By Christopher Lee, volunteer at Vunabosco, Kokopo
Kokopo, Rabaul, East New Britain, PNG, 26 October 2021 -- As the date of my departure from Papua New Guinea back to America draws ever closer, my thoughts begin to wander over my time spent here. Being a lay volunteer from the United States, I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into when I first arrived, but I feel certain now that no amount of talking or seminars could have prepared me for what I was getting into when I first stepped off the plane in Port Moresby.
Ah, Port Moresby, my first taste of PNG culture... While driving from the airport to my quarantine site at the Emmaus Center at DBTI, I was confused why all the cars had heavily tinted windows, some with bars across them even. It was then that I learned about PNG’s problem with rascalism, which eventually led into a discussion of the Wantok culture and the complexities many PNG natives’ faced transitioning from village life to city life. Upon my arrival at the Emmaus Center, my mandatory fourteen-day quarantine began, which ended up being a blessing in disguise as it gave me ample time for prayer and reflection. I can’t help but be reminded of Jesus’ forty days in the desert before He undertook His public ministry, and although I’m certainly no Jesus, I do believe it helped prepare me for what I was about to undergo.
When I finally made it to the Don Bosco Technical Secondary School (DBTSS), Kokopo, East New Britain, I was startled by the breathtaking beauty of the area. From coral filled coast lines to verdant forests wild with various plant life, I was constantly amazed by the pristine views that seemed to jump out at me no matter where I looked. School life, however, was not quite as tranquil as I would soon find out. Upon the day of my arrival, our school was in the midst of a feud with a nearby school, started by an episode of cyberbullying. I had always assumed cyberbullying to be a mostly harmless affair with only mildly hurt feelings as a result, but as I saw boys preparing quite literally to go to war, I realized just how destructive the improper use of social media could be. This altercation was resolved within the next three weeks, but it really opened my eyes to the positive and negative aspects of the Wantok culture, and just how strongly it was adhered to by the people of PNG.
It was about the time that this unfortunate circumstance was being settled that I first started teaching religious education at DBTSS. On top of this, I also supervised the boarding students during their chores period, and it was while performing these two duties that I learned what I feel to be the most important lesson I acquired here in PNG. By nature, I’m a very gentle person and avoid conflict if possible, so disciplining students was always a concept that I abhorred. Thus, if students would refuse to participate in class or slack off during chore time, I would only give a mild word of correction and continue regardless of whether the student changed their behavior. I tried to justify this initially, telling myself that I was "being merciful" and "the type of teacher Don Bosco would want me to be". But as the boys’ whose conduct I oversaw slowly went from bad to worse, I realized that perhaps I needed to rethink my strategy. After discussing the issue with different teachers and community members, I came to the opinion that mercy taken too far, and out of the context of justice, is no longer mercy, but rather a license for bad behavior and a detriment to personal development. I also took the issue to prayer and was consoled as both the Gospels and the letters of the New Testament reaffirmed that the father who loves his child rules with mercy above all, but also with a firm hand on justice. That is not to say I became a strict, authoritarian teacher over night, but I began to take steps towards more sternly correcting bad behavior in a spirit of reason, religion, and kindness. Although I’m still far from certain as to what ratio of justice to mercy I should take in each situation, I feel that I’ve at least made considerable headway in the matter.
In addition to these significant events during my time here in PNG, I have also experienced countless blessings of consolation, fellowship, and character-building trials that have helped develop me further into the type of man I hope and pray God desires me to be. What God has taught me during this time, I would also like to share with all of you: no matter where you go, whether down the street or across the world, keep an open heart. Open to experiences, the good and the bad, because there’s something important to be learned in them all. Open to the new, the different, the strange, and scary. It is only when we strain against our comfort boundaries or break them entirely that we open ourselves to growth. Open your heart to God’s will, and it will be filled from the Heart He has opened for you. Whether I will ever come back to PNG again is known to God alone, but I thank Him and everyone I have met here deeply for this blessed opportunity.
