PNG Socially Needy and Spiritually Hungry

Time really does "fly."  One year ago we were still in the process of making a decision to sell everything and move to PNG.  Today we've been in the country over 7 months and have settled into live and ministry here.

Even though we are used to Port Moresby and the sights, sounds (and smells) occasionally it still seems very surreal to me that I am living where we are.  It is almost like seeing myself in a movie that was shot in a third world country.

I would never have guessed I would end up in the South Pacific and especially Papua New Guinea. I love the exotic nature of this region.  PNG, as it is called, is the poster child for the wild untamed "ends of the earth."  Eighty percent of the population still live without the basics of running water and electricity,  A large segment still live in tribal conditions and many still live stone-age lifestyles. Even the regional labels are exotic to me:  The South Pacific, Oceania, Melanesia, and The Ring of Fire are all still somewhat romantic ideas to a guy who was born, raised and lived 55 years in the Midwest of the United States, Other labels like ExPat, missionary, working for an NGO in a 3rd world country, are also foreign to my previous experience.

PNG is a country of extreme contrasts.  There is tremendous wealth in natural resources here and ExPats come to PNG to make a LOT of money.  Typical salaries range in the 6 figures with all expenses paid, including furnished housing, utilities, internet, cell phones, vehicles and fuel and security,  Usually the only thing an ExPat has to buy is food and personal items.  Sometimes only 100 yards away are people living in a cobbled shack of corrugated tin and old boards without water or electricity.  The natural tropical beauty is too often overshadowed (especially in town) by the abundance of razor-wire and the endless supply of trash.

One major change for me is my perception of the people.  When we first started talking about coming to PNG we made the typical jokes about headhunters and cannibals (they still have a few).  We were also told how dangerous the country is (not from headhunters and cannibals, but from gangs called Raskols and from general crime like theft, muggings, assault, rape and car jackings, born of illiteracy, poverty and  sheer boredom.  Port Moresby has 300,000 people (and growing) with a 60% unemployment rate.  People have to steal to live and it becomes a way of life.

However we have discovered that the majority of people we encounter every day are extremely friendly when you show them the slightest attention.  The are so used to being ignored, if not treated poorly, by the ExPats that a "hello" or a smile produced a big toothy grin and happy response. Because of the crime, security guards are everywhere.  They are a basic low paying job as mostly you stand around all day inside of a store or outside in the parking lot.  I make it a point to speak to all the security guards and often shake their hand or give them a piece of gum or a couple of cookies (when you make $1.20 an hour you don't often have money for gum or cookies). Now many of them know me by name and make sure I get good parking spots,  :)

Port Moresby has  a bad reputation (and deservedly so). However we believe the city is changing and actually like being here.  All in all it is an awesome time to be in this country as it is certainly in the birth pangs of entering the the the 21st century and we believe that we are statistically placed by God to make a difference in this socially needy and spiritually hungry country,

Don't settle for comfort and convenience  - be willing to get out of your comfort zone - where the real needs are - and allow God to use you.  Whatever you THINK you are giving up will be nothing compared to the life experience and blessing you will get from "Spreading the love of God and meeting human needs." (Our City Mission  mission statement.)


Blessings, Steve