Letters
from Bro. Jerry Wintz, O.F.M.Cap.
Letters
III - Feb.
8, 2000 to Jun. 26, 2000
Letters
I | Letters
II
| Letters
III | Letters
IV
from
Kap, Papua New Guinea, Feb. 8, 2000
Hello all,
I'm doing alright in
Kap. I am
teaching a couple of classes. Here's the latest adventure story.
The road [from Mendi] to
Kap was
long but it went pretty smoothly. Turns out that one of the Friars in
Mendi was trying to get to Ialibu and giving us (Steve [Cap. Volunteer]
and I) a ride was a great excuse/reason. Steve and I stayed the night
in Ialibu and the next morning CYRIL [REPKO], with the two novices and
Bob the other Cap. Volunteer, picked us up and took us to Mt. Hagen
where we caught a PMV to Goroka. Steve and Bob taught at St. Fidelis
College last year and were spending their break in the highlands. Thus
it was the three of us on our way to Kap.
First I want to note
that my
earlier description of PMVs was not a description to fit all. In this
case, and thank God, we caught something more like a bus. It was a 20
or 35 seater. It was much more comfortable than the ride I got to the
west end of the Southern Highlands. This is an especially good thing in
light of a much longer trip. I believe it lasted about 6 hours.
I am going to backtrack
a little
here. A couple of days before [our] leaving Mendi, some fighting broke
out. A prominent person in town had killed someone in one of his
gambling joints. Now, the line of the deceased was returning for
payback by burning all the places this guy owned. The smoke rising in
upper Mendi could be seen from the friary. I remember this now because
as we left Mendi, we came upon a police roadblock. We were waved
through, but we assumed they were checking for weapons, hoping to keep
the fighting from escalating in Mendi. My reason for backtracking is
that we were similarly stopped just outside of Mt. Hagen. The PMV was
emptied (except for the three of us), some police boarded, checked
passengers' bags (but not ours), then everyone boarded again and we
were on our way. After we got on our way again, I think it was Bob who
said, jokingly; "we could make a killing here!" We all agreed to the
literalness of these words, if we would be of "that type"that would do
such things. Elsewise the trip to Goroka was uneventful, except for
singing along with American pop songs that came up on the radio that we
would, perhaps, not have had on our hit list in the States, but for
some reason, it sounded pretty good here. Then the PMV dropped us off
right at the friary doorstep.
The next day we
continued our
journey. 7am we were up looking for the next PMV that was going to
Madang. Most were going to Lae. Eventually, one of the Lae drivers
changed his mind and started calling out for Madang. That's how you
find the one you want. It sounds like Mdng Mdng Mdng Mdng Mdng Mdng
Mdng Mdng Mdng. A lot of times you can't understand what they are
saying. We started our 8 hour trip (which could have been 7). It was a
nice trip, with a couple of stops along the way. . .until we hit the
roadblock!! No, not rascals; just a PNG road. Turns out, it was the
last hill we had to climb before exiting the highlands. About halfway
up a steep hill was a big mud hole in which busses and trucks were
getting stuck. There was also a big lineup of others waiting their turn
(This is not completely true. Many pulled ahead in the line.) There was
a combination of pushers and pullers. Lucky for many there was a 4
wheel drive above the hole helping tow some vehicles out. It was wild!
Everyone, and there was
a big
crowd, had the right idea of how to get through this mess. No matter
what, though, everyone got stuck (except smaller 4wd vehicles). There
were a couple of very large dump trucks helping each other. They broke
a heavy chain a couple of times. Eventually they used two vehicles for
the pulling. Well, finally we got our driver motivated to move up the
hill and get into the mix because the longer we waited the less help we
would have, but, just as he pulled up, the helpful 4wd pulled out! Our
experience was showing that pushing was not enough, so we were stuck.
It turns out as well that this driver was making his first trip to
Madang and did not know about this road (he usually went to Lae).
