I see my placement in Rumginae as an opportunity to serve Christ and the people there, and also to build up my knowledge and experience for the future. I am excited to rely on God in a very rural and resource-poor setting with lots of challenges, and to see his faithfulness continue to provide.

The Christian charity MAF has a base at Rumginae, and is closely linked with the hospital. I will be involved in emergency air evacuations of patients, and will get to know some of the MAF families based in PNG.

Prayer points

- I am going to PNG on my own, so please pray for God to place the right people around me during my time there.

- Pray that God will speak to me in my vulnerability, through people I meet and challenges I face.

- Indigenous people in Papua New Guinea have a strong emphasis on involvement of spirits in life and health, so pray for wisdom and protection as I am confronted with these issues.

- Pray that I will gain a deeper understanding of, dependency on and love for God through my time in PNG.

- Pray for wisdom and opportunities in how best to communicate my experiences when I return.

- Pray for the staff in Rumginae and that healthcare will continue to be delivered to people in PNG in Jesus' name.