Joanna K Jansma Just another weblog Flight Day in the tribe has the excitement of the arrival of letters, packages and encouragement from the “outside world”! It is neat how the Lord provides these extra blessings that aren’t necessary. But reminders of the Lord’s faithfulness!
Flight Days
Where There Is No Doc
“Where There is No Doctor” is the title of one of the books we rely upon when working in our little medical clinic here in the village. Rashes, fevers, ear infections, cutting one’s finger with a machete, falling into the fire….one really feels one’s limitations in trying to help with these medical needs. At the same time, it is exciting to think that God is using our limitations to provide even a little bit of medical help so that they can be alive to hear and understand God’s Word someday in their own language.
Them Are Trees
Walking on trails with friends from the village it is amazing all the names of trees, birds, bugs, ferns, etc. one can hear. Meanwhile, I am just trying to not trip over roots or go flying off of slippery logs. Looks like I am going to have to start expounding my vocabulary from ‘look at them there trees” to words that are a little more specific. sigh! 
Taste Buds
You name it…the Nagi eat it! From ants to grasshoppers to spiders to lizards to MICE. In turn their taste buds have been shocked by peppermint gum, cilantro and cinnamon as horrible! So we are all learning to adjust our taste buds a little. 
One Mud Clod At a Time…
Praise the Lord for helicopters! They help us get into the tribe while we are still building our airstrip…one mud clod at a time! It will be a huge blessing to see the airstrip finished in the village and have access from small planes. But we still have several more kazillion wheelbarrow loads before that airstrip is a reality.
Got No Skills
I don’t have the skills to make sagu, catch fish, plant gardens like the Nagi. So they patiently try to teach me these new skills so that when I offer to “help” someday it might actually be a help to them. At least now it provides them lots of laughter.
Beyond the Mud
Just got back from a trip interior to consider the possibility of joining the work there. It was a land flowing with mud and more mud! And I tried to master.maybe more like “cope” than “master” some new coordination skills for wearing boots! But I was challenged by as unappealing as a location might be that calls for so much wallowing in the mud.to look beyond the mud and see the needs.
Answers to Prayer
January 2009 marks the end of 2 years in Indonesia! Thank you for your continued partnership and encouragement in having a part in what God is doing here. I praise the Lord for all the prayers He has answered along the journey to make two years possible!
In Spite of Us
Can you teach me how to sing, to swim, to sew.Sometimes it is funny what you might end up find yourself teaching along the way as you build relationships. But it is encouraging to watch how the Lord can use these situations in spite of those of us that really can’t teach anything well!
Trusting
What is it about tippy canoes that always reminds me of this process of trusting the Lord? “In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.” (Psalms 33:21)