Gifts

Papua New Guinea is known for it's wonderful, rich coffee. Some of the best coffee to pass through my lips has been PNG coffee - or copi for my Papua New Guinean friends. And it isn't the same as the Starbucks variety. Starbucks is less rich and earthy. PNG coffee is rich, complex with a wonderful finish.

If you come to my house you will also find a plethora of wood carvings, baskets and woven bags laying around. 'Bilum' bags are woven by the women of PNG and are used to carry everything from babies to kaukau - sweet potatoes to you.

After speaking to my husband about what kinds of things I should bring back this visit, we both agreed we didn't need anymore baskets or wood carvings - unless I find something equally as amazing as the puk puk bowl or snake/pukpuk cane. Oh yeh, pukpuk means crocodile in Tok Pisin.

One of the many gifts we brought back from PNG 19 years ago was the infamous penis gourd. Somehow, after distributing these priceless, one-of-a-kind gifts to our family and friends, our hands were empty. It is the one memory of PNG that is missing from our home. This is something I hope to remedy upon my return.

I plan to purchase around 20 of these items while in PNG. Not only for myself, but my co-workers and friends who really don't know what owning one is like.

This picture was taken by my dear friend, Luke Davidson. While he and his family lived across the border of PNG in Irian Jaya, they ran into a colorful group of people. It appears that this is some kind of welcome. I don't remember seeing a penis gourd this large in PNG. But I am sure gona be on the look out.

Returing to Papua New Guinea

On May 7, 2009 I will return to Papua New Guinea. I never dreamed I'd have the opportunity to return.

It's been almost 19 years.

My husband and I took our two little girls to this far away land back in 1988. Brenna and Kalie were 3 and 1 years old. Wade went to be a teacher at the missionary kid school at Ukarumpa. After a few months he became the youth director. Our lives were rich there. We met so many wonderful people: folks we are still in contact with.

In fact, one of the students on this trip was born while we were in PNG. :) Little baby Whitney - sorry Whitney...that's the last time on this blog - I promise.

The reason for this journey is just amazing no matter which way you look at it. I work at George Fox University. We have a 'junior's abroad' program that takes students on tourist jaunts to various locations around the world.

This year the drama professor, Rhett Luedtke, planned a theatre focused trip to PNG. You see he too spent some time in this crazy land. His father, Todd, is going to be there with us as well. In fact, thanks to him our journey is going to be even more spectacular as he has gone before us to pave the path: and teach at the Lutheran Seminary in Lae.