Adopt-a-Clinic

The South Pacific Division is a challenging Division because not only does it encompass Australia and New Zealand but all the South Pacific Islands such as Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, the Samoas, French Polynesian Islands, (and yes Pitcairn) just to name a few!

Several years ago the SDP started up a really awesome program called “Adopt-a-Clinic” where different churches in Australia actually adopt a clinic project for a needy village or region and fund raise to help build and support these clinics, which are run by national health care workers.

One such project is the Mengino clinic. Over the past month Bill has been flying out building supplies to the village in readiness for a “Fly & Build” team to come out and actually build the clinic. Come take a flight with us into Mengino. First we have to load all this timber into the airplane. The PAC is a perfect airplane for carrying building supplies. It can easily haul cement, roofing sheets, plywood, timber, piping, etc.

Here we are approaching the Mengino airstrip.

No, we are not going to run into the mountain. It just seems like it to jittery passengers. Bill is carefully checking out the wind on the surrounding ridge lines before committing to an approach.

Coming in on final…

…and we are about to touchdown. No worries getting stopped, this is a “long” runway as airstrips in PNG go and it has an 8% slope.

The whole village eagerly comes out to help unload the timber.

Not only do the adults all help...

...but so do the children.

Whoops! This little one is loosing his britches.

In order to provide village support, Bill will fly out their coffee, which will be sold and the money used to provide the villagers with basic supplies such as kerosene, soap, rice, medicines, etc.

After several weeks of doing this, the building team from Australia arrives. What an exciting day for the villagers. They are all gathered to greet the team in style.

No, these folks are not attacking the visitors with their bow & arrows. It is just part of the welcoming committee.

In order to show their appreciation, the villagers have carefully made flower leis to honor their guests. They ask the visitors to stand in a line…

...then in a solemn ceremony they march up and place the leis over the visitor’s heads.

Admittedly, we westerners are softies. These mattresses will help provide some restful sleep to the building team over the next couple of weeks before eventually ending up in the clinic.

In a few weeks, check back in to see what this team was able to accomplish.

Thank you “Adopt-a-Clinic” for providing Mengino with a much needed Health Care Center.