Last Saturday, Mandy (one of our co-workers) and I became women of Papua New Guinea. Okay, that sounds kind of weird…but we got to experience what it’s like to be women in Papua New Guinea! Our day started out normal, we started a load of laundry (in the rain), and then when the rain stopped, we hang the clothes on the line. After that, our “poro” (friends) came to get us and we left for the market. So that you can track with me, it’s pretty much like a farmer’s market in America!
We all walked in a single file line down the street with our bilum (bags) on our heads. I kept telling my language helper, Rosemary, that I was afraid of the cars driving by. She assured me that they wouldn’t hit me. We made it to the market (in one piece) and they walked us all around to look at everything first. We wanted to learn about all of the different things that people grow in PNG. Here are some of the ones we learned bout: sweet potato (not orange inside!), yam (different than sweet potato!), taro, taro kongkong, tapiok, pitpit, cooking banana (not the kind you think), sweet banana (like you think), Coconuts, all different kinds of greens (like pumpkin leaves), and much more! We scoped out all of the prices and bought some of everything! We had had so much in our bags, that I had Rosemary carry it all, because my head is not strong enough to carry a bag full of food!! She understands!
We walked back to Mandy’s helper’s house, Barbera, and started preparing lunch. Let me remind you that you never go into their houses, so all of the cleaning/cooking is done outside! So I started scraping coconuts, while Mandy peeled all of the vegetables. Then we squeezed the coconut scrapings to make “grease” and then mixed it in the pot with the coconut water. We then added all of the vegetables and greens to the pot. All was well and we thought, “this wont be so bad.” Famous last words! Barbera opened up a sack and pulled out this huge fish WITH EYEBALLS STILL IN TACT! She took it straight from the sack to the pot! I thought, “I could have done without that thing!”
Lots of praying going on here! Praying that we don’t get sick, praying that I don’t eat an eyeball, praying praying! We all sat on the porch storying (what they do all day long) while we waited on the food to cook. It was great! We’ve built great relationships with these two, so we chatted more than surface level!
The food was done cooking and Barbera “scaled” everything to make sure that we all got some of everything. As we sat down to eat it (on the ground), it was not bad!! As I tried it all, I would make sure I ask what it was…so I could remember what I like and what I don’t like! The three things that I like the most: sweet potato, greens, and the FISH! Yes…the fish was amazing. (don’t worry, I didn’t get the face on my plate!)
It was a great day. The whole experience took 7 hours. We loved getting to see how it’s like doing life with them (minus having our wonderful kids and husband!) While the food is not my favorite, the people are; and it is so vital that I learn to do things with them, so that I can one day disciple them in their own language!
sue long says
Jill, how I love your messages! I can just imagine being right there with you. What a wonderful adventure in the Lord you are having—–the very kind of expectancy we all are called to experience each day. God bless you, dear one, for your faithfulness in all things. Love and prayers to you all, Sue