God is good! Another 4wd
truck
came through and began helping some of the remaining busses through the
mire. If this person would not have stayed, we may have spent the night
on the road. We ended up spending an hour wallowing in the mud as we
helped push a good number of vehicles through the hole. Our driver was
a good man. As I had a hold on the bus next to the drivers window, we
chatted a bit. One thing he proposed was that, after we get through we
should stay and help at least a few more others. Wow! It was nice to
have met a man who was not overly concerned with his route or vehicle
such that he could not stop and help others.
We finally did arrive in
Madang
where we were dropped off at the diocesan headquarters. Someone from
Kap (BILL TALENTINO) came to pick us up. It turns out he was going to
the airport anyway to pick up some new volunteers -- a married couple.
It was good to see Bill again. I had spent some time with him while I
was doing my Pastoral Counseling studies in Washington, DC.
I had mentioned flying
foxes as
part of my experience in Pangia -- I could hear them flying at night. I
was always hoping that I might catch a glimpse of one some evening.
Well, guess what greeted me in Madang. No, not a flying fox, but a
flock of flying foxes! (Be careful saying that too fast). Yes, Madang
happens to be the flying fox capital of the world! If you have ever
seen crows flying around or gathering, this is much the same. One big
difference is that the flying fox hangs underneath the branch on which
it lands. Anyway, I certainly did not expect to see them in broad
daylight. They are no longer a novelty, yet they are still fascinating.
I will continue in my
next note
about my arrival in Kap -- home sweet home?
Peace, Jerry
from
Kap, Papua New Guinea, March 22,
2000
It has certainly been a
while
since I have written anything. Only just last week did I begin feeling
some energy come back to me. I had picked up some strain of flu a while
back and it carried with it bronchitis and a cold. At first I was
thinking "here it is, I've got malaria." I am glad
that I
was wrong in my diagnosis. The bronchitis was the hardest thing to get
rid of. A few days after my first round of medication, I felt it was
not quite gone, so did another round of meds. Anyway, after a couple of
weeks of formal medicating and such, the main stuff was gone; but I was
still tired a lot more than usual for a couple of weeks after. I have
heard it said that stress can do that too!
Yes, I'd call this
recent month or
so a stressful one. Mostly, the stress does not seem to stem from a
typical situation of overworking (not that I have been idle). It is
quite a transition -- but not in the way I expected. I was preparing
myself, before coming to PNG, to be ready to immerse myself in another
culture and language. I was immersed in my first few months here. Now I
have been called to work at a place where the staff is predominantly
American, and English is primarily spoken for the sake of teaching the
students (but it is also easier -- it's our first language). So, I
think I have been shocked in a backwards kind of -- I miss speaking
pidgin. I suppose this is a good thing; maybe even another little sign
that I am supposed to be here. (I am still looking for these kinds of
signs).
Another stressful thing
that
coincides with coming to PNG is that I have a job. Up to now, my life
with the Capuchins has mostly been life as a student. As a student I
was mostly responsible to myself (and, gratefully, to benefactors) to
make the best of my time at school. Now I am responsible to someone
else -- the students here at St. Fidelis Seminary. This is a different
perspective for me and it brings some stress with it.
Kap surely is a
beautiful place!
This beauty is what sometimes touches me inside with a sense of "wow,
look where I am living and working." The sunrises, the moonrises, the
southern cross and other stars -- the billions, the coconut trees, the
orchids: these are what surround us here at Kap. Nature has way of
refreshing my spirit. Nature stands out brilliantly here!
As I note my consolation
in
nature, I realize that I have not yet fully connected with the
community of friars here. I know this takes time. I have not connected
with the students too much either outside of class. Part of this is my
being an introvert. It requires energy for me to meet new people. Here
I am entering a community of five new people and working with about 130
new people who are students. More stress?!
