News in the World, and in my little world

I've had many people write to me and ask me about my thoughts on this article... http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/08/png.witchcraft/index.html

When I read it my first reaction was that I was surprised that it had made it to the headlines in the states. Sadly, this is nothing new in PNG. This particular incident happened pretty far away from where I'm at in the Highlands, but I've heard of it happening even before I arrived here. There was a show on the Travel Channel called "Living with the Mek" - about 2 guys who went to live in the Mek tribe in highlands of PNG. There was an episode where the chief of the tribe became ill, and they blamed a young girl for witchcraft. Thankfully, she ran away before there were any "consequences". When the westerners did tests on the chief, it turned out he had malaria. But it doesn't matter to the tribal people... if someone is sick (regardless of age or health/hygiene issues) the only explanation is sorcery. Often a young girl is accused of witchcraft. And the people live in constant fear of the spirits.

This is a land in darkness... spiritually and in many other ways as well. When Americans tell me that they think it's offensive that Missionaries go to PNG and push their beliefs on tribal people who are happy and content to live in the old ways, I just shake my head. That could not be further from the truth. They are begging us to come! Who would be happy living in constant fear of death or fear of being cursed or attacked by spirits?! I think I've mentioned before that every where you go there are ripped up cards on the side of th road. That's because if they lose in a card game it's due to evil spirits in the cards themselves... so they rip up that deck and buy another one. This is all true, I'm not making this up!

There has been a tremendous testimony recently in my neighboring village. Tumun, a believer, became very sick. Her abdomen was swollen so much she looked like she was 9 months pregnant. We took her to the doctor and found out that her insides were full of cancer. The other people in the village called for witchdoctors to come and work magic, but she would not allow them in her house. She said "My family members keep trying to bring village "doctors" to heal me. It wouldn't be good now that God has brought me into His fence if I brought the things of Satan into God's place -- I don't want God's house messed up." As Tumun's illness became worse, her Faith was an encouragement to everyone! She was upset that she was missing some of the Bible classes because she didn't want to get behind, but then she said she was at peace about it because God told her that very soon her understanding of Him would beat everyone elses! An older lady in the next village just died with apparently the same sickness, and the word that was spread was of the agony that she suffered while she was ill as well as the torturous death she experienced. Joyce (Tumun's sister and my friend) heard that story, and then saw Tumun resting quietly and not being in any pain, and she saw God looking out for His child. She saw the quiet, uncomplaining spirit of Tumun, and she saw God in Tumun, giving her strength. Tumun passed away last week, just as quietly and totally at peace. It was all over the village. They'd never seen anything like it. Tumun's husband said "Tumun went so quietly. Many times, people who are dying cry out and come and go back and give those of us watching such heaviness to watch them leave. But Tumun went so quietly." When asked if he knew why Tumun went so quietly and he responded, "She knew
God." What a testimony she has left for her family and friends. During her funeral, her family announced that they believed that her death was not because of sorcery, but because of sickness. This is UNHEARD of in PNG!!! And we rejoice for her because Tumun is free and she is the first of her tribe in Heaven.

"I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain." ~ John Henry Newman