Interacting with Each Other

The Patpatar people are extremely perceptive. They will be observing you every second of the day. They will know if you’re getting along. If someone is annoyed at another person, they will know it. They are masters of human relationships! While that is a bit unnerving, it is good to know so that we can always be trying to be a good example of brotherly love to one another at all times. They way we interact as a team, work together, and eat together can speak volumes to them, whether good or bad. You are one of the first models of the way the body of Christ is to love one another – don’t blow it!

On another note, please be very careful with how men and women interact on the team – even husbands and wives. Unfortunately, no physical contact (even between spouses) is acceptable. Non-husbands and wives also need to be careful with how much they talk together one on one. Don’t be paranoid, just know that perfectly innocent things to us can very much send the wrong signal to our Patpatar friends.

Living Conditions:
Just remember this is not the United States. You will need to be flexible and look at this as an adventure. You will be back in the United States in your own home and your won bed in a few short weeks. You will find te time will fly by.
If we get the chance to eat with the tribal people, the food will be different - (rice and sweet potato, sweet potato and rice, plain rice, plain sweet potato….). The weather will be hot, humidity will be high, and you will rarely be dry for any length of time. Just try to remember that you can do anything for a couple of weeks. 

Let it give you a little perspective into the “simple and easy” life of the PNG people. This is what they live with day in and day out, even without luxuries like rice, or running water. The next time someone back home says “They must have such a simple, care-free life”, you’ll just smile and know how foolish that statement is.

Dress:
Ladies dress very conservatively in PNG culture. The guys can get away with pretty much anything they want! For ladies, we would ask that you all wear loose-fitting shirts with short sleeves (or tank tops) and long, loose-fitting skirts. Remember that for the hot climate, light weight is good. Also keep in mind that you’re a work team, so whatever you wear will pretty much be trashed by the time you’re done. We’d also recommend only bringing 3-4 changes of clothes. Not only will that be easier for packing (we’ll have some type of way to launder clothes there), but it will blend better into PNG culture where they can only afford 1 or 2 changes of clothes.

Basic Health:
Your best friends in PNG will be sunscreen, bug spray, water, band-aids, antibiotic ointment, soap and hand sanitizer. Make sure you each have enough of all those items and a good-sized water bottle with a lid. (We’ll have a more extensive medical kit on hand if anything else is needed.)

Money in Differing Countries
$100 should be plenty for souvenirs – Aaron has some we can purchase from him

$1 (USD) US Dollar = $3.02 (PGK) Kina (PNG currency)
$1 (USD) US Dollar = $1.30 (AUD) Australian Dollar
*currency exchange rates as of 1/2007