A week experience in Marum village.

A teachers house at Marum Primary school, Bugati area of Rai coast
District

It was so cold that I had pulled my bed sheet over my whole body. Yet cool breeze finds its way in through the betel nut stamp floorings, through the spaces in the bamboo blind walls and open riche cap of the semi-permanent teacher’s house. I breathe dust from the bamboo blind the whole night.

My back ache from the rough flooring but it wasn’t troubling compared to tiredness of the five hours walk to Marum Village the previous day.

After an hour of a vibrating phone, I woke up. Sparks of light was now penetrating through the blind walls.  While birds were singing welcome songs of dawn in the trees nearby, children were already playing outside. I tip toed outside screwing my eye to avoid stepping on sleeping bodies snoring in the house.

Once outside I had a true glimpse of a slice of paradise. Marum primary school sits on a small plateau surround by a range of mountain in the Bugati area of the Raikos District. Raikos district one of the mountainous regions in Madang. At the southern side of the school the great Yowor River meanders its way to the coast and another stream flows on the northern side of the school providing drinking water for staffs of Marum primary school. Everything was pristine.



An early morning picture of Marum
 primary school.

At 7am the sun still hides behind the highest peak on the eastern side of the village traditionally named as Mt Ujili. The mountain has it long traditional tales. Every time when it comes to taro harvest seasons, the villages around the foot of the mountain hear a rumbling sound of land slide at the top. It marks taro harvest season. At the western side of Marum primary school stood Mt Opo’ou. It cast shadow over the village at 6pm.

The village was misty in the early hours of the morning. Village people were already outside to meet us. They could have heard yesterday from the school principal and ward councillor that a group of Divine Word University students were going to spend a week in their village.

Although Marum primary school was isolated, I couldn’t believe that loans around teachers’ houses and the playing ground were well mowed. Power cables were connected to all teachers’ houses. The school had a generator set that runs at dusk fall up to 10pm for the school resident. We were treated as staffs. Villages came in with food contribution for our stay. Taro, sugar cane and greens were piled up under a torn tree next to the house we were sleeping. Among the 22 of boys we had a girl. Some of us had to help her do our cooking for the day.

To reach Marum village we had to cross Yowor river five times.
 It took us a five hours walk by foot

It was March 28, an introduction day for twenty-two of us from Divine Word University students to teachers, students and the people of Marum. We went as Divine Word University Adventist Students Association for a Gospel outreach and also to run seminars on various topics to help the people. Some of which include how to start a small business, health and sanitation and the importance of education.

The next day was Easter Friday; therefore the principal asked if we could talk to students and staffs of Marum primary school. It was such an opportunity for us to share our experiences. But above all, an eye opener for Marum primary school students to have a group of University students visiting them.

Although Marum primary school is isolated, the school had semi-permanent classroom. Classes range at grade one to eight. Walking into the grade one classroom, I feel for the students. The desks were made of round sticks and split bamboo seats and top. Most other classrooms had bamboo blind walls and fewer desks.

During the day I tried to memorize as many names as I could. So were my counterparts. Students came and offer us fruits, peanuts and sugar canes. They were all competing to at least give us something. I couldn’t hide it any more but let my tears have it way. As I turn to look at all my colleagues, they were blinking regularly .I knew it was an attempt to hold back tears. The hospitality was more than we expect. We could fell that we were special to them than the little possessions they have.

Taking pictures with Marum primary school Students
at the school ground.

Although it was a long Easter weekend, the students, staffs and villagers remained for a game with us. We had a touch of soccer, rugby touch and volleyball the whole afternoon.

However as it was getting dark the thought of securing a space to sleeping in the cramp house came to mind. After a dinner, a couple of us sat around a dimly lit fire till late telling all the tales we could remember from childhood. Feeling like dropping, I left for the house.

As I opened the door I almost stepped on three bodies lying like logs. I had to crouch and feel my way to the position I slept the previous night.

Lifting the mosquito net we tied, I lowered myself wearily.

