Volunteer Guide – Gulf Christian Services

Volunteer & Visitor

Guide to Kapuna

Greetings from Kapuna Management

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Kapuna. We value the help out here in the Gulf Province. This guide has been put together to help you understand more about Gulf Christian Services (GCS) and Kapuna, as you think through how you might be a part of our mission. We encourage you to read this document carefully and ask questions, while you pray about this decision with your family and church.

GCS has undergone many changes in recent years. It is now necessary for us to have a formal volunteer application process to ensure that our volunteers are a good match for the needs of our organisation and that mutual expectations are clear.

We value applications from Christians of all denominations, of those who are active in their local church and have valuable skills that we may need. We may also be able to accommodate specific students who wish to gain further experience as part of their undergraduate training in their home country. Singles, couples, families and groups have all served at Kapuna in the past.

Please feel free to discuss your situation with us.

If you feel God is calling you to serve at Kapuna, please complete the volunteer application form and send it to us along with a copy of your CV. The Management Team will then review your application and forward it on to the appropriate entity for final consideration.

Thank you once again for your interest in serving the Lord with GCS.

GCS Team

History of Gulf Christian Services

Kapuna and Kikori Hospitals are the only hospitals within paddling distance for 50,000 PNG locals in the West Gulf Province.

Built in the early 1950s, by the London Missionary Society, the Kapuna Mission Hospital has served many local tribal groupings for the past 70 years. Located on ‘neutral’ government land rather than adding to an existing village, it is situated halfway between two villages: Kairimai and Ara’ava, on the Wame River (find Kapuna here on Google Maps). The area is very remote, accessible only by light aircraft plus a dinghy ride. The nearest towns to Kapuna, are Kerema to the distant east and Kikori to the west. Baimuru Station is located approximately one hour upriver, and has a dry-season airstrip (although rarely in use), three stores, a market, a health centre and a school.

Doctors Peter and Lin Calvert (from New Zealand) took over the running of Kapuna Mission hospital in 1954, pioneering the Community Health Worker training school. After Peter’s passing in 1982, Dr Lin continued this work. Kapuna and Kikori are nowadays operated by a local Christian institution, Gulf Christian Services (GCS). This includes a team of long-serving staff, who now make up the Executive and Management teams, providing direction, leadership and decision-making to the organisation and hospitals. GCS works closely with local Christian leaders and dedicated bible translators who are also busy at work in the region, assisting with education and literacy programs.

Kikori is a small town, about four hours west of Kapuna by fast dinghy. Kikori Hospital is larger than Kapuna Hospital and is situated in a town, rather than a mission station. The management of Kikori Hospital was taken over from the government in 1996 by Kapuna Management.

At the end of 2018, GCS received a large grant from the PNG-Australia Partnership Incentive Fund, to rebuild the hospital facilities at Kapuna. The upgraded hospital was officially opened late February 2022, with grand opening festivities attended by the PNG Prime Minister, Australian High Commissioner and the Governor of Gulf Province and their teams. Kapuna Hospital is now serving more people than ever.

Facilities at Kikori are similarly in need of redevelopment, which means there will continue to be a particular need for skilled volunteers to support our local workers involved in these major work programmes.

Vision

Transforming communities into places where Gods presence dwells, so Christ is Glorified

GCS Entities

The entities are the departments overseeing the actions Gulf Christian Services (GCS) is involved in.

1. CHW Training School

GCS has a two-year Community Health Worker (CHW) training school, which qualifies trainees to be employed in hospitals and community health centres throughout Papua New Guinea. The training school may be followed up by a six month internship with GCS.

Both male and female students from all over Papua New Guinea, but mainly Gulf, receive classroom and hands-on training at Kapuna and Kikori Hospitals. Throughout the year they are also sent on practical’s to surrounding villages. At their village placements, the students apply their knowledge of community assessment projects, hygiene, health education and clinics.

2. Kapuna Life School

GCS operates Kapuna Life School, a primary school serving the children of local families, from preschool through to grade 10. International teachers often volunteer to teach at the school, which is becoming well-known as one of the few schools in the area whose students are able to gain entry into high school.

