Our mouths are filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy

It’s a beautiful day in Bena Land! And today, Rich Foster (tribal missionary to the Bena) witnessed a miracle. Today, Heti returned to the village. It’s just incredible that he survived the stab wound for one thing, but the fact that he didn’t get an infection is nothing short of miraculous. The doctors at the haus sik (hospital) often tell people to go home to their tribes after a surgery because they have a better chance of survival living in the dirt of their huts than at the haus sik – it’s so filthy. The people in the village are calling Heti “The Miracle Man”. Even the doctors said “We didn’t do this. We don’t have the knowledge. Your God did this”. And Heti gives all the glory to Him. When the people tell Heti that he’s so strong he says “I have no strength. God did this”.

Even more incredible is what has happened in Heti’s heart. At first he wanted revenge on his son. When the people came to him and said Ok, it’s great that God is healing you, but we need to kill your son, he said “Yes, kill him”. That’s just the culture here. They don’t know a better way – yet. But the whole night and the next day Heti was quiet and then he said “No, I need to forgive. God’s word says to forgive. I will forgive”. What a testimony to the Bena! We serve an Awesome God. He’s not some old dilapidated grandpa, He is a Mighty God!

In Interface news – the program is moving way too quickly! The students leave on their Side-trip the day after tomorrow. Side Trip is sort of the culmination of all of their classes, when they go live in a tribe (with the missionaries there) for 3-5 days. They are so excited! I will not be able to go with them, as only 2 staff people can go on each trip, and usually couples are the leaders. As much as I’d love to go with the students, I will enjoy my time here at Interface with the rest of the staff, and I’m looking forward to maybe having a day to relax! (Relax – Wait, what is that?!)

Time for some pictures! Here’s a couple of me in the village, learning how to start a bilum (woven bag).

We recently had a mumu in the village. A mumu is a big feast here in PNG. You put a huge pile of food (kaukau – sweet potatoes- tapiok, cooking bananas, cabbage, ferns, other greens, and lamb flaps) over really hot coals, on banana leaves, bury it, pour water on it, and use bamboo as vents to some of the steam out.

We all help peel the potatoes

While the food cooks, everybody hangs out together. Men & Women stay very separate, but everyone can play with the kids."Jesus Christ became Incarnate for one purpose, to make a way back to God that man might stand before Him as he was created to do, the friend and lover of God Himself" ~ Oswald Chambers