Taking a deep breath of sticky air, Judy puts on her gloves. She and her husband Trevor enter the house and begin hauling rubbish out the door. The clinging heat of the Philippine jungle is even worse inside. Rats have left their mark everywhere. Judy cringes with every termite-gnawed piece of furniture Trevor lifts, expecting something to jump out at her. The pungent smell of dampness lurks in every corner.
This will be their temporary home in the Manobo tribe. Suddenly the Clarkes find themselves completely surrounded by a mob of villagers.
They push into the house, looking in the windows, causing a feeling of oppression that Judy and Trevor haven’t felt before. The Clarkes look at each other, fighting the panic threatening to make them flee.
The people see “freebies,” and if the missionaries don’t take control things will get out of hand.
Above the uproar Trevor and Judy’s voices are heard speaking a language they have worked hard to attain. The trade language, used by the people to buy and sell, is quickly understood. Soon the villagers are helping to haul out the ruined cabinets and clutter.
The missionaries are relieved to get the house cleared out. The tribal people are happy to receive firewood. The situation turns out for good on both sides.
The next day the Clarkes start a bonfire to burn what remains. The villagers gather around to see what the new “white people” are doing. Judy feels many entertained eyes on her reddened face. Finishing up the inside of the house, her heart is encouraged. One lady stays and helps her to the end, laughing with her as she practices the trade language. Judy already begins to feel at home.
“It was a stinking hot dirty job from beginning to end, but seeing how much language we could use was so worth all the effort … the thought of moving in is not as daunting as it used to be,” says Judy.