3. Building Trainee Programme

GCS has a building trainee programme at Kapuna, where locals learn the skills of building while on the job. Young people in the Gulf are keen to learn skills that will enable them to get paid employment, either as part of our service or elsewhere. Specifically, volunteers with building or other trade skills add a lot of value to our redevelopment programmes, as we have few senior builders able to properly oversee trainees.

4. Church

Kapuna church is our local interdenominational church. It is the gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, to praise the goodness of God, worship the living Saviour and enjoy fellowship in the Holy Spirit.

Kapuna, as a nursing school and discipleship school for students from many denominations, chooses to maintain its non-denominational label as Kapuna church.

5. Hospital

Kapuna Hospital in the Gulf of Papua New Guinea is a level three mission hospital, and has been serving the people of PNG since 1949. With the redevelopment of the hospital, we are hoping to soon gain level four status, ultimately enabling us to serve even more people and to increase the quality of our care.

Preparing To Come

International flights

Once you have received your acceptance email and discussed arrival dates with our travel coordinator, then please go ahead and book your international tickets to the capital of Port Moresby.

Visa process

Short term: Please check https://ica.gov.pg/visa-information/visa-on-arrival to see if your country is on the list to get a free visa-on-arrival. The maximum stay for a visa-on- arrival is 60 days (single entry), with the possibility of a single renewal of up to 30 days. You can get a visa-on-arrival at immigration at the Port Moresby Jacksons International Airport.

Long Term: If you wish to come to Kapuna Hospital as a volunteer for more than 60 days, then GCS management will apply for a visa on your behalf. If you plan to stay for longer than 6 months, you will need a volunteer work permit, in addition to a visa. All long-term visas are processed in Port Moresby (not at local High Commissions), which can take some time. Therefore, please check that your passport is up to date and send through all work permit and visa forms as soon as possible. We work with an agent in Port Moresby, to ensure our visas are correctly processed.

Professional Registrations

Where professional registrations (e.g. PNG Medical Council) are required for job descriptions, GCS will apply for these through our agent. These applications require considerable paperwork and can take a long time. Please note that copies of documents must be certified with a Justice of the Peace or at the District Court before scanning and sending. Thus begin this process as soon as possible.

Insurance

All volunteers and visitors to Kapuna Hospital must hold international travel insurance. In the unlikely event of death or serious injury/sickness, Gulf Christian Services is unable to take responsibility for repatriation. Please check your policy to ensure you have an appropriate level of medical insurance to cover for the duration of your stay.

Please send our travel coordinator a copy of your Policy Certificate before your visit, so that we have this on file in the event of an emergency. In addition you will be asked to sign a liability waiver.

Medication / Immunisations

We advise a general health check-up before your trip. Please consult your local doctor or Travel Clinic for advice on what is currently recommended for malaria prophylaxis and immunisations, including possible side effects and contra-indications. Please notify the GCS Office of any pre-existing medical conditions or mental health problems you may have that we need to be aware of.

Currency and Expenses

PNG currency is the Kina and Toea, K1.00 = 100t.

There are various options available to obtain currency before arrival, but it may be challenging to change it back into other currencies on the return journey, so bear this in mind. Options for obtaining currency are:

Pre-purchase an item as requested by Kapuna (from overseas) and be reimbursed in local currency.
Obtain currency from your country of origin (easiest in Australia, if you are transiting through here).
Use an ATM at the airport or at Boroko, if staying at Mapang Guest House.
Put money into our New Zealand GCS account, which can be reimbursed to you in Kina.

We recommend a budget of K75.00 per person per week for living expenses in Kapuna. You will also need to budget for taxis and accommodation in Port Moresby, with some extra if you wish to do a (food) shopping trip in Port Moresby.

Other expenses for long-term volunteers at Kapuna include:

Gas for cooking: This should last approximately one year with moderate use, 500 kina per gas bottle.
School fees: There is a charge for any children you wish to enrol at Kapuna Life School, which includes 75 kina per term for kindergarten children and 150 kina per term for grades 1-10.
WiFi: 10 kina per person per fortnight. Please note WiFi is limited in nature and is only available at certain locations. Short-termers should purchase WiFi vouchers from our reception.
Home help or a babysitter: Families with young children may wish to hire a local to supervise young children and/or help with household tasks. Four to five kina an hour is acceptable. Please talk to us about this, so we can help you make arrangements.

