Last week was taken up with getting some stuff done that should have been done a couple of weeks ago. And trying to make sure that the loose ends are tied up. We have a another training day during the last week we are here, which is going to concentrate of Spraying Safety, Agricultural Chemicals and fertilizer application. All subjects that most farmers don't have much understanding of.
I'm getting a quote to have the chassis of a wheel hoe made up, so that Elizabeth can show farmers what they can do with one. Farmers need to mechanise their work here to become more efficient.
There is very little in the way of mechanical equipment here; most small farmers in NZ would have a walk behind Rotary hoe but nothing like that here. The equipment is needed.
We've started packing up and deciding what we are taking back with us, and what we're leaving behind. We were about 10kgs over weight with our suitcases coming over, so we need to loose some. We brought too many clothes over with us. I've just worn shorts and tee shirts the whole time. Never needed a jersey, or any of the jackets I brought, over.
Our unaccompanied luggage is going tomorrow and is all packed up. We are starting to anticipate returning home and planning what we're going to do.
It was our second to last church service today and a photo shows that the congregation is growing. There were about 6 people visiting from Kimbe who increased the numbers, but there are quite a few new faces.
The church has started a youth group and about half the congregation is under 25 and are being encouraged to participate in the service.
Over the last week the temperature seems to be ratching up. Today with the humidity the felt temperature was 41 degrees. The same tomorrow. Earlier in the week it was up to 37-38 degrees most days. It is oppressive and draining, if you walk around in it.
Christine:
Being able to take the spectacles to Nonga was such a joy. It is World Vision week this week and because Nonga now have glasses they are going to offer free eye testing at the Kokopo market. People will be able to take their results to Nonga and there is a chance they will find a pair of specs to suit them. I had also sorted through clothing I will not be taking back to New Zealand and took them to Nonga for the nurse who cares for women and children who have suffered abuse. It was a very mixed time emotionally. As we were leaving I could here the sounds of mourning from the family whose daughter/mother had just died. 35 years old and 6 months pregnant with her 6th child, she had been admitted earlier that morning paralyzed from the neck down after a beating from her husband. The police were not interested. Violence against women and children is so endemic in so many tribes and while legally against the law, will be very difficult to prevent.
On a more positive note VSA has almost finished a safe house for women. A couple of nuns have been trained to work with abused women and children and free legal aid is available for them. One of the problems is where do the women go after their court case - just back to their villages and eventually the circle repeats itself. Alcohol is part of the vicious cycle.
The 7.4 on Wednesday was mild to say the least. A nice rolly one for the first shake and a roll with a bit of a corkscrew for the aftershock. I think we may have been a bit far from the epicenter to really feel much of the shake.
Thunderstorms are almost a daily occurrence now. They cool the temperature for a few hours but we know with all the pollution from rubbish fires having been washed out of the air, the sun will be stronger than ever.
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