You say Popondetta – I say Popondota – “Oro Oro Oro!!!”

Oro Oro Oro – or “welcome” in the Tok Ples around here. It’s was a busy week of travelling n meetings n things last week. I only had a short time to see stuff, but Oro is another level again in the rural stakes – and visiting there gave me yet another small peek at life outside of Moresby/Lae/Goroka.



I had a week down in Oro Province – beautiful place. House of Bishops meeting was the first reason, so we get everyone together (after my office organises the 11 flights 5 transfers and one dingy/boat trip to get 6 of us to the airport in Pop), and held it at the Anglican Theological College – Newton Theological College (NTC). Partly it was held here to support to local community. A senior Lecturer (also a priest) for the college was tragically killed last year by a falling tree (along with 3 Four-square priests) hitting the truck they were travelling in. The lecturers injured wife, a primary reason to get all the bishops down there, is ‘Mother’ Rachel Demisi. Mother has lost half of one arm and three fingers on the other hand (which is still limp because of other damage). This is tough stuff, particularly if you’ve had a wander through what passes as a general hospital here in PNG. For something like this to happen to one/two promising leaders in the community is… beyond tragedy.

Ok. So Oro generally is a beautiful place, but makes Lae look like a metropolis.. and makes Morebsy look like New York. I’m not sure where Melbourne comes in there – but I think you get the point.

As usual, you can check out more of the latest piccy’s in this link here.

Popondota--: [[It’s a longer story than this - but basically a Bishop of Popondota Diocese down there in Oro Province was a linguist as well, and basically had the “correct” spelling and pronunciation as Popondota – not Popondetta… so that’s what the Anglican’s stick with! Causes all sorts of head-aches when people go to correct me/us… anyhoo’s.]]