Ebel's Blogmail

Hi Folks
I know this blog is terribly out of date but we had good reason. We are now back in touch via the internet and will take more care in keeping you informed.

Happy New Year

Rich & Sue

Hi Folks

Just a quick note to fill you in on the last week or so. It has been very busy these last few months, too busy so this last week I took some time off flying just to rest from the demands. It was good timing as I was able to help our new traffic officer settle in to his new job, this will greatly lessen our work load here at RMG as Agisa will be able to take care of a lot of our paperwork and other duties. We also had Rachel here she helps out MAF families that are homeschooling, she was a big help to the kids and to Sue.

On Friday Dr Mike, Josh & I went to show the Jesus Film at Hesalibi a small village about 40 minutes away. We were welcomed by everyone in the village plus they were joined by another village which had walked in to see the film. Okay they didn’t just walk in; rather it was a five hour hike that most of us would not ever forget.

The film was greatly anticipated and appreciated. The pastors believe it will be a big help as they share and preach as they will be able to refer back to the movie for illustration and explanation. I will look forward to reports as they will talk about the films for a long time yet. The second film was End of the Spear the Nate Saint story of five missionaries killed in South America. They really relate to the Waidoni in the movie and share similar stories of violence. In fact they used to war with the village that was visiting.

One commented on how amazing it was that there was a camera there to capture the event. I had to explain they were just actors and that nobody was really hurt in the movie.

We arrived home after a full day in the bush eating bush food. I was very proud of Josh who just fits right in eating bush food. He even had 2nds and 3rds of sago which is basically just a starch derived from the pith of a sago palm.

Then today as we were heading out the door on the way to church Dr Addy called over the radio to say they needed a medivac right away as there was a new mom with a retained placenta and had lost a lot of blood. We got her out and back here to RMG in good time.

Just another day in the office I guess.

We are preparing to come home to Canada for a short break here in just a few more weeks. Please pray for us as we pack up, clean house, and hand over responsibilities prior to leaving.

Thanks for Praying!

Hello Folks

It was a busy week in Hagen. I was in for training to become a Route and Strip training Pilot in order to help check in new pilots. So while I was working hard, Sue and kids were enjoying the break, catching up with friends and getting the shopping done. With our break come up in June there was plenty of planning and bookings to do as we prepare to come home for a “rest”. National elections are on in June & July and for those of us due a break we are all taking it when there is the most chance of unrest.

So like I was saying it has been a busy week and was looking forward to the day off. Being Sunday we were just about to get ready for church when Dr Mike called on the radio. There were two pregnant women at Balimo that needed to be medivaced right away. One suffering from preeclampcia (a condition that causes fits and possible coma) the other had been bleeding off and on for a few weeks and had now come in from the bush and was in labour and while the placenta had broken it was blocking the birth canal.

Nick (the other pilot here) his dad (visiting) & I got the airplane refueled and ready to go. Off we (Nick’s Dad & I) went it is an hour and a half to Balimo. There is a hospital there but no doctor seems no one is willing to work in such a remote place, limited electricity, no house, poor connections to outside world etc.

It was a great day no real weather issues, always nice, thanks Lord!

The patients arrived in two ambulances and we got loaded up. One patient was able to sit up the other would have to lie prone on the floor of the airplane on a mattress and tarp then strapped down so not to move.

We then taxied out in the light rain and took off.

Then it got interesting.

We had just got airborne when there was a commotion in the back of the airplane. I was a bit preoccupied so it was a few seconds before I could look back. The very excited midwife was saying the BABY is out, the baby is out, go back, go back!

So around we went and landed. One of the ambulances had seen us coming back so thankfully had returned.

After shutting down I opened the back door of the airplane to reveal the new mom still lying strapped down, lots of blood (glad I put the tarp down), and a very blue little baby girl, still breathing!

Well now the midwife, who was not really prepared for a delivery while enroute to a C Section, was now looking for a knife or scissors to cut the umbilical cord. Well, I have one on my Leatherman tool; you can use it if you want. Okay! So they cut some bandage to tie the cord then cut the cord with my Leatherman and put the baby inside the ambulance.

I do have pictures but you will have to wait until we can get to the internet again and update our Blog.