Packing Guide:

Avoid polyester/nylon clothing, as it encourages fungus growth and gets hot and sticky. Consider culturally appropriate clothing and practicality. Lightweight and light-coloured cotton clothing is best for sun/mosquito protection.

Men: Shorts, long pants, t-shirts and shirts.
Women: shorts/skirts/dresses at or below knee length, loose fitting t-shirts/shirts/singlet tops covering shoulders and midriff. Few national women wear sleeveless tops in public, but if it is otherwise modest it should be fine. Short shorts or bathers/swimsuits are not considered culturally appropriate. A long-sleeved shirt for cool evenings/travel on the river. Bring tampons if you prefer these (sanitary pads are available at the Kapuna store) or consider reusable options.
Children: light, loose-fitted clothing, including a couple of pairs of light long trousers, e.g. summer pyjama pants for evening mosquito protection. For smaller children, bring reusable nappies (disposable nappies are available at the Kapuna store).
Jandals/flip flops, gumboots (for the rainy season, may be purchased at the Kapuna store) and walking shoes. Long socks are also good for deterring leeches/mosquitoes if you like gardening.
Rain jacket, umbrella, sun hat, sarongs and scarves (sun protection) and sunglasses.
Personal medications in ample supply and over-the-counter medications that you use frequently, e.g. paracetamol, skin moisturizer, shavers, hair clippers, throat losengers, fabric plasters, sunscreen, insect repellent, or anti-fungal/anti-bacterial creams.
Other examples: exercise equipment, torch, games, gardening gloves/tools, laptop, camera, personal devices with all needed apps and movies already loaded, rechargeable batteries, your pillow if you prefer, good quality earplugs, toys if you have children, rechargeable or solar lights.

Accommodation in Port Moresby

For accommodation in Port Moresby, we recommend staying at MAPANG Guest House. All accommodation in Port Moresby is expensive, but MAPANG is operated on a not-for-profit basis and aims to keep costs as reasonable as possible. It is ‘homely’ and you can book in for communal meals. Check their website (www.mapang.org) or email office@mapang.org.

GCS has two different rates at MAPANG, one for short-term volunteers (less than 6 months) and long-term volunteers (more than 6 months). You will have to specify this when you complete the accommodation request form.

Food

You may wish to include some non-perishable food items in your luggage as the diet in the Gulf Province can lack variety. Dairy products, like cheese, are very expensive in PNG and may be brought in from the outside. Foodstuffs generally don’t present a problem at immigration unless you are bringing in large quantities or non-packed perishables. Other examples may include your favourite herbs or teas.

You may wish to spend an extra night in Port Moresby to do some shopping at a supermarket at the Waterfront or Boroko Food World. Non- perishable food items can be boxed up (ask for boxes at the grocery store), labelled well with box numbers and names, and left at MAPANG staff for shipping to Kapuna.

Bring from home	Purchase in Port Moresby and send by barge	Readily available at Kapuna store
Cheese	Soups	Rice
Easiyo Yoghurt sachets	Spices, pepper	Flour
	Packet sauces	Chicken stock
Sunscreen	Canned tomatoes	2 min noodles
Insect repellent	Tomato paste	Crackers
Non-chemical deodorant	Pasta	Canned corned beef
	Dried fruit	Canned tuna
	Lentils	Oil
	Rolled oats	Sugar
	Cocoa powder	Salt
	Vinegar	Margarine
	Vanilla essence	Basic tea
	Spreads, e.g. honey, jam, Nutella	Instant coffee
	Chocolate	Milk powder (small packets)
		Soya sauce
	Ground coffee	Soap
	Baking powder	Toothpaste
	Baking soda	Toothbrush Shampoo/conditioner
	Shampoo/conditioner	Washing powder
		Dish wash liquid

Communication in Port Moresby

There are a couple of options for getting in touch with home from Port Moresby.

Get yourself a SIM card at the airport, they’re available at the Digicel store in the arrival lounge area. If you present your boarding pass and passport you’re likely to get a free SIM card, or there may be a small fee. Get topped up there and ask the customer service team to assist you. If you are staying in PNG for a while, a PNG SIM card is recommended so that you can communicate within PNG as well as overseas. There is no cell service in Kapuna, but it is helpful when travelling in and out. There is Digicel service at Kikori.
Alternatively, MAPANG also has Wi-Fi, which can be purchased at the counter during office hours. Topup cards for Digicel are also available at MAPANG.

