Dancing!

Tala-Andig and Higaunon dancing is not just about choreography and traditional costumes but each dance tells a story.  

This dance is called the “Inidag”.

It is about the need to keep unity

because we are all one tribe.

One of the lines of their song goes: ‘Os gali, Tala-Andig kiw man’,

which is sort of the equivalent of: ‘Hey man, we’re all Tala-Andig remember.’

 Notice though that in spite of the exhortation to keep unity,

there is a need for armed military to attend these sorts of gatherings.

This dance is called the “Kaligà”.

It is about the fierceness of the Tala-Andig warrior.

In fact, part of this dance shows the

warrior capturing another man’s wife

to carry off to his own village.

Maybe it is these underlying parts of the culture that  

causes the need for military presence!  

This dance is called “Tagpangamuti” and this is

how our church conference in Cauyunan started

last week.

Originally it was a dance about stealing from

someone’s garden because you were hungry

but the ladies from the Cauyunan church danced

it with a new story, to show how we need to help

each other and when we see someone who is hungry,

to give them something to eat and to work hard so

that we have something to give.  

It was very cool to watch!  (No military presence

was needed at this dance!)

Answer to Prayer!

Have you ever just sat and marvelled at how God has provided for a specific need in your life?  Have you ever been through a whole year of thinking almost every day, “What an awesome answer to prayer you gave me Lord!”?

Well we have had many years like that, ever since Jubab started Grade 1: just marvelling year in and year out at how God has provided teachers for Jubab and at how smoothly and wonderfully Jubab’s schooling has gone while we’ve remained still immersed in ministry and translation.

This year has been no exception and we want to pay a tribute of THANKS to the Lord for how He has used Ben and Leonie in Jubab’s life, in our lives and in many lives during this year. They leave early next week for some time back in Australia with their family and church family, but the wonderful news is that God willing:

THEY ARE RETURNING NEXT YEAR!!!

It is hard to get a photo of Ben and Leonie together as usually Leonie is on the

other end of the camera (being the photographer she is)

and (secretly) she doesn’t like being in the focus of the camera lens.

But Jubab finally managed to snap this one at his brother’s wedding last month. 

 

As well as teaching Jubab.....

Ben has also been leading a weekly Bible Study for a group of

about 30 school teachers (who are all English speaking) from five

different local schools.

Leonie has been art teacher.....

......and has been delighting her husband, and all of us with her

culinary skills as well as having a weekly dinner for

30-40 people at the bible study each week!

Leonie worked hard for weeks on a wonderful map for the churches here on the book of Acts and the apostle Paul’s missionary journeys. Ben has used his Surveyor’s skills and the GPS to make an accurate map of the whole area we are working in.

The list goes on and on of all the ways Ben and Leonie have helped the team here and been a blessing during this year!!

So we say a temporary “goodbye” while they go home over the Christmas break......and we look forward to having them back late January, 2012, to continue with us on this journey and to teach Jubab for his second year of high school!!!!

Please praise the Lord with us for Ben and Leonie and for the time they have had here this year!

Pray for them as they spend about 2 months back in Australia that it will be a

wonderful and refreshing time and

pray for them as they return again early next year.