These are some of the
reasons that
I ended the last letter with the question of whether Kap was "home" or
not yet. I want to thank you for your prayers. I truly depend on them
-- because you are there and I am here. I do not have to look far to
find my lenten penance this year. I pray that God will lift us up in
resurrection at Easter.
from
Kap, Papua New Guinea, April 26,
2000
Well, here I am in Kap
some four
months now and I have only alluded to what I'm doing here -- I am
actually still asking the same question of myself. It is getting
clearer. One of our three terms is ending this week (the 28th is the
last day) then a two week break. I have been teaching two classes
within this first term: Religion with the grade eleven and Salvation
History with the twelves. The religion class focused on the Apostles
Creed. Preparing material for this class made for a good reflection on
my own faith which, in turn, was a nice lead-in for the Easter
celebrations here. The Salvation History class is a fairly in-depth
look at the Old Testament. This past term we covered the book of
Genesis. The Bible was the source of my personal faith journey when,
back in high school, I wanted to start living my faith a little more
fully and honestly. It is nice to return to some study of the Bible as
I prepare these classes. This was also a nice reflection in preparation
for Easter.
There is plenty of work
involved
in doing this, but it should be much easier next year. One thing nice
about teaching here is that there are no discipline problems. Well, I
probably cannot really claim "no" problems, but it is nothing like I
would expect in the States. Part of this is because the average age is
a bit higher; I would guess it to be in the 20's with our oldest
student being in his 40's.
That is the teaching
end. I will
soon be taking on the responsibility of overseeing all the maintenance
of the school and friary and grounds. There is a national man on our
ancillary staff who has been doing much of the maintenance. I will be
coordinating his work, as well as using the skills of the friars. I
don't think I will get bored here!
Holy Week was great
here. For
starters, the decorating is amazing; what these guys can do with palms
and flowers is truly beautiful -- and they do it up big! The singing
was great, the readers at Mass were loud and clear and some guys wore
traditional bilas (decorative dress) which means they did not wear much
at all. Holy Thursday was typical with the washing of feet. Good
Friday's main celebration was at 3 o'clock. This was pretty typical
also, but there was no veneration of the cross. They covered veneration
Friday evening with a haus krai (house cry). House cry is connected
with funerals in this country. The family and relatives gather to mourn
the passing (in this case the passing of Jesus). This is nothing like a
funeral home experience in the States. It is not clean and dressed up,
but dirty and dressed down. They go so far as to put mud all over
themselves. It is also not quiet. There is wailing and moaning and,
well, crying, as well as singing. It was a loud experience and I found
it difficult to connect with it because it was so foreign to me. Groups
of students from the various dioceses would come in as the relatives
and each group mourned in the tradition of its place.
The vigil on Saturday
was quite a
spectacle, but I did not find it distracting. The blessing of the fire
required a BIG blessing. I had never seen a fire so big. They had wood
and palms stacked teepee style about two stories high!! It lit quickly
and burned tall, then, BOOM, ..... BOOM!! The fire began exploding; not
just firecracker noises, but real explosions as if someone put a box of
ammunition in the fire. Turns out they had put fresh bamboo in the fire
for just such the purpose of explosions au natural. I guarantee no one
was standing close to that fire!
After the blessing of
the fire we
moved to one of the classrooms where we had the liturgy of the word.
The combination of readings with sung responses went well for me. I was
also one of the readers (the crossing of the Red sea story). This part
of the liturgy really struck me more this year because of teaching this
class on the Old Testament. I found that I was not just hearing the OT
stories, but was recognizing God's work throughout history (including
mine!) Then we moved again, this time to the chapel. This moving from
place to place was, in itself, something that struck me. I found it
summarized the journey of lent for me. I had all through lent been
considering the physical journey that brought me to PNG: Why am I here?
I haven't got it totally clear, but somehow the question was answered
in the Easter celebration. I found it interesting that I happened to
read my email on Easter Sunday and found many words of encouragement
from friends and family. Thanks. There is something about communion in
all this that does not depend on time or distance. We are together.
In these final classes
of the term
I have been thanking the students for the liturgies they prepared. I
found it to be a very prayerful Holy Week. It is still my favorite time
of year in the Church.
