Today we put on our hiking shoes and walked up to the village. We've learned a few phrases in Pidgin, but it doesn't take long to exhaust my vocabulary.
"Good afternoon!"
"How are you?"
"What is your name?"
"What is that?" (point to something)
"See you later!"
Not really my idea of an in-depth conversation. I knelt down to watch one of the village women weaving a bilam (a bag or purse). I tried to ask her about it in Pidgin, and she replied to me in English. Praise the Lord! It was the highlight of our trip so far, to be able to truly communicate with someone from a tribal culture -- to ask her questions and know her as a PERSON.She told me about her husband and her children, about the different patterns she uses for weaving, and that she works in the kitchen at Interface. She asked about where I was from and about my family. Did I mention it was the highlight of our trip so far?
Another interesting event today was our game of "Kill the Chicken". We played with a plastic bat and a soccer ball, but apparently some tribal people play with a real chicken. They bury a chicken up to it's neck in the dirt, blindfold someone and hand them a machete. Their goal is to listen for the chicken and try to... well... (insert title of the game here).
Tomorrow we will begin meeting with our language helpers - a national man or woman who will work with us to learn Pidgin. Please pray that we will absorb the language quickly, and learn to communicate effectively to show the love of Christ to the nationals here.
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4 comments:
Thanks for the blog, am catching up with your trip. Very interesting, love the kill the chicken game, we used to do that in the U.P. only with a chipmunk.
Hope the rest of the trip goes well.
Jeff VG
Thanks for the updates. Sounds like they are keeping you busy and the people are touching your hearts. We will continue to pray for you, and what the Lord has for you. Enjoy the warm and bugs it is cold and snowy here. But not too bad just good old Illinois winter.
Ron & Kris Miller
Hi Frank and Emily,
We have been praying for you guys. Can't wait to hear about your trip. I thought breaking eggs over one's head for your birthday was kind of wierd in Cosat Rica, but that chicken thing is crazy. :)
Love,
The Van Hoorn's
Perhaps we can start this game at the next church picnic! It sounds fun! Kinda messy though.
In Him,
Eric
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