NTM

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!

“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.

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!

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.

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.

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.