The VILLAGE!

(Email from Mommy to friends/family back home)

Our trip to Punna’s village was definitely a highlight of our trip. I would not have traded that trip for a five star hotel!

Punna, the househelper, is a quiet little woman who looks much older than she is (31), perhaps because she has given birth to six children, starting when she was 14 years old. Also, village life is rough and her skin reveals a lot of exposure to the elements. She was clearly excited about having us come to visit, but before we left Elizabeth’s house to trek to her home, she pulled Elizabeth aside and asked her, “What can I feed your family when they come?” Her family is too poor to have anything to share with guests, but she would have been scorned if she had entertained guests without feeding them. Elizabeth gave her some biscuits and snacks so she would have something to offer us, along with her delicious chai.

After lunch, we followed Punna along the road, drinking in amazing mountainous views, as we trekked for about and hour down a path and some steep steps and another rocky path, down the mountain, through her village to her little home. Actually, they recently expanded it from one room to two rooms. We were greeted warmly by her husband and his brother and two children, as well as all of Punna’s children. We took a seat on the concrete wall just outside of their home, and her husband quickly brought out a carpet (which was probably dirtier than the ground) and insisted we sit on it.

I turned to gaze at the amazing scenery and was startled to see, about four feet in front of me, a carefully placed DEAD black calf hanging in a tree. I eyed Elizabeth and she was a little shocked too. We later found out that the calf was killed by a tiger and they put it in the tree so that the mother would continue to give milk – I guess all she has to do is SEE the calf to produce!

Punna greeted all of her children and nursed her youngest and then got to work at the fire in her home so she could make us some chai. By the way, the chai here is excellent, but it’s a good thing I don’t know how to make it because I can tell it is very rich (must be that fresh cow’s milk)!!

We gave Punna one of the quilted pot holders that we sewed at home and she put it to use right away. The little piece of beautiful quilted fabric looked very out of place in her dark, smoke-filled home. After Punna served everyone chai and snacks, we shared our chocolate and Jolly Ranchers, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed!

The kids were a little shy at first, but Dave showed them how to “high five” and they began warming up. Then he mooed like a cow, which evidently sounded pretty authentic because Punna’s cow mooed back! Dave continued to moo and the cow responded EVERY time. We were all in stitches! It’s amazing how much fun we could have despite not knowing each other’s language.

The kids showed us a game where one person stands in the middle and the others circle around and in the end, everyone chases one person. Dave and Elizabeth and Mark and Natalie all played and actually did pretty well running around the mountain paths! Punna and her husband just laughed and laughed. They also thought it was quite funny that our children (and Dave, of course!) wanted to learn how to go fetch water. Punna’s oldest daughter led them down the path to the water and they all came back with full containers, the girls all carrying them on their heads!

After many laughs and photos, the time came to say good bye. They all followed us for quite a while and then just the oldest daughter led us up the mountain until we assured her we could find our way.

As we walked home we saw once again the beauty of the scenery and how the mountains are dotted with a myriad of villages similar to that one, all speaking the language that Elizabeth is using for the stories. The sight brought new meaning to “the fields are ripe unto harvest,” for these people seem to be just WAITING for the Good News. Their welcoming spirit makes them easy to be with and there is a charm to their different way of life that is attractive. How could it be that there is NO MESSAGE here?? Surely God has his children here among the millions in these mountains. I knew there were places yet to be reached, but these people seem so accessible and ready. I am comforted by knowing that Elizabeth is getting the work started, but it is just the beginning.

Imagine being the one who brings the Truth to these people! What a privilege and honor and adventure that would be! We met with two believers here and questioned them about their opinions of how to effectively share the stories. They both felt that the village people would listen more to a foreigner because someone who was willing to leave their home and come that far must have a special message that they should pay attention to. It was interesting to hear their thoughts.

Obviously we are all changed by experience here. We have a new passion for praying over these people and a much broader picture of God’s Kingdom.

~ Jane Anne