An ounce of prevention

This is Nancy.  When she came into clinic earlier this week with a minor illness, I knew I had seen her before.  I flipped back through her skel buk to figure out why I recognized her.  Nancy had been diagnosed with cervical displasia, or pre-cancer of the cervix in 2010.  I had done a LEEP on her, a procedure that removes the abnormal cells.  Every year Nancy returns for a pap smear.  And every year it has come back normal.  Nancy's dysplasia has been cured.  And as long as we continue to screen her, it is unlikely she will ever get cancer.

Nancy gives glory to God for healing her.  She also said that she prays for her doctor, that the Lord will give me wisdom as I care for the women of PNG.

I see so many with that horrible disease; more than I can count.  To help save even one--well, it is such a joy (as you can see by the big smiles on both of our faces).  An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure.  Or rather a ton of cure!

"For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?  Is it not you?  Indeed, you are our glory and joy."

~ 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

Jiwaka Jumpers

IIIInnnntro-DOOOOcing PNG's newest Bible quizzing team... the Jiwaka Jumpers!

This is no ordinary team.  The Jumpers are all former or wanna-be quizzers, at least twice as old as their competition.  And competition is exactly why this crew was assembled.  (Well, that and it's a good excuse to study the Word of God.)  The Jiwaka Jumpers are only local opponents for PNG's teen Bible quizzing team--Kudjip Paia.

The books for this quizzing year are Romans and James.  We are all furiously studying and learning memory verses.  Some of us are discovering that our brains don't work quite as well as they did 20 years ago!  GEESH.  The younger generation definitely has the advantage there.

Our first quiz-off is Saturday, August 17th over Romans chapters 1-6.  Gooooooooooo teams PNG!!!

"But what does it say?  'The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,' that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:  If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

~ Romans 10:8-9

Heart kids heading to Moresby

I just received word that Melendi and Kondo have qualified for surgery by Open Heart International.  Airlines PNG is booking their tickets to Port Moresby as I type.  Thank you for praying for these precious kiddos!  Please continue to do so as they travel tomorrow and have their procedures in the next week.