The rest of the story is a bit more normal as we eventually left with just the other patient and had an uneventful trip home.

Maybe I can get tomorrow off.

Thanks for caring,

HI Guys
Here is a picture of that snake bite child from Yehebi.

Hello Folks

Greetings tonight from Kawito! Usually every week I spend Wednesday night here as I help out down in the South fly region of Western Province. It is always an early night so it was a good chance for me to get an email off to you about our Easter weekend at Bosavi.



We had spent time in Bosavi soon after arriving in PNG in order to help us solidify our Tok Pisin language training. Some friends in Australia have purchased a projector and generator for use in western province for showing the Jesus Film and this was our first opportunity to show the film, along with a few other films.

We invited Dr Mike Parsa and wife Jennifer and their two small children to join us. Early Saturday morning we and all our gear loaded up into the Airvan and flew the 50 minutes to Bosavi.



Bosavi was hosting an Easter Convention and had people from the surrounding villages attending, I think for the weekend there were about 10 services planned. We arrived and were graciously welcomed and soon got unpacked into the missionary home there. Dr Mike, his kids and ours quickly rushed off to the creek for a cool down while we sorted out arrangements for the weekend. The pastor showed up with the schedule of events and asked if Mike could preach the next session, in 15 minutes. Mike still dripping wet agreed and went to grab a change of clothes and his Bible.



This was followed in the afternoon by our first movie the “Jesus Film for Children” in Tok Pisin, which filled up the hall, at least half being adults. I am not sure but we probably could have shown anything and still packed out the place.



Later that evening Dr Mike introduced “The Passion” a Hollywood movie focused on Christ’s crucifixion which was followed by the “End of the Spear” a new retelling of the five missionaries killed in Ecuador back in the 50’s. It was interesting for me to watch and listen to the responses from the people around me, while sitting among the people, about 400 in the little hall, as we watched these films. These folks have no “movie etiquette” so there is a constant stream of reading out loud the captions (the Passion is in Aramaic) and translating both into Tok Pisin for some or tok ples (local language) for others not to mention the hissing, clicking and murmurings which all varied according to the good, bad, or shocking things that happened throughout the movies.



On Sunday night we showed the original “Jesus Film” which once again packed out the hall, only it started to rain half way through and we had to stop while we packed even those who had been watching from outside, now into the hall. Those that had rushed to sit in the front were now squished up against the screen looking almost straight up.



Listening to the reactions and noises as I tried to gauge the response. We were not there just to entertain, rather encourage and challenge.



The Passion surprised people as they for the first time realized what Christ really may have gone through on the Cross for us. It was not longer just some words in a book.



With the End of the Spear it was interesting to see how quickly the Bosavi people identified with the Waoidoni (spelt wrong) Indians who had lived in a culture of fear and violence. In this part of PNG headhunters and cannibals were common and the Bosavi people know of missionaries who were killed and eaten. Within a generation back the Bosavi people were hiding during the daylight due to fear of attacks and reprisals from neighboring villages only to come out at night to prepare food and move around. A major theme in the movie is forgiveness which is a hard one to fully embrace here in PNG where payback and compensation are an entrenched part of the culture. While we were there a debate was raging over a compensation demand in the community, I wonder what affect the film’s message might eventually have on the outcome of that claim.



Feedback I received before leaving Monday was that many had been prompted to speak with the local pastors and that others had rekindled their faith. I look forward to hearing more about the after effects of viewing the films. They will certainly be talking many hours for many days and weeks about all four films.



Monday morning was a chance for Dr Mike to conduct a clinic for those needing to see a Dr but due to the isolation never get an opportunity. He was able to realign a little girl’s arm which had multiple fractures from an accident 9 days ago. That alone was worth the trip.



I had the less exciting job of replacing the drive train on the self propelled mower; it has been out of action for about 6 months. In the end, after a lesson on checking and refilling the gear oil in the transfer case, I had to take a wheel home with me in order to repair a hole it in. Should be able to get it back out there in a few weeks.



