Thanks a rare thing
When a Landuma man in Guinea says enewali he’s saying thank you. But you often don’t hear it when expected..
"When we give someone food or medicine or help in some big way, instead of saying thank you, people will just walk away, or at the most say "now I will go," wrote missionary Ginny Bryant.
In Landuma culture, it is more important to tell others of a good deed someone did for you rather than personally thanking them. When someone speaks well of you that enhances your reputation.
"Although we know this custom to be true," wrote Ginny, "it can sometimes be discouraging when we have helped someone or cared for them in some way and they just walk away."
But recently God used some Landuma friends to encourage their hearts by saying thank you in a more familiar way. Ginny and her husband Dan helped a young boy named Yusuf get surgery for a serious heart problem. Since Yusuf’s return to the village his mother has showered the Bryants with gifts of bananas, peanuts and papayas.
Last year Ginny tried to help a young mother with her premature and sickly baby. In spite of all their efforts the baby died. Recently the woman came by to tell Ginny that she had named her new born after her. She told Ginny she named the baby after her as a thank you.
Pray for Dan and Ginny as they continue to offer help and encouragement to the Landuma people. Praise God with us that Dan and Ginny received encouragement from their Landuma friends who showed their appreciation for their help.
"When we give someone food or medicine or help in some big way, instead of saying thank you, people will just walk away, or at the most say "now I will go," wrote missionary Ginny Bryant.
In Landuma culture, it is more important to tell others of a good deed someone did for you rather than personally thanking them. When someone speaks well of you that enhances your reputation.
"Although we know this custom to be true," wrote Ginny, "it can sometimes be discouraging when we have helped someone or cared for them in some way and they just walk away."
But recently God used some Landuma friends to encourage their hearts by saying thank you in a more familiar way. Ginny and her husband Dan helped a young boy named Yusuf get surgery for a serious heart problem. Since Yusuf’s return to the village his mother has showered the Bryants with gifts of bananas, peanuts and papayas.
Last year Ginny tried to help a young mother with her premature and sickly baby. In spite of all their efforts the baby died. Recently the woman came by to tell Ginny that she had named her new born after her. She told Ginny she named the baby after her as a thank you.
Pray for Dan and Ginny as they continue to offer help and encouragement to the Landuma people. Praise God with us that Dan and Ginny received encouragement from their Landuma friends who showed their appreciation for their help.