Wantok

Mom and Dad and I were having so much fun, I didn't take the time to write during their visit.  I'm trying to make up for it now!  And even though I don't usually post things too far after the fact, this one deserves special mention...

"Wantok" is a Pidgin word that translates to "one who speaks the same language."  In a country of 800+ languages (more than 10% in all the world), running into a person who speaks your particular language means a whole lot more than if you or I met an English speaker.  It would be more like finding someone from your neighborhood or hometown.  Wantoks frequently come from the same tribe or family.  They know the same people.  They share customs and traditions.

One of my "wantoks" recently came to Kudjip.  Stephen Snell is a third year family medicine resident at JPS Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas.  He was just starting residency when I left JPS to come to PNG.  Stephen learned about Nazarene Hospital by reading my newsletters.  He came for a rotation during the month of December.  It was great to have him here!  He did an excellent job, and definitely made JPS proud.

Thank you for serving, Stephen!