"There is a friend..."

"...there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."  Proverbs 18:24b

The theme for this past month as been friendship: discovering new friends, and also enjoying the "old" friendships. :)  Relationship building is key to living in a new culture, to adjusting well and being able to "stick it out" in the hard times.  As we have lived here in Australia, and in Barunga specifically, the friendships we are building are a blessing.

Since we are living in Barunga, sometimes it's hard to separate life from work, and work from life.  I find myself saying, "How can we best show people we care about them?"  "Am I just a book salesman?"  Where is my heart?

The answer may not be surprising for yumob, (y'all in Kriol) and it wasn't an epiphany for me much either.  I was simply reminded in a big way where my heart lies: with the people.  There is no greater joy for me than to sit with folks and simply get to know them.  I like learning from them, and if I can help them/teach them, I enjoy that as well.  I enjoy enabling people to do what the Lord is calling them to do; and I really get excited when I am able to watch them apply it to their lives!

There are many different relationships/friendships built here.  Some relationships have been everyday seeing the people here in Barunga, whereas some are "workshop" relationships.  If we go to a neighbouring community and meet folks there, but we don't see them too often.  Anyway, there are many different friendships built in different contexts.

I met William and Marjorie while at the Katherine Christian Convention(KCC) last weekend.  They were two of the original translators for the Kriol Baibul.  Something I really appreciated about William was his patience in helping me with Kriol, and his ability to laugh at the little things.  He speaks the Roper River Kriol, which is a "heavier" Kriol than the one spoken in Barunga.  When I first met him, we were talking, and I used a phrase I learned while in a different community, and he laughed, and corrected me.  He would say, "Lagijat na."  "It's like that."  But I had learned at the other community they shorten it to, "Lat na."  So every time he saw me, he'd say, "Lat na!"  and then laugh.  Of course I'd say it back to him, and we'd both chuckle.  His heart to see God's Word in Kriol encouraged and inspired me in the work God has given us here.

Guy is a Christian man living in Barunga.  I have been able to sit with him at his house once, as well as see him on several occasions in the community and chat.  He is a blessing to me, and has given me the okay to come and visit him any time.  He stays very busy with work, and family as well.  He is a hard worker, so he's depended on by many people.  Please pray for me to be a blessing to Guy.  His wife, Beverly was also a member of the Kriol Baibul translation team.

Building relationships is THE ONLY WAY in indigenous society.  Relationships are everything.  There have been times when I've just been baffled by what strong ties our indigenous friends have to each other, and the responsibilities/obligations which come from those relationships.  When a relative (whether through blood or simply by skin name) asks for something, they give it.  Giving gifts is a common way to start and also continue a relationship.

For example, when we first arrived in Australia, and were at the Yangbala Kemp (Youth Camp),  there were a TON of flies!  It seemed there was no possible way to get away from them.  And they weren't polite, traditional "American" flies who just buzzed around, and landed on the table to be swatted.  These were the "fly-in-your-eyes, mouth, ears..." type of fly. I noticed our indigenous sister with a fly-net hat.  I said, "Cool hat!"  She took it off and said, "It's yours."  I was a little embarrassed, because I didn't mean to take it from her, but she explained, "You are my brother in Christ.  I want to give you this hat.  It's okay."  I'm still learning, but it seems to me that gift giving and receiving is a normal part of life.  It doesn't have to be anything large.  It could simply be tea or milk or sugar, but a gift shows a relationship.

As we continue to live here, and deepen our relationships with folks, please pray for wisdom and discernment in how to help them in the most important relationship of all: with Jesus Christ.