YWAM
by Lorine Parks
What do Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands in Micronesia, and the jungles on the Caribbean side of Panama, have in common?
They are the target beneficiaries of YWAM, Youth With A Mission, a volunteer Christian organization with a fleet of three ships that reaches some of the most remotely situated people, who otherwise have no access to health care. Julie McLaughlin along with assistants Catherine and Debbie, gave us a fascinating glimpse into volunteer opportunities available, and the range of services.
The three vessels’ home port is in Kona, Hawaii, but they spend most of the year in the most isolated places on earth, which have no roads and no airports and can only be reached by sea. These settlements have no phones, no power, no running water, and are all in the Tropic Zone.
Volunteer personnel such as doctors, dentists, opthamologists and nurses bring health care, including dental and vision, with clinics held on board the ships, as well as in the village market places and in churches. Educational classes range from midwifery to giving out toothbrushes.
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Besides health concerns, YWAM also teaches community good health practices, such as water cachement and hygiene training. They deal with agriculture and distribute seeds, and also teach up-to-date animal husbandry techniques.
How is this financed? Contributions pay for headquarters, on eight acres of land in Kona, which was donated. The foundation also supports the vessels, which serve as living quarters as well as transportation, include the Cloud, a 57 foot ship which berths 10 and makes its own freshwater daily. With a draft of 9 feet, she can enter shallow ports where bigger ships cannot go.
There is also the MV Pacific, a 121 foot sloop, berthing 50. The personnel are all volunteers, on a rotating basis, and they pay their own way for their six month stint. At the end there is a debriefing and celebration of the experiences, before they return home.
A typical journey would begin with transportation from home to Port Moresby, for example, in Papua New Guinea, a country that has been independent only since 1973. Hazards include headhunters on the Sepik River.
As the Lonely Planet tour guide puts it, “Travelling in PNG can be challenging,” with almost no tourism infrastructure and little information available. PNG has a population of 6 million and 31 dentists.
It takes fortitude to attempt these missions, and the typical age is between 18 and 26.
Volunteers also contribute for their food, local transportation and other needs. There is also a need for general workers, without health care backgrounds, who keep the ships shipshape doing housekeeping, and the projects moving, doing clerical jobs, loading and unloading supplies, etc. All are welcome.
During the mission there is on-going cultural exchange and the opportunity to teach about the Christian faith. Typical week is five days of clinic, both aboard ship where there is a surgery, and in the villages and churches. Sundays are devoted to worship, and one day is “free,” for culture, arts, entertainment.
YWAM also visits the island republics of Micronesia, such as the Solomon Islands, and the Republic of Majuro in the Marshall Islands. A third mission area operates on the isolated north coast of Panama, where impenetrable jungles keep villagers isolated and in almost Stone Age conditions.