Paradox of Papua

This may be a long post so just bear with me. Waking up on Saturday mornig I could have been anywhere in the world. Scott and I slipped away for a day to a nice hotel in Jayapura. With the drapes closed, we could have been anywhere in the world. On the way home we picked up some pizza from a new pizza joint at the PCT...this pizza joint was established in Vancouver, BC. Good ole thin crust pizza with cheese and pepperoni and an iced coffee on the side. Scott could have picked up some french bread at the new bread place in the mall but we had made bread before we left. The kids were playing on the PC when we got home and after we payed the babysitter we watched Fellowship of the Rings. Remember where we are? On the way out of the PCT ( huge shopping area ) they were setting up for a Christian concert that evening. Lyrics from some WOW CD was playing over the sound system. We could easily live an easy lifestyle of western comfort and forget where we are but never what we are.

Yesterday, right after church the assistant head of security of the new mall here in Sentani came by for a visit. As we sat and chatted with a mixture of English and Indonesian he proceeded to tell us how he keeps order in the Mall. He calls it the dog and the snake. When they are caught depending on the infraction they get to go outside and meet the angry dog or stay inside with a hissing snake. He was clear to let me know that he never slapped people around but he does have his 'heavy' who seemsto enjoy roughing people up. I asked him if they have trouble with thieves..'no', he said. I wonder why not. He was the man instrumental in helping us out when we had that run-in with Mijo and the crazy man. He lauged as he demonstrated how scared these petty thieves can become.

The paradox of Papua is that nothing is as it appears. A new steakhouse and a pastry shop in a brand new Mall where thieves are beaten up and tied up until they promise to pay or never come back. Flush with money yet stuck in poverty. There are more churches here then most towns in the US, yet so many many western missionaries. A Muslim country but breaking apart because of alcoholism and glue sniffing. So intensly beautiful but trash is thrown everywhere so beaches are rated by the garbage factor. Burning garbage polutes the evening sky making each sunset subdued in its beauty and stings your eyes even as you sleep. You would never catch a husband and wife holding hands but just today we had a SanFran moment during a childrens parade. Transvestites decided to have a coming out party and pranced behind in all their confusing-ness. This is a mans world here yet I have seen more fathers holding, taking care and being attentive of their small children then in any town in America.

Papua...every day it gets more confusing.