Frequently Asked Questions

1.   What is the climate like, and what kind of clothes should I bring?

The climate here is incredibly pleasant.  It is around the lower 80's in the day, and 60's at night.  Bring a sweater or sweatshirt, as well as raingear as it often rains in the afternoons.  You can wear scrubs in the hospital, but it is not necessary - whatever is most comfortable for you.  The cultural expectation is that women wear dresses or long skirts at all times, except indoors in your flat or in a missionary home.  You can wear sandals, tennis shoes,  or whatever is most comfortable for you.

2.  What are the living accommodations like?

There is now quite a variety. We are excited to have recently opened the Baragas house, a 6-bedroom, 2-bath house, which can accommodate up to 24 people. We use it for large groups, families or individual volunteers. It can be used “family-style” or “dormitory-style”.

We still have the volunteer doctor's flats (apartments), which are small, but more than adequate. The flats each have a refrigerator, stove, oven, toaster, and a microwave. The laundry room, where you will do your own laundry, is connected to the flats, and your clothesline is in the front yard. There is a 2-bedroom flat, and 2 studio-style flats. These now have an adjoining door so that they can be combined for families. Other mission housing is occasionally borrowed for our volunteers.

3.  Is Malaria an issue?

Not really. There are very few mosquitoes here, so you will not need any repellant unless you are planning on spending any time on the coast. Prophylaxis is suggested if you are going to spend time in more endemic areas. The missionaries here do not take it.

4.  What are the "On-Calls" like?

Depending on how many doctors are here at the time,you will only take 1-2 calls a week, and have several weekends off. The hospital is about a 5 minute walk from the doctor's flats. On average, the on-call doc returns to the hospital 1-3 times during the evening and night, and takes 2-5 phone calls. Of course “individual mileage may vary”! On weekends, if you expect to work a full day, you won't be too frustrated. We now only take call for 1 week-end day at a time.

5.  Will I have a phone or email access?

We suggest that you bring a laptop. We ask you to pay for internet access while you are here, as the service is expensive and is being funded by the missionaries donated funds. Access speeds are not fast, but are reasonable. You will also have a phone in your flat, but “land-lines” are no longer practical for use for international calls. Inexpensive, pre-paid cell phones are available, and provide the least expensive way to call home. They are also very useful for communication around the station.

6. Are there any recreational activities?

We have a basketball court where the doctors and MK's (missionary kids) often play in the afternoons, and on Saturdays. If you are a runner, you can also go running outside of the station, though we don't suggest running alone. A weight room is available. Bring a swim suit if you like swimming, because you may have time to go to a beautiful nearby waterfall.

7. What opportunities for worship are there?

There are many. There are three churches on the station which are attended by many of the missionaries and hospital staff. The missionaries visit “bush” churches fairly often, and always welcome our volunteers to go with them. There is an English language service on the first Sunday of each month, weekly hospital devotions (Monday mornings) and a missionary prayer meeting (Thursday evenings). Volunteers are welcome at all of these.

8.  Do I need to bring my own linens and kitchenware?

There are plenty of sheets and towels provided in your flat, so you do not need to bring your own. You will also have dishes, utensils, and pots and pans provided.

9.  How much money should I bring?

You may spend $200-$300 US on groceries per month. You also must pay for transportation into town to go to the grocery store and market ($60 US round trip), as well as to and from the airport ($45 US per trip). These trips are sometimes shared to reduce expenses. You will need to pay for use of the internet, if you wish to use it. And of course, bring as much as you wish to spend on souvenirs. There are ATMs in the airport in Port Moresby and in Mount Hagen where you can use your debit card to obtain up to 2000 kina per day. This is easy for you, and the banks take care of the currency exchange for you

10.   Hospital Station/Compound Description:

The station is not large, taking only 10 minutes to walk from one end to the other. Besides the hospital buildings, there is Nazarene College of Nursing, offices for the Nazarene mission, about 10 missionary homes, nursing student dorms, and many houses for our PNG national staff. There are many children on the station, both MK's and PNG children. There are around 15 full-time missionaries here, as well as their children. Women may not walk on the station after dark without male escort (which the missionary families happily provide) nor walk off of the station alone at any time. We have security guards, but they cannot be everywhere at once.

11.  If I am bringing my "non-medical" spouse, what is there for them to do?

They can be as busy as they choose to be. There is plenty of work to be done, if they will seek it out. Some possible examples are organizing and cleaning in the store room, teaching the nationals working in the hospital how to use computers, helping to organize the nursing college library, filing, helping in the MK school, helping in the community school, and many more. There are also lots of PNG children on the station who would love you to play with them.

12.  Are there any other guidelines I need to know?

No smoking. No alcohol. Modest, culturally appropriate dress (women wear skirts/dresses). Men and women who are not husband and wife should be careful to avoid any appearance of impropriety, understanding the Papua New Guineans have a stricter understanding of this than most westerners.

13.  What is the primary focus of Kudjip Nazarene Hospital?

The spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is first and foremost a Christian ministry. We treat the sick out of compassion, because of Christ’s example of healing, and to provide an opportunity to bring men, women and children to a saving knowledge of Jesus. About 800 people come to Christ through the ministry of Nazarene Hospital each year.

14.   Do I have to be a Christian or endorse the doctrines of the Church of the Nazarene to volunteer there?

We prefer that our volunteers become actively involved in ministry, that they are willing to pray with patients, or to explain salvation through faith in Jesus when the opportunity arises. Our volunteers have come from a wide variety of denominational and doctrinal backgrounds, but they all are trusting in Jesus Christ for their eternal salvation.

15.   What is the hospital facility like?

We are excited and thankful for our new hospital, which opened in November, 2009. It has 132 beds, divided between 4 brand-new wards, and a TB ward which has moved into one of the remodeled wards in the old building. We have a new, larger, better ER. A great ortho area, a beautiful outpatient clinic with enough exam rooms so that each doctor has his or her own! The operating room is about 50% larger than the old, with a lot of new equipment! The delivery room has space for 6 delivery beds.