Taxis

Taxis are normally parked at the domestic area of the airport, just above the main domestic car park. However, we recommend Comfort or Scarlett Taxis. OnCall taxis are another option and use WhatsApp to communicate, but you need to organise them at least a day in advance (+675 7202 3287). Taxis can be late or unreliable, so if you have ordered a taxi for a certain time and it doesn’t turn up, ring again.

A very reliable independent taxi driver is Mr Albert Tulia: 7253 7553 or 7481 7981 (Digicel) or 7525 5356 (BMobile).

Airport taxi fare is about K30 from the airport to MAPANG Guest House in Boroko, Lahara Avenue. If you are getting a minivan you’ll likely pay more. We do not recommend the local minibus or PMVs for visitors. Port Moresby can be a dangerous place. We do not advise any visitor to go out on his or her own without a local guide.

Internal Travel:

Getting to Kapuna is an adventure. There are two ways to come—by plane and dinghy or by road and dinghy. The nearest all-season airstrip is at the Total Purari Base. This is a limestone airstrip in the middle of the jungle, approximately 3-4 hours from Kapuna by dinghy. The second airstrip is located at Baimuru, but it is only usable in the dry season. Baimuru is approximately 1 hour away by dinghy and is our nearest ‘township’. There are no reliable scheduled flights to Purari. However, we can often arrange for MAF or SIL charter flights to use these airstrips. The next closest functioning airstrip is in Kikori, with flights available with TropicAir. Kikori is a 4-5 hour boat ride away. The airstrips can get very muddy at times. Be prepared for last-minute flight cancellations and to walk through mud to get to your connecting dinghy. Have hats, raincoats, insect repellent, toilet paper, water and snacks available for the journey.

Alternatively, during the dry season from about October to April, you may travel by bumpy road to Kerema (6-10 hrs depending on the vehicle) and by dinghy from Kerema to Kapuna (4-5 hours). This usually requires an overnight stay in Kerema.

The Kapuna office will assist in arranging your travel from Port Moresby to Kapuna, as they know the current options and the best way to go.

Kapuna Accommodation

Housing can be an issue when multiple people are visiting Kapuna at any one time. We do our best to accommodate individual needs, however we are not always able to meet individual preferences.

Guest houses will have cold running (rain) water, a shower and a flush toilet. They are also equipped with a bed, mattress, pillow, sheets, light blanket, crockery, cups and basic cooking utensils. There may also be a bread maker. Some guesthouses have a freezer, which serves more as a fridge since they are not on power all the time. There may also be a washing machine. If your house does not have one of these appliances, those who do have one are generally willing to share.

Single Volunteers

Kapuna has a variety of accommodations for single staff. This may include dormitory housing that is shared with other same-gender volunteers. Single male volunteers do not enter single-female volunteer accommodation and vice versa, except in groups or as approved.

Married Volunteers & Families

Married staff and families are allocated staff housing as appropriate. This may include shared housing, if private housing is not available and depending on the size of your family.

Power

The hospital rebuild project brought us solar power electricity in November 2020. A backup diesel generator continues to be available. Electricity is 240v and uses the same plug as Australia and New Zealand.

For the residential areas, power is generally on from 6am to 10am, from 12pm to 1pm, and from 4pm to 10pm. Power is off during the night to conserve the battery. Larger electrical devices such as bread makers, electric ovens and washing machines should be used during daylight hours “when the sun is shining”, to help conserve the battery power overnight.

Overnight power is available in the hospital and for security lights around Kapuna. There are occasions when there is less power during the day, such as when cloudy weather decreases power generation (e.g. during the wet season). Rechargeable solar lights are helpful when power is off.

Meals

We encourage everyone to eat local food from the market (see section below). Meat and fish are not often available, so best to put them in the freezer. You will need to purchase your food and cook for yourself (or you could pay for home help) whilst you are here in Kapuna. However, we value hospitality so it’s not unusual for you to be invited for a meal with other volunteers, and you are welcome to do the same. We try to look out for each other’s needs and if you are having any issues with food/meals, please let us know. Please think about any specific dietary requirements before your travel. Note: Locals won’t often invite you over for dinner, so don’t be offended by this.

