The sincere kindness, love and all out effort expressed by the brethren in Papua New Guinea (more specifically Jubilee Uni faculty & staff & PNG AoG Leaders) was incomparable to any I've experienced since.
Upon arrival in Jackson's International Airport, Port Moresby in PNG my fears that my dad was all alone with no one caring for him immediately vaporized. I exited the the airport terminal at 5:30 AM sniffing the familiar PNG aroma. The welcoming party included dad, Philip Kavan (Pro-Vice Chancellor of JU), Ptr Joe and Ptr Michael Bono greeted me with hugs, pats on the back, handshakes and expressions of sympathy. It felt good to be back. I felt good being home.
It was quiet on the JU campus and mom and dad's house was still with the inhabitans sound asleep. I took a short nap and awoke at 7AM to find the house alive with activity. As I walked in the dinning area I was greeted with the sympathetic smiles & hugs from tita Cora (mom's older sis who flew in from Melbourne a day before with my cousin Kaye), tito Phil & tita Virgie Colada (family friends working in PNG). Kaye (my cousing) was still asleep.
The JU staff, faculty & students had been mobilized to help our family and assist us in our mundane activities. So that we almost didn't have to lift a finger. Some were preparing food, doing our laundry (which we had to hide later because it was just embarassing), cleaning the house, just being with us. Later I discovered that this was customary. In the village when one's relatives dies the whole village becaomes the support group for the immediate family. All things are done to help the family from the simple household chores to the burial preparations, burial, and even post-burial moourining period. The physical symbol of this mouring is a temporary shelter called the "haus kry" built in the middle of the village. In our case, our village was the university. This is a place of mouring, weeping, wailing, telling stories in remembrance of the deceased and for Christians, thanksgiving, worship and encouragement. This could last from 3 months to a year even after the burial.
It was somewhat a big adjustment coming back to Manila where suddenly dad, Renee & I had to do everything for ourselves. From the memorial service to the daily mundane activities.
I already had an appreciation of PNG as the place where I grew up. But this brought a new admiration for the people and culture. I could just imagine how the young church must have been as told in the book of Acts.
Thank God for His goodness and the people He surrounds us with. I saw God minifested in many ways through many people and situations surrounsing me this past month. I pray that I too would be a blessing to others in need as I & my family have been blessed.
I miss my mom...
but I also know and recognize God's sovreignty and providence. He is trully good!
