Giving to bless
February 07, 2014 – Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea – Karen Weaver with Tim Scott "When God gives us things, we don't hold them tightly; we hold them loosely so they can fall through our fingers to bless others." This is how Greg Barkman, Ukarumpa International School (UIS) principal, described his students’ attitude toward giving. In December, UIS students in prekindergarten through 12th grade brought gifts such as toys, games, school supplies, clothing and cash to school. The senior class delivered these gifts to children at an orphanage in Lae, a town four hours drive away. Most of the orphans had lost both of their parents to AIDS. While there, the teenagers gave the children an even more precious gift than toys or clothing: their time. They shared hugs, listened to their stories, prayed for them, and showed them God's love. They held threeyear-old Miriam, who had contracted AIDS from her mother. They listened to twelve-year-old Sarah who came from an abusive family and still had scars on her face. And they grieved over ten-year-old Jordon who had been caught stealing numerous times and as a result had to leave the orphanage and live on the streets. On the last day of their visit the young people gathered the children in a circle and prayed for them. The children and the teens had each experienced God's love through their mutual friendship. Many of them shed tears as they hugged good-bye. Visiting the orphanage deeply affected all the UIS students, including Meliah Michael. Meliah is interested in pursuing a career in journalism, and she now feels a pull to use her writing skills to serve orphanages and raise awareness of the needs of the poor. Meliah wrote these thoughts in response to the experience: ‘I never thought such little hands could pull on my heartstrings so entirely. My life is changed forever, to put it simply. When they held my hand, looked me in the eye and said, “Stay forever,” I knew that these kids, these brave warriors in life, were what really mattered. To love these kids was such a blessing, I will never be the same.’ For more information on this release, contact, The PNG Experience, PO BOX 413, EHP 444, Papua New Guinea Phone: 011 + 675 + 537-4431 or Email:
ThePNGexperience@gmail.com or follow the daily blog at www.thepngexperience.wordpress.com. Pictures do not always depict actual event, activities or people. “Yumi Stori” is the PNG “Tok Pisin” term for “Let’s talk” or “Let’s have a conversation”