This morning we jumped in the back of the truck and headed up to my language helper's village (near ITF). We spent time learning how to build a fire and cook kaukau & bananas (not the sweet kind)... all while learning the verbs, nouns and phrases associated with this task in Tok Pisin. Then we ate a little bit of it. I tried some of the banana, but it tasted like a potato. Then Joyce taught us how to make bilums. It is much more difficult than I had anticipated. It is a craft and skill that takes years to develop. But I started on one, and learned the Pisin words for what I was doing (see picture above). While I was sitting there, I looked around me at the mountains, at the houses, and the children teaching one group of girls how to play their games, at the lush vegetation and at the oh-so-patient Joyce, and just had this surge of joy in my heart. I said "I am so Happy right now!" to which Joyce corrected me and said "Mi amamas stret" - which means I'm really really happy. And yet my heart is breaking for these people that don't know God. Today I saw this quote that was something like "We look forward to Christ's second coming, but much of the world doesn't even know about His first". Ugh!
I've been meaning to tell you guys about this story I heard from one of our instructors. After going through the Chronological teaching in his tribe he then began translating the Bible into their heart language. They were still teaching out of the beginning of the new testament and had only really learned out of the old testament so far, when a man in the village said "These words are true. They are like a machete cutting our path for us, and we must follow it wherever it leads". It is just incredible to me how these are words right out of Hebrews and Romans but he'd never even HEARD them yet...the Holy Spirit had shown him just from the teachings out of the OT and applying it to his own life. Wow! It blows me away how God is so consistent and His word is still sharper than any sword.
"Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God" ~ Bob Pierce
3 comments:
Like step-daddy said, "that's an emotional note!" What you described is just another example of how God empowers ordinary people to accomplish amazing things. Whether it's NTMissionaries or the native people themselves doing His bidding, Christ is there working in PNG, no question! (What actually is a bilum?)
A bilum is a bag that everyone(women, men & children) uses to carry things. They use it as a purse, or as a sack to carry potatoes, or whatever. They are very intricately designed and colorful. You can see a couple of them in that picture. I plan on buying one ASAP.
Hi Nicky. This is Tina Pacholski. I'm Mary Paegelow's daughter. Mom sent me the link to your blog and it is awesome! My favorite pic so far is the child eating the ice cream cone. Sooo cute! I'm going to get Mom signed on to this so she can leave posts for you too.
God bless you Nicky, we're praying for you!
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