It was time to go so we packed up the airplane and prepared to head home. I called up Rumginae to get a weather report only to find out they had a medivac for me. A man had cut himself badly in the leg with an axe and the health worker was having trouble getting the bleeding stopped. Remember Yehebi, the snake bit child (see his picture below) from a couple weeks ago; this was the same place, same 4 hour run to the nearest working radio. So with both families already loaded we took off for Mougulu a place where the families could stay put so that Mike & I could get as quickly to Yehebi as possible. 45 minutes later Mike & I arrived at Yehebi, to find that the health worker had that morning sewn up the cut as the bleeding had finally stopped (it was now Monday 2 pm he had the accident Saturday). The tendon had been severed so unable to do anything more for him there, we took him with us, picked up the 4 kids and 2 wives at Mougulu and headed home after a very good weekend.



The plan is for me to show the Jesus Film in other communities especially on these Wednesday nights when I overnight down here in the South Fly. Mike and I are planning to go and do more film/doctor ministry in other isolated communities up around Rumginae.



Thanks for praying!

The radio call came in.
MIKE FOXTROT JULIET You need to pick up Dr Mike there is an urgent medivac at Yehebi.

We do medivacs often here at Rumginae and sometimes they really through a wrench in the works, sometimes stranding passengers or making a really long day even longer, sometimes causing long flights half way or more across the province to pick up a urgent sick patient.

This morning it worked perfect. Just the day before Nick (the other pilot here) had just finished installing a HF radio in his house, so when Dr Mike (Pioneer’s Mission doctor from the US) needed to get a hold of us he was able to call out on the company HF radio frequency and our Kiunga base was right away able to answer him and then get a hold of me in MFJ. I had just taken off from a place called Haewenai, which is just north of Rumginae, taking some health workers out, so 5 minutes later I was landing at Rumginae and Dr Mike was running up, 5 minutes later paperwork done, Dr & medical kit aboard we takeoff and fly another 10 minutes and drop my first set of passengers of at Kiunga. We put on fuel and headed straight to Yehebi where a 10 yr old boy had been bitten by a snake the evening before. A runner had to run 4 hours to the nearest working radio to call for help. (Yehebi has a radio but they had previously in the week sent out the mike to get repaired). It is a 30 minute flight to Yehebi, nestled in the curve of the river at the bottom of a shallow valley. It is an interesting airstrip with part of the approach running close along the ridgeline. Now while Yehebi is a nice place to visit, it is not one of the places I enjoy arriving or leaving as it is a short runway in a confined valley.

Without radio contact we didn’t know if we would arrive in time or if was too late. Once on the ground the health care worker, Harin, rushed up to the airplane, very relieved to see us. The boy is still alive but in bad shape. My part now done, it’s Dr Mike’s turn, he starts first with prayer, then a shot of adrenaline, followed by the anti venom treatment.

The aidpost is a hut made out of bush materials crammed full of curious people/family watching, there is the mother holding her son wailing and singing in their language. People are wailing outside, prospect of a good outcome were slim just a few minutes earlier now were looking much better. Just this week I heard of two snake bite victims who didn’t make it.

Harin had done all the right things and had kept the boy alive till we arrived. Now it will just be a matter of a couple hours and the boy should be well on his way to recovery. With Dr Mike’s part finished we could go and leave the recovery in Harin’s capable hands, Harin, I think would have been happier if we had taken the boy with us but there really was nothing else to be done but to let the anti venom work.

This was a God moment right from the start, had my day gone to my plan I would have at that time been much further away with a 400 kg cargo of vanilla plant cuttings for a community to start a small industry. It would have meant a long delay at a critical time. But due to fog at Haewenai, I was delayed this morning as I sat in my airplane for 30 minutes waiting on a good weather report before taking off. Thanks Lord!

The partnership between MAF and Rumginae Mission Hospital is crucial for the health of the people of Western province. Without us the hospital would be helpless as calls for help came in via the radio and without Rumginae Hospital we would have nowhere to take the many sick and dying. Please remember in prayer the hospital staff, mission drs and us pilots as we expect demand for medivacs to increase as two of the busiest aidposts close due to lack of health care staff. Please remember the health staff in the bush as it is a tough calling with little earthly reward and tremendous pressure.

As for us we are all well and healthy, it has been a very busy month, too busy, and we look forward to bringing some more balance to the pace.

