Joanna K Jansma your connection to the Nagi people
We are excited at the safe delivery of a set of twins this week in the village. However the boy and girl are both very small so be praying they make it. Another lady is helping to raise the baby girl who is weighing in at 1 kilo. It is hard to understand how these babies will be able to make it being so small, but thankfully we have a God who is not limited by these things if He chooses to. Thanks for remembering them!
Sometimes it is hard to stay connected across the miles!! It is always so good to hear from those partnering in this work!!
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It is funny the way we adapt to different cultures – without quite realizing it. Which is how I found myself caught up in enthusiastically killing a snake for a friend. The normal response really should have been to run far, far away when seeing this snake. 
Instead when Kubili and I see the snake as we are hiking thru the jungle the first question we ask is “Is it edible?” Yep, this is a sure sign that we have been in the jungle too long. Then after hearing that it was one that ladies can eat, our friend broke the bad news. She herself couldn’t kill it because she has a young baby making it taboo for her to touch the snake. However, she mentioned one of the ladies back in the village that would like to eat it if we were to kill it ourselves. So, Kubili and I found ourselves diving in to our first lesson in snake killing & gift wrapping. (aka the appropriate jungle leaf) It adds a little incentive to understanding a language when being shouted play by play instructions in any scenario involving a snake…at least in my book. Despite some laughs along the way at our far from professional job, we did manage to return home a tasty meal for one of our friends. I’d say I’m not quite ready to tackle any snake meals on my own yet without the proper supervision though!
“And He changes the times and the seasons: He removes kings, and sets up kings: He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.” Daniel 2:21 It is “Breadfruit Season” here in the village. It is one of my favorite things to eat here in the village. This year we were even able to get some of our own trees planted. As I think about the Breadfruit Season…I am reminded of how fast time keeps going by and all that our team hopes to see accomplished here with the Nagi before another Breadfruit Season. Be praying as we trust Himfor His timing and diligently keep pressing on until we can start teaching in the Nagi language.
After saying good-bye to friends and family in the States I’m now back in the village. It has been good to be back with friends. Some ladies had made us some new firewood string bags while we were gone so we have been enjoying those. Our visitors have also enjoyed getting some laughs out of trying on things like sunglasses that someone sent down in a package. Now, it is time to keep pressing on to finish up the last stage of Nagi language & culture study!
Tum (toom) was one of the first words I learned in Nagi. It means ‘rock’. That’s the way it goes when you are working on the airstrip while culture & language learning.
But living in a tribal location…it’s amazing how often one actually does talk about rock. You can even call a stubborn person a “rock head”.
However, it’s now time to leave all the rocks ( and “rock heads” ) and village friends behind to spend the next six months with you!!
I am really looking forward to seeing friends and family and having opportunities to share about life here with the Nagi.
Please drop me an email if you would like to meet during these next coming months….my plans are to return to Nagi Land in January 2012.
It’s bow & arrow making season in Nagi land! Well, at least for the men. It is rainy season and the rain & mud isn’t conducive to garden making. The bows that the Nagi men make are actually the envy of many of the neighboring tribes and something that they use as a trading item. The ladies on the other hand are bag makers. These can be make out of colorful thread or from a string that they make from tree bark. It is neat seeing the enjoyment and competition they find in making these items.
“Rainbow” in Nagi is the name of two different snakes. We see a rainbow and think it’s a beautiful sight. The Nagi say “We’re Scared!”
There are no cars here in the tribal village. So you’d think there would not be fights over who called “dibs” first. But, in fact the principle is alive and well. Calling dibs and being the first one to “see” a bird is one of your best bests on being given game. Kubili almost got her “dibs” in on this bird the other day. She lost out though. A girl had seen it “first” like five days ago…so it was HERS and her uncle gave it to her. Of course, maybe that was more because she had the right connections.
The twins are 4 months old now! Both are doing great and have survived their first bouts with malaria and village colds & sickness. Thanks for praying for these two twins. It is indeed an answer to your prayers that they are doing great!