Moving Into a Tribe

Have you ever wondered what it is like for a missionary to move into a tribal location? Before NTM missionaries move into a tribe in Papua New Guinea