Over Easter we are planning on returning to Mt Bosavi with Dr Mike and his family to show the Jesus Film.

Thanks for Praying!

Hi Folks
Well it is high time I spent some time on our blog. Especially since we won't have internet access at Rumginae at least for a while.
Last week saw Morgan develop an abcess, due to her damaged tooth from earlier in the year. So we were able to get her in to the dentist at SIL which was a huge help as it was only an hours flight and I could do it. We were able to spend an evening with our MAFC friends who are there serving with SIL.
The dentist said he had never seen anything like Morgan's mouth. So after some deliberation, study and a consult with a dentist in the US he went to work.
So another kid with a root canal and the abcess cleaned out, teeth braced again we are back praying the tooth will still take and she won't need a fake tooth so soon.
Will keep you posted.

Last night I didn't make it home as planned, late in the afternoon too much weather between me and MT hagen and not an overabunence of fuel meant I needed a back up plan so I went to Mt Bosavi (see previous posts). I was well received and they made sure I had a good dinner and a clean bed. It was a great opportunity to be with them and build relationship. This morning with the weather better it was a much easier trip home.

The plan is for us to move Wed to Rumginae, I will fly the Airvan and Sue and teh kids will follow in the Twin Otter loaded with all our stuff.
Should be unpacked and ready to start flying the following week.
Will be in touch.

RSjm

Hi again everyone, it has been awhile since our last update so we thought it was time to do another one.

We have an eventful few weeks since Morgan and I returned the first time from Australia. It was a great trip for us, especially just finding out what to do with the tooth. The dentist was very good and very comforting. So they ended up putting a “splint” on the tooth and the two next to it. This was to stabilize it, and after this last dentist appointment, it did just that. Rich took Morgan last week to Australia again for the removal of the splint, and a check. He was very happy with how it was progressing, it looked healthy no grey colors etc. So that was very good. The tooth is stable she is still not eating hard foods, apples etc., but she is eating most other things. We are very thankful for the progress she has made.

Rich left on Thursday last week, and was back on Saturday, it was a whirlwind trip. They both were pretty tired after the journey. Morgan came back with a cold, but seems to be on the mend now. They stayed with some friends of ours from North Australia days, so that was a great time to catch up. We are hoping to get back to visit them when we aren’t rushing off to the dentist!

While they were away josh and I kept fairly busy. We had a few things on the go, like the monthly Mt. Hagen Ladies lunch, it was also a farewell for Esther. Friday we had a very nice visit from our MAF friends from Goroka, they are also from Canada, and it was a very nice visit and fun for Josh to have a play and no school while Morgan was away.

Rich is doing well and is beginning to feel a bit better the allergies seem to be subsiding now that he has figured out what it “might” be. He found out from our friend, who has similar symptoms that it could be tropical dust mites. So we are doing a few preventative things for that and it seems to be working.

Josh is still enjoying all the varied things around here. Yesterday he was very excited and that is putting it mildly!! He came rushing inside and told me there was a man selling a snake at the gate. He went on to describe this snake and asked if I would go look at it!!!! I didn’t……. He went out and looked again, then rushed in even more excited and eyes popping out of his head, saying “the man asked me if I wanted to buy it” so….. I asked what did you say “I said YES!” All the while he is telling me this; his body is vibrating, with excitement! He thought he would be buying this snake and that 40 Kina would be too much for it. It sounded like a fairly good size snake. I suppose it would have to be, as it would not be a pet for the nationals, but dinner. So anyway that was our excitement yesterday. Rich has asked for a “small” snake from one of the bush strips he goes into for Josh. I had to make sure he clarified what SMALL meant!

Well what a difference a day makes, we are past the TALKING about the snake to oh boy here is the snake. Yesterday Rich came home with a small Green Tree Python; Josh was a little excited to say the least. He sounded a bit like the small son on Swiss Family Robinson, after he caught his tiger. He said “I got my tiger” over and over. Josh said the same thing, ‘I got my snake’. Some of us are more excited than others, Morgan and I am not as enamored! In fact I locked everyone out of the house until we laid some ground rules down, the first and most important is the cage and snake are kept outside on the deck!! I thought that was fairly important to get straight.

Love & Prayers