Volunteering

Work Hours

Depending on the area you are volunteering to help, your work hours will vary. For those working in administration in the office, hours are generally 9am – 5pm. If working in the CHW Training School, the hours will vary depending on the student’s classes and placements. Other areas such as the Discipleship School and workshop may also have different hours, so please check with your supervisor for what hours you are expected to keep. Hospital working hours are generally from 7:45am-5pm, with the occasional off-hour shifts in case of emergencies, deliveries or critically ill patients.

Meal Breaks

We usually break for lunch between 12-1pm. We are quite flexible but do try and stick to the hours given by your supervisor.

Leave

Long-term volunteers are entitled to all PNG Public Holidays and four weeks of unpaid break every year.

Remuneration

Where finances allow, we provide long-term volunteers with a small stipend to cover living expenses.

Clothing for Work

Loose-fitting tops with loose-fitting pants/shorts or dress/skirt. It’s culturally inappropriate to show your thighs so all must be knee-length and be mindful of necklines. Thongs/jandals are normal footwear for all jobs. Medical students should bring their own stethoscope, and personal gloves if allergic to latex.

Workmen: Consider lightweight cotton clothing. Long-sleeved tops and long pants are good for sun protection when working outdoors. Other items to bring include hats, sunglasses, safety glasses, work gloves, work boots and/or gumboots. Also, consider bringing your own tool belt and tools.

Community Services

Hospital

The hospital is available for volunteers and visitors who become unwell and need to seek treatment. Wards include the labour/delivery, paediatric, adult and TB (tuberculosis) wards. We also have a small outpatient department for emergencies, as well as an operating theatre. Routine dental services are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

There is a dedicated team of local staff including nurses and community health workers working 24 hours shifts, and at various times we have visiting international medical professionals including medical students on placement.

Please advise your supervisor if you become unwell and you are unable to continue normal volunteer duties.

Kapuna Life School

Kapuna provides primary schooling for children whose parents work for GCS. With new school buildings that were erected in 2014, Kapuna now has six classrooms available. Volunteer teachers and several dedicated local staff teach the core curriculum areas and Christian values.

Each grade is offered on alternate years i.e. grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 one year, and grades 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 the next year. There is also a preschool for younger children. Discipline is enforced by chores handed out as necessary and class size is around 20 pupils, depending on the grade. The school uniform is a plain red t-shirt, which can be purchased at the Kapuna store and worn with shorts or skirts. Students must provide some basic stationery in a school bag with a water bottle.

Please advise us if you would like to enrol your children at Kapuna Life School early, so we can make arrangements.

Shopping at Kapuna

Store

Our local store is divided into two sections, one for staff and one for the public. Basics as discussed previously, are kept in stock. There is also some basic homeware available. The store is usually open from Monday through Friday (with the exception of Tuesday), with a half day on Saturday. The store is closed on Sundays.

Market

Our local market is open every weekday, as well as Saturdays. Most sellers arrive by mid-morning. A variety of fresh local vegetables and produce are available. Availability can vary greatly and some foods are seasonal. Regular foods include greens, coconuts, sago, bananas, kau kau (sweet potato), pumpkins, pawpaw (papaya), dried fish and crabs.

Baimuru & Kikori

Baimuru has a larger store offering a wider range of items. Likewise, Kikori has multiple larger stores and a much larger market with an increased variety of vegetables that come from the highlands. Transport to either location is infrequent and irregular, but if you know a friend who is travelling there, you can give them money to buy anything you might need.

Entertainment

Library

A variety of books and resources are available for volunteers and visitors to use. Please speak with the Training School staff if you wish to utilise the library. Dr Valarie’s house also has many books for volunteers to borrow.

Video Entertainment

You are permitted to bring your laptops, electrical devices and movies (suitable for family viewing) with you to Kapuna.

As a Christian institution, we believe that whatever enters our minds and hearts through our senses can have eternal consequences. We desire that all aspects of entertainment should reflect Christian principles and standards. This is essential to any public showing and we also encourage volunteers/guests to consider this for your personal viewing, or if you are inviting local staff to watch something with you. If you are interested, a video library is available with acceptable movies for borrowing.

