Joni has allowed me to become a part of her village family too. I see them more often than mine because they have a sister who lives on an island nearby and has a market at the nambis (beach) selling buai and cold drinks. I wish my family came to town more… we are working on that. In the meantime, I love being a part of Joni’s family.
I have seen many stark differences between Papua New Guinea and America…. But this one really drove it home. Sera was in labor (her 4th baby). We stayed at Joni’s place and helped her with her labor. Did you know that a rolling pin comes in really handy during labor?? No, it doesn’t have anything to do with hitting anyone! When she would have a pain, she’d tell Joni who would write them down and time them. I would grab the rolling pin and roll it at the small of her back. She was in incredible pain (as you mamas can imagine!). So we waited for them to be consistent and about 5 min apart and headed to the hospital.
When we walked into the maternity room, I remembered how shocked I was at how it looked when I had the opportunity to look inside during my Pacific Orientation Course (POC) – when I had to come to town to get the x-ray on my wrist (Read about it here). The room consists of about 35 beds (I think). There were about 25 of them filled (I think). Each one had at least one baby… there were TWO sets of twins! All of these mamas were staying because their babies were premature.
So back to Sera. When we got there, she was not seen very quickly. The nurse worked on Sera’s paperwork and checked her to see if she was staying or not (we had been there before but she wasn’t in labor yet). She was indeed in labor. She was assigned a bed. Just a bed, in the middle of this room of mamas and babies. There is a mattress and a sheet, no pillow, no clean container to get a drink from, nothing; just a mattress and a sheet. We helped her through some more labor pains, and her water breaking. I won’t tell you that story. Then it was time for her to go back to deliver her baby. Joni went with her. I don’t know how much Joni is going to write about her experience, but it was … an amazing/eye-opening experience! I’m only telling you a little about our experience… and a lot about my experience.
Ok, so I really had the easy/FUN part! I was left on a mattress in the middle of about 25 Papua New Guinean mamas with their tiny babies. A lot of the ladies had their mothers there to help them. Family is oh-so-important here!! I had one young lady in particular who kept smiling and waving at me, so I thought I would cruise the room. What an experience! As I went toward this lady, I spoke to each mama as I passed her and smiled at her and her baby. These are some TINY babies! I made it over to the precious mama who wanted my attention. She showed me her baby. His little head was misshapen. His little feet were both turned inside and upside down. He was beautiful and she was so proud! He obviously has some struggles ahead of him, but he has a mama who loves him with all her heart! I started to tell her about my cousins’ child who walked on the top side of her ankles… but before I could say much, she stopped me. She was really excited because an orthopedic surgeon is going to come see them to straighten his feet. I’m excited for them too! I don’t know when this might happen. I talked to Lois (in my office) and she said that one time Mercy Ships came and did free surgeries. Maybe it will take something like that… I don’t know. Anyway… I talked to each mama and loved looking at all of the babies! I absolutely LOVED every minute of it!!!
I think I might have found a new ministry. Do you know that I crochet baby blankets? Yep! I don’t seriously think that I can make one for each mama, but I put word out on facebook that I needed instructions for baby hats. I received a couple of instructions and I started making them. I talked to my friend Jill and she said that they need receiving blankets. A lot of these mamas come in from the bush… and they have nothing. Nothing. They don’t have diapers, wipes, a blanket, an outfit to put their new baby in after they are born. They.have.nothing. In fact, Jill shared about one mama who didn’t have anything when she gave birth to her child and they used her skirt to clean the baby … I believe that she was still in the skirt.Can.you.imagine?!? Then she walked back to … her mattress and sheet. I mean really, can you imagine?!? I couldn’t ~ before this experience. I watched mamas walk back and drop on their assigned bed. So I have thoughts brewing about somehow making receiving blankets (or more likely having someone else make them, coz I have no idea how to sew) and giving each mama a blanket to wrap her baby in and a hat to put on his or her tiny head.
Back to Sera! The next morning we took her a container of rice with tin fish on it, a huge bottle of water and a container of sweet milky tea in a thermos. If we hadn’t, she wouldn’t have had anything to eat or drink until Joni came to get her later that day. There wasn’t even a drinking fountain that I could see… all she had was part of a bottle of water that I happened to bring and I left for her. A lot of the new mamas laid on a mat under their bed to give their mothers and their newborns the mattress. I saw those floors. I.would.not.lay.there.
Ok, so this is long enough and I haven’t even scratched the surface of what the experience really was like… I got excited about telling you about making little hats and blankets for the mamas… I guess I will save more about the delivery and birth for another time… maybe when I am in the states and we can talk in person. Or if you want to know more… email me. I love to get emails!! Hint… hint…
Sera had a baby girl and named her Joni. Pictured left are both Joni’s, aren’t they precious?
Pictured right is a photo Joni took at her house a day or two later. Beautiful huh?!? What a loved and most blessed baby girl.
Update on P&K
I’m very excited that the Mum team is working in our office this week. P&K did not travel with them. It is too dangerous for them to come here even though the “hevi” is finished. BUT I have really good news!! They have moved into the village of a relative and have begun to rebuild their lives. Thank you VERY much for all of your prayers!! I am incredibly grateful. I hope to learn more about their lives in the coming weeks.
