Not an in-depth conversation
The other day we put on our hiking shoes and walked up to the village. We’ve learned a few phrases in Melanesian Pidgin, but it doesn’t take long to exhaust my vocabulary.
"Good afternoon."
"How are you?"
"What is your name?"
"What is that?" (Point to something).
"See you later."
Not really my idea of an in-depth conversation. I knelt down to watch one of the village women weaving a bilum (a bag or purse). I tried to ask her about it in Pidgin, and she replied to me in English. Praise the Lord! It was the highlight of our trip so far, to be able to truly communicate with someone from a tribal culture -- to ask her questions and know her as a person.
She told me about her husband and her children, about the different patterns she uses for weaving, and that she works in the kitchen at Interface. She asked about where I was from and about my family. Did I mention it was the highlight of our trip so far?
Another interesting event today was our game of "Kill the Chicken." We played with a plastic bat and a soccer ball, but apparently some tribal people play with a real chicken. They bury a chicken up to its neck in the dirt, blindfold someone and hand them a machete. Their goal is to listen for the chicken and try to ... well ... (insert title of the game here).
Soon we will begin meeting with our language helpers -- a national man or woman who will work with us to learn Pidgin. Please pray that we will absorb the language quickly, and learn to communicate effectively to show the love of Christ to the nationals here.
Learn more about Interface mission trips >>
"Good afternoon."
"How are you?"
"What is your name?"
"What is that?" (Point to something).
"See you later."
Not really my idea of an in-depth conversation. I knelt down to watch one of the village women weaving a bilum (a bag or purse). I tried to ask her about it in Pidgin, and she replied to me in English. Praise the Lord! It was the highlight of our trip so far, to be able to truly communicate with someone from a tribal culture -- to ask her questions and know her as a person.
She told me about her husband and her children, about the different patterns she uses for weaving, and that she works in the kitchen at Interface. She asked about where I was from and about my family. Did I mention it was the highlight of our trip so far?
Another interesting event today was our game of "Kill the Chicken." We played with a plastic bat and a soccer ball, but apparently some tribal people play with a real chicken. They bury a chicken up to its neck in the dirt, blindfold someone and hand them a machete. Their goal is to listen for the chicken and try to ... well ... (insert title of the game here).
Soon we will begin meeting with our language helpers -- a national man or woman who will work with us to learn Pidgin. Please pray that we will absorb the language quickly, and learn to communicate effectively to show the love of Christ to the nationals here.
Learn more about Interface mission trips >>