Recreation

We enjoy a variety of games and sports here at Kapuna. In the interest of health and safety and other cultural reasons, competitive sports that encourage aggressive behaviour, such as tackle rugby, are not permitted. We encourage Christian sportsmanship. If you are keen on sports, let us know so we can help you facilitate a game. If you are interested in teaching a sport (or any other topic!) to the school children, please speak to Barb Calvert about opportunities.

For a bit of exercise, Ara’ava is a 20- to 40-minute walk downriver and has a small store. Kairimai is about a 45-minute walk upriver. Both tracks get very muddy in the rainy season. Many of the Kapuna workmen live in Ara’ava or Kairimai and the locals come and sell at the Kapuna Market. If you want to walk there please go with a group of people.

Communication

Public Phone

As mentioned previously, there is no mobile phone coverage service available at Kapuna, so Skype is a good alternative to call landline numbers. Some cell phone reception is available in Baimuru when the Digicel tower is working.

Internet

We have satellite internet and phone. For those working in the offices, the internet is available. We highly recommend you do any downloading of movies, podcasts, apps etc. before coming to Kapuna, as this may be very difficult once you arrive. All volunteers and medical students pay K5 weekly for the use of the internet, as these services are expensive.

If you’re an overseas student on placement and hoping to do exams or assignments online during your placement here, please be mindful that online assignments might not be possible -at your desired time- due to slow and unsteady internet.

Expectations and Culture

Worship

We worship together every Sunday from 9.30am till lunchtime. You are invited to join us and we like guests to introduce themselves to the community during this service. This might include your name, where you are from, how long you will be here and what you will be involved in. If you have a teaching to share, please speak with either Colin or Barb Calvert.

Local dress for church is often the traditional meri blouse for women, or otherwise knee-length dress/skirt and top. Men often wear shorts or trousers and dress shirts. Men and women sit on opposite sides of the meeting place, as is local custom. Men enter on the right side of the church, and women on the left side.

There is a second service at 7pm on Sunday evenings, which is divided into “Locals” and “Neighbors”. Those speaking the local Baimuru language attend the “Local” group. All others attend the “Neighbors” group. You are welcome to attend if you desire.

Meetings

There is a weekly program, and we hope volunteers will feel free to take part in all Christian activities. There are a variety of devotions, prayer meetings and home groups that you are welcome to participate in. We hope you will offer your talents and gifts not just in your area of work, but in wider ministry as well.

Volunteers should not start up new or alternative social and church activities without discussing this with Kapuna Management. Our vision is for unity and we trust our volunteers to support us to uphold this vision.

Substance Use

GCS does not tolerate substance use of any kind. The use of illegal substances (e.g. marijuana) may lead to legal prosecution as well as the requirement to leave Kapuna. Other substances not permitted include alcohol, tobacco and betel nut (buai). Use of pharmaceuticals for reasons other than medical purposes is also not permitted. This policy exists to promote the well-being of everyone in the local GCS community and to set an appropriate standard for those we serve, as substance abuse has proven to be a great cause of illness, crime and community disturbance in PNG.

Cultural Specifics

Please respect bathing places for men and women when visiting local villages. Avoid washing areas of the opposite sex.
Females, please be aware of showing off your underwear when wearing skirts/dresses and sitting on the ground. Men should wear a shirt when around the opposite sex or in public places.
We recommend that singles do not try to start a romance while in PNG. Please avoid flirting and be aware that innocent remarks can easily be misconstrued as such.
Same-sex relationships are not acceptable within local customs or to the Christian beliefs of this community.
In the village, food is served on a mat on the floor but never step over this food. Instead, walk around it.
Culturally, men or women do not step over each other’s legs, please be mindful of this custom.
Local children can be very frightened of “whites”. Do not play ‘rough’ with them. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for them to see you and run away crying.
Sports with a high risk of injury and yoga are not permitted.
PNG’s are famous for their singing (and at times, praying), which may extend through the night on special occasions. Feel free to join in or invest in good earplugs.
Kapuna does not allow dogs. Our security team will deal with any stray dogs. Be careful with stray dogs in a village, as it could be a beloved pet even if it looks unloved. Avoid touching village dogs, cats, and chickens, as they are likely to have fleas. Wear flip-flops to avoid worms.
Please be sensitive. Locals have been offended when visitors make fun of their toilets, insult their chocolate-coloured river, etc.
If locals ask you to buy items for them, e.g. a watch or fishing net, or ask you for your belongings, “No” is the best answer. Or “Would you like to work for it?”, if you want to help them.
We recommend visitors read the book “When Helping Hurts”. It has a lot of helpful ideas. Beware of being a ‘saviour’, and trying to be the answer to PNG’s problems. Come to observe and learn, be a servant and you will learn a lot.