Before my bum could touch the floor I sat right on a raised knee and jumped over another body to gain my balance.  Someone had already taken my space.
Sitting and sleeping the whole night I dreamt of my bed in school. I shouldn’t have stayed back in school and enjoy my sleep.

But the cry of dawn became a refresher. It would be our second day at Marum. The enthusiasm to engage with the community had grown. Friday was our community service to Marum and the nearby village. As a team of DWU Adventist student, we were divided in separate groups again to visit Old people and orphanages in the villages, pray with them and distribute second and clothes

We had to cross this river five times to reach
our destination.

we have brought with us for the purpose.

I was proud as a visitor among all the Adventist students on that trip. The people and lifestyle taught me a lot about the uniqueness of Papua New Guinea, my own country. A country so blessed with natural resources. The life style was simple.

At the end of the week we prepared for the five hours walk back to Yowor bridge construction site. This is where the government road ends. W e would get on the truck there back to school. It is a five hours walk down from Marum village. To get there we also had to cross the Yowor River four times, each time crossing our fingers that the river doesn’t flood.

The day arrived and we were farewell with a big Mumu of chicken and vegetables. The entire Marum villager and surrounding villages came for our farewell. They all lined up along the road as we shook hands along our way. The happy days we shared turn into wailing as they saw us left. I had never experience such a heart fell hospitality while in University.

 

 

 

 

 

Woman

Poetry

She is called a woman because she was taken out of man

She shared the same rib cage that of a man,
To be working alongside him
God called her a help meat to a man, not a slave
She had the nature that a man doesn’t
She is made tender and loving,
Yet she had a heart that is so big
A woman is like a rose
If she is treated with respects and genuine love,
 She blooms more as a lily
Her love is like a ripple in clear water
That reaches out to those nearby

 

She is a honored vessel, not a punching bag
She has human integrity just like men
For every home, she is the maker
A mother is a woman
She felt the pain a father couldn’t
When a child is down with illness
She is the first to panic
Nine months was long enough
To be part of a child’s early life
When she talks, she meant it
When she cried
She is overwhelm with emotions

 

As the her hair goes grey
She has the wisdom
Watching from her kitchen
She instructs one who just blossom
Her thoughts are now gloomy
Her eyes is now full of warning
Young lady, I have been there
I am too old to fight
Her words may always hurt
Yet she knew what is best for Ladies
A life that is content
A family that is constructive
Love that never ends in shame

A true touching story

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant.
It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

 Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.."

 His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."

 By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper That he got from a grocery bag Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume.. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left, she cried for at least an hour.

 On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets.."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling* her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.

 Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.
Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

 They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for* believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

Mama's Great Expectation

Growing up on my bosom

Watching over you with pride everyday
Day and months were shorter than weeksYou were of my blood, fruit of my womb
Caressing your tender and tiny limbs
Your arrival was a bond of unity

Watching you crawl, stood for the first time
And splash in your dish wash
What else could I say?
Your smile sparkles in my heart
If there’s something I couldn’t live without
A son that reminisced my first love

 That day came, it seems so early

Walking you to school, missing you at home
Lunch pack, school bag, pencil case
Your companion for the day
Your teacher, your mum from 8 hours
Home was empty awaiting your return

 At 17 , you had to leave home

A little more separation from comfort zone
Boarding life, high school experiences
My heart grows cold
You have to embrace life alone
Every day, you were my thoughts
Son, I could see a gentle man in you
Afar off my heart felt the pain of your struggle
For my pain gave your life
It cannot be separated

My joy was mixed with heart felt tear
You had to go even further from home
This time your village and your family
A higher calling, a privilege you deserve
Your tears defines the painful years
I am with you even when there is nothing on the table
My promise were never spoken, yet communicated

The day I tidied your room, just as it is
It remained for years untouched
The voice, that gets me angry at times
We miss it for quite a while now
Evening family conversation, you are the topic
At last we miss a part of the family

Realizing it will never be the same again

My son, if there’s something I’d acquire of you
Be a gently man, make us smile in silence
We will be watching
Waiting for the day you will come home
With the same smile you left with
Love mum.