WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE YOU EAT

The day after we got back to the tribe three weeks ago, we were invited to a large feast, held to mark the end of mourning for three people who have died in recent months. The process for the feast was an all day event. After several hours of watching the men cook the pigs and the women cooking yams, the time had finally come for us to get ready to eat. The man sitting next to me, pointed down at the ocean and told me to watch the five young men wandering out to knee deep water. He went on to explain that they were the ones that were going to cut up the 19 pigs, but before doing so they had to wash their hands. For a moment, I did not think too much about it, other than the fact of thankfulness for their apparent concern for hygiene. However, soon I realized there was something more to it. All the villagers watched as the men got in a circle to wash their hands. Then an old man began sprinkling things in the air and started rubbing something on each of the young men's' hands as he muttered something. The short event ended when each of the men had a vine tied around one of their wrists and a circle painted around one of their eyes.

Later, my investigation into the matter left me with this brief but interesting answer. Before today, none of those five men knew how to cut up a pig. But, after the old man washed their hands, they had understanding of where all the pigs joints were and exactly how to cut it up. Now from this point on, that knowledge will stay with them. Please continue to pray for the Patpatar people as we continue to learn their language and culture, so that one day we can give them the truth of God's Word.

How is my health? Well after the above event, it made me wonder why the doctors in Australia would wash their hands before they poked me with a needle to draw blood! Seriously, I am back into the swing of things and have had only small amounts of pain from time to time. It seems like everything is on track for full recovery and for that we are grateful.

Our household is growing! My mom is in the middle of a three week trip to this side of the world. She has been a great help with painting, sanding, and other projects yet to be done on the house. It has also been wonderful to have grandma here for our two girls.

Back among the Patpatar,

Aaron, Lori, Avalon, and Sierra