Community Guidelines

#	Guidelines	Rational
1	Strictly no sexually immoral/deviant behaviour	Kapuna upholds biblical values. This behaviour is seen as a serious offence.
2	Practicing sorcery of any kind	We worship the God of the Bible alone.
3	Destructive behaviour towards property of others or GCS	We respect others’ property and are faithful to take care of it.
4	Violence in any form	We value communication as a way to deal with conflict, not violence.
5	Leading or involvement in a riot, strike or boycott	We strive for a peaceful existence with one another and will not tolerate those who compromise the peace we work for at GCS.
6	Stealing	Thou shalt not steal. Exodus 20:15.
7	Drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes or marijuana, or chewing betel nut	These are health hazards and negative lifestyle choices. Health workers are to promote positive lifestyle choices only.
8	Possession of any form of pornographic material	Kapuna upholds biblical values.
9	Unofficial relationship. We do not support volunteers pursuing relationships with anyone at Kapuna during a visit.	We value honesty and open communication. GCS is a small community and a short visit is not the time or right context to pursue a special friendship with any staff or student.
10	Secret/unauthorized meetings with the members of the opposite sex	We value honesty, and such meetings are considered dishonest. Private areas are out of bounds as a social area. There are many cultural views on male-female interaction and we ask you to respect the culture here even though it might be a very foreign practice for you.
11	Students are not to pursue relationships in their first year of studies.	Our primary goal is the training of health workers. As a visitor, this guideline is more to help you be supportive of this rule for students.
12	Playing rugby tackle or martial arts	Such sports are at high risk for injuries, therefore we avoid such sports.
13	Rebellion towards rules/guidelines or staff	We value obedience and respect.
14	Misuse of GCS property	We respect others’ property.
15	Wilfully covering up a known offence.	We value honesty and communication.
16	Failure to attend compulsory activities	We value the full participation of students and staff in their commitments. We ask visitors and volunteers who are here to work to also be faithful to their commitments.
17	Unprofessional dress in your work environment.	As professionals in different fields, staff, students, and volunteers should dress appropriately for their work.
18	Use of mobile phones/earphones at work	Use of personal equipment should be reserved for personal time only. We value diligence whilst at work.
19	Un-punctual to work duties.	We value one another and each other’s time and commitments. Failure to attend work on time is disrespectful and dishonouring.
22	Telling lies/cheating	We value honesty and integrity in all areas of our lives.
23	Poor attitude and effort (laziness) at work.	We value faithfulness and diligence in our roles in life.
24	Swearing	As a christian community all swearing is not acceptable, please do not use Christs name in vain.
25	Involvement in same-sex relationships	This goes against local culture and our Christian beliefs.

Authority at Kapuna

Every member of the Kapuna community is of importance and value, from child to grandparent (Bubu). As there must be Order (God’s order) in a family, so there must be order in our community. Everyone is to choose to love their neighbour and we must not allow offence, unforgiveness or bitterness to take root in this place.

In this community, there are persons given positions of authority and they serve as servants in that position, and their decisions are held to. These include the Management and Church Leaders. Every person wanting to be part of the Kapuna community needs to willingly and joyfully agree to this authority.

Jesus’s teaching is the mark of a true follower of Christ

Kapuna as a community holds to Jesus’ teachings as the mark of a true follower of Christ.

“A new commandment I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you” (Jn13; love covers over a multitude of sins).
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength” (the greatest commandment).
“To Love your neighbour as yourself” (love does no wrong to his neighbour).
“If you do not forgive others, My Father in Heaven will not forgive your sin”.
“Do to others as you would have them do to you”.

