![\"Baby](\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/bryan-moritz\/files\/2015\/01\/20130711-untitled-2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>
Passing out baby blankets to our neighbors and other national friends has been a fun blessing. \u00a0There was a lady of my\u00a0missionary friend here, Katie, that sent Katie\u00a0a box of baby blankets. \u00a0The sad part is my friend ended up needing to go home to the states before the box of blankets made it. \u00a0Katie chose me to receive the blankets and get the privilege of taking over for her. \u00a0This box of blankets was not small, but large and stuffed full of baby blankets of all sizes and colors. \u00a0The point of these blankets were to be passed out to all the new babies born to our national friends. \u00a0In this culture, giving babies gifts is not as complicated as giving gifts in any other way. \u00a0Usually when giving gifts, even ones you don’t want anything back, becomes a debt owed by the receiver. \u00a0The receiver then feels obligated to give something back or feels shame for not having the means. \u00a0Sometimes this even means losing friends or being dragged to court. \u00a0The giver looks at it as a deposit that later can be called on when they have something they need. \u00a0They simply go to the one who received the gifts no matter how long ago and remind them of the gift given and “cash in” on the deposit. \u00a0The receiver than gives back to the giver what is being asked!<\/p>\n
As missionaries it is hard to give blessings to our PNG friends because it turns into this give, deposit, and give back friendship. \u00a0For little things we as missionaries do enter into this cultural practice as it is relationship building. \u00a0For larger gifts or helps we have to get more creative or learn how the PNG people would handle these kind of gifts so there is no loss of friendship, or shame involved! \u00a0This is hard to explain but I hope you can get a glimpse into our daily struggles of building friendships here! \u00a0Baby gifts seem to be free and very welcomed without any debt owed!<\/p>\n
Here are a few of those blankets with the babies who received them! \u00a0Thank you Gail for all your hard work and sending the blankets!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>