NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

Night hunting seems to be one of the more popular times for hunters to be out looking for tasty critters. I thought you might enjoy seeing a picture of a “tagip” that our co-worker Dave caught with Boni a guy from the village. That critter is one of the Nagi top favorites!! This tagip was given by Boni to his future inlaws as part of the payments for his future wife. Something you hunters might want to consider after your next elk or deer or moose.

It’s a seasonal highlight…small groups getting together and going after the ek, aup and different types of nuts. First the guys climb the trees and shake down the nuts and then we gather and start pounding away. No rules against sneaking a few tasty tidbits as you work either. When the piles are gone the bags are loaded up and everyone heads home. Till the next time someone is headed out…and everyone goes nuts again.

I have written many of you about Yayan and her difficult labor in delivering this baby girl where she almost lost her own life.   The Lord spared her life and used our co-worker Melissa to help her through this difficult birth.  It was so sad when going down to the birthing shack to deliver some medicines to mother and baby several days later the baby took a turn for the worse and died.  However, we continue to rejoice that  the mother is doing well…

So many cool colors enjoyed!

Well, it doesn’t grow on trees….rather inside trees.  Since “sagu” is one of  the main staples for the Nagi this means WORK! To cut down the palm tree and pound out the sagu…then  put it through a “mulching” process  so the starch separates out into “blocks”  which then is  hiked back to the village and stored in their houses as food that will last them a month or maybe even three. Not only does everyone  learn very young in Nagi land  to love the taste of sagu ….they also learn how to help working on the sagu palm.

This Nagi tradition adds a whole new “meaning” to the expression No Pain, No Gain. Someone that has had a head-ache for a long time that won’t get better will ask a friend or family member to shoot them in the forehead with a bow and arrow. (A VERY SMALL bow and arrow designed for this task) However it is a vivid reminder of being willing to suffer some painful things and discouragement so that the Nagi can one day have God’s Word in their language!

This past week our co-workers returned to the States for a year of home assignment. While they were excited to be returning home to visit friends and family after four years in Indonesia, it was also a sad time to say good-bye to friends here in the village. Here is Ember getting in one last group hug with friends before getting on the plane on Flight Day.

Check out the nice sunset!! Despite the fact that it seems to rain almost every day of the year in our mountain location, here is proof that the sun does indeed still shine! 

It was a vine gathering trip in the jungle when suddenly my friend excitedly grabbed my machete and climbed a tree to get out these ant eggs!! She did suffer many ant bites in the process.but a small price to pay for some some tasty ant eggs. And just in case you ever want to try any..these can be eaten raw or roasted over the fire. Both are equally yummy for the tummy! If ants don’t have your taste buds watering.maybe you’d rather eat a tarantula? There aren’t exactly “Junk Food” options here in these woods so one learns to adapt a little to the local tasty treats.

This young girl is one of many kids who have lost a parent and some have lost both at young ages. Living in a communal setting where everyone seems related in some crazy and often random way does bring certain advantages though. These children are never left as “orphans’ but there is a family member that will then take over the raising of these children as their own.