Attitude of Life:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe (Philippians 2:5-11).

Practices of Faith

We encourage all members of our community to submit themselves to Christ. Every person has a gift or ability and when submitted to Christ, these gifts are effective to build the community of God’s people and to reach the lost.

We recognise that corporate thanksgiving and worship are an important part of bringing God’s presence into this community. Sunday morning is therefore set aside for community worship and learning from each other. It is right that all members of this community desire to gather and worship together and use their gifts to strengthen God’s people.

General Information

Language

The official languages in Papua New Guinea are English, Tok Pisin and Motu. Some people understand English and speak it with varying proficiency, but most speak Tok Pisin. In Kapuna, the other main languages spoken are Koriki/Iai and Kope/Urama. If you wish to learn some greetings, Tok Pisin is easily mastered and appreciated. At work please speak in English.

Climate

Kapuna is hot and humid. The temperature ranges from about 22°C in the wet season to 40°C degrees in the dry season. The average temperature is around 28°C to 35°C. Heavy rain and large thunderstorms are common. Some people develop heat rash, so consider packing heat rash powder.

The wet season is usually from June until October, but even in the dry season, it rains frequently. Gumboots are recommended. In the dry season, we need to be careful with water consumption, as our drinking water comes from rainwater collection tanks and there may be periods without rainfall. Bathing/swimming in the river is not recommended due to typhoid fever, amoebic dysentery and crocodiles.

Snakes

Snakes are not normally inside unless it is very wet. Occasionally they are spotted outside at Kapuna, especially in garden areas. Carpet snakes are harmless. The death adder with the rattly tail is deadly, but hardly seen at Kapuna.

It is good to have some prior knowledge about what to do in the unfortunate event of a snake bite:

Keep calm and reassure the person who has been bitten. Ask them to sit down (so the heart is elevated above the bite site) and relax completely.
Do not wash, cut or suck the bite site and do not apply an arterial tourniquet unless you can guarantee blood flow.
Do not rub the site or limb as this increases circulation and absorption of venom.
Bandage the limb from the bite up to the joint above.
Take the patient to the hospital or health centre as soon as possible and monitor their symptoms.

Other Pests:

Mosquitoes: We have plenty in the swamp. To prevent bites and malaria we sleep under mosquito nets and recommend long tops and pants at night, as well as insect repellent (if pregnant, maximum 30%deet is suggested).

Mud flies: Small sand flies with a bite that is out of proportion to their size. They cause no long-term problems, but the itch can be very irritating for 1-2 hours.

Rats: Common around Kapuna. Store food in containers and cupboards at all times. Traps are available to borrow, just ask around.

Leeches: Only a problem when going into the bush and gardens. Gumboots and long socks are helpful. To get them off, rub salt on them.

Roosters: Harmless, but crowing throughout the night can be an issue. Good earplugs are helpful.

Crocodiles: You might not see them, but they are there! It is not recommended to go swimming in the river. There are a couple of water tanks that volunteers use to cool off – ask about these instead of risking the Crocs.

Geckos (small lizards), spiders and ants. The geckos and spiders are harmless (although rather large). Various types of ants can give an annoying bite.

Appendices

Appendix 1: GCS Volunteer Application Process

Applicants’ letter of interest and CV sent in (letter from sending organisation for long-term volunteers).
Application documents sent to the applicant

Forms sent to the applicant:

Work permit/visa forms
Code of conduct
Release of Liability
Professional Registration, if applicable

Forms submitted by the applicant, plus a character reference
Prayerful Discernment
Acceptance by Kapuna Entity
Acceptance by Kapuna Management Committee
Job description and volunteer guide sent to long-term applicants
PNG work permit and visa processing and approval (long-term volunteers)
International flights booked by the applicant and arrival date advised to GCS
Internal travel forms sent to the applicant as required
Internal travel forms submitted by the applicant
Confirmation of internal travel (or waitlist status) by GCS
Welcome to Kapuna!
Induction process (1-3 days)

Appendix 2: Statements of Belief

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
On the third day he rose again from the dead:
He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead:
I believe in the Holy Ghost:
I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:
The forgiveness of sins:
The resurrection of the body:
And the life everlasting. Amen.