And so now you have more
of a
sense of what I am doing as well as what my Easter was like here. I
hope, one way or other, to get some pictures home to you. I want to add
a special howdy to the Friars of Mid-America as you gather in Victoria.
You are in my prayers especially this week.
from
Kap, Papua New Guinea, June 26,
2000
Things are going well
here in PNG.
I have been a little overwhelmed again as I have taken on the duty of
overseeing all the maintenance projects around the friary, staff house
and school buildings. The two classes that I am teaching are still
demanding; I look forward to next year when I do not have to pull all
the information together. In the mean time I am realizing the many
needs of the campus maintenance-wise. Right now, I can not do all the
maintenance even things that really need to be done, and this is
stressful.
I do not have the strong
homesickness that I had in earlier months here at Kap. Thanks for your
support. This change happens to have coincided with our Easter
celebration. So, thank God too!
Well, we are so close to
the water
here that I just have to try some fishing once in a while. I have not
had great luck with this, but I have caught a couple. The first catch
was what they were calling a "doctor" fish. It was about 8" long and
had yellow and black stripes and they told me they cut it up and use it
for bait. I had already thrown it back. Tuna has been the best bait
yet. The second, and last, fish I caught was quite exciting. It had
rained a few days and following this I decided to give fishing a try.
The water was murky which I hoped would give me some advantage. Indeed
it did. It was a typically warm day (near 80 F) and the afternoon sun
was heading behind a large tree, covering the pier/ jetty with shade. I
had already caught the previously mentioned fish, so I was excited to
get my line out again. Instead of dropping my line over the edge of the
jetty, I tossed it out a bit. As I was setting my bamboo pole, BAM --
bigpella fis i kam! The line literally buzzed as the fish took off. I
hung on and dragged him to the shore; a long silvery fish with a big
mouth. I had just caught a barracuda! It was 21" long and fought quite
a bit. It was soon enjoyed as a dinner entree. Quite tasty.
This is turning out to
be a
recreation letter, including some of the things I have found to do to
escape for a bit from the stress of my situation.
One thing that is new to
me that I
am learning is golf. The cost equals about $2.50 or less for 18 holes.
I never could quite bring myself to pay to play in America, but I could
not pass it up here. I was lucky and found some left-handed clubs in a
closet here. I was playing for a long time with a maximum of a 5 iron,
then I noticed a 3 wood. It needed some work, but I put it together and
my score went down for a while. Well, I am back to my 5 iron not
because I do not like the wood, but because a recent tee-off left me
holding the grip end of the club. The thing broke just below the grip!
Well, I am back to a better score which is not too great anyway. I am
averaging about 65 on a par 36 for 9 holes. I have some work to do.
Recently some fellow friars came down from Mendi for the Fr. TIMON
[KAPLE] Memorial Invitational Golf Tournament (I think I have the title
correct). Joining in were Fr. COLMAN [STUDENY], Bishop STEVE
[REICHERT], Fr. BRIAN [NEWMAN] (from Moresby). Fr. DOMINIC [MCGUINNESS]
and I hooked up when we could; classes were on at the time. I held the
bottom of all the statistics that were collected by Fr. Coleman (and he
collected stats on everything!) I expect I'll gain the "most improved"
award next time.
I am also getting some
court time
in for tennis. Fr. BILL [TALENTINO] and DUNSTAN [JONES] and two of the
Cap. volunteers and I have had some good matches....and some poor ones
as well. All of it is enjoyable. I have recently put myself on one of
the student teams so on either Tues. or Thurs of each week I join in on
some soccer (my favorite sport), rugby (a one-hand touch version), or
sometimes some volleyball. This has really helped me to learn some of
the names of the students. I definitely needed help with that.
I'll finish this up by
saying that
I think I am settling in well. Next year should be a bit smoother when
the work settles and/or gets organized a bit. In the mean time I'm
finding joy where I can. Continue, please, to pray for me as I am
praying for you.
PS E-mail is a good
stress relief
too; keep sending it. Webmaster: Jerry's address is brjw@dg.com.pg
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