Saturday 29 January 2011

Greater love

"My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this:  to lay down one's life for one's friends."
~ John 15:12-13


This is my friend Jossina.  She is from the Sepik, a very far away river along the northwest part of PNG.  She came to Kudjip as a nursing student about 10 years ago, then stayed on to serve as a nursing officer at the hospital.  She is also raising her orphaned nephew, Joshua.  Jossina is a regular attender of the 10-toea sister Bible study.

Earlier this month, Jossina was walking home from work when she was approached by a stranger.  When she refused to go with the man, he pulled out a knife and cut her arm.  The laceration sliced through 5 tendons and into bone.  Jossina was rushed to the ER where she was stabilized and her wound temporarily sutured.  Dr. Jim and Dr. Steve did surgery the following day to repair the damaged tendons.

The hospital closed for 10 days because of the incident.  The community leaders offered Jossina what we call "compensation" or "sorry money."  But she declined--because she has given her life to this ministry and the people of the Highlands.  She left her family and home in the Sepik.  She has given up a better paycheck offered by jobs at government hospitals.  And now, she has literally put her life on the line.

I am blessed to serve with Jossina and many others like her.  Please continue to pray for harvest workers!

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