Cutesy Kids

               Thirty years ago, most families lost one child or more to death in this area of Papua New Guinea. Infant mortality was pretty high. This was caused mostly from the lack of healthcare in this remote area deep in the jungle. In most families there was only 3-4 children. If I asked a mother in those early years if any of her children had died, most times I was told how many she had lost. Now with healthcare available, the child population is booming. Treatment for pneumonia, malaria, and other serious illnesses can be treated by the medical officer that lives and works at Yehebi.

               With the airstrip completed in 1987, a medical aid post was set up and a medical worker was eventually assigned to come and help. In our trip in 2013, I was amazed at all the children running around. It was obvious to me that having medicine in the area had a very positive impact. Now there are several families with eight living children! (If they choose to, they can get family planning).

               So, I thought you'd like to see some pictures of all the cutesy kids around here.

               Some are not too sure what to think about me, but they liked me a lot better when I started passing out gummy vitamins provided  by one of our churches. There is always a way to make a friend. :)

This cute little guy is Pastor Sefasui's youngest son, Gwanobi.When the church posts were cut off, all the little boys ran to collect the round pieces of wood. Here he is having fun stacking them up.

               These little guys are "playing fire" and trying to build a little fire for themselves. Their parents cook their food every day over a fire, and you know how kids like to imitate us. They even managed to get a tiny fire going with a little smoke.

 Trying to get a group shot can be a little challenging and have them all looking at the camera. They laugh hysterically or play around. But they always like to see the picture on the camera. They understand a little better what taking a picture is when they can see themselves afterward.

               I must admit this little guy has stolen my heart. He is Pastor Kilas' youngest little man, Jethro, named after the Biblical Moses's father-in-law. (They have 5 children). He is so cute and healthy, and I ran outside with the camera when I saw his Mom letting him cool off on a hot day by putting water in their large cooking pot. I really scored when he gave me this big grin.

                This is a typical cook house at Yehebi. Most are just a sago roof shelter where they cook each day's food. Here is a little girl helping mom cook bananas.

I had so many other cute pictures, but I'm afraid they kept showing up sideways, and I couldn't get them to post correctly.


(C) 2016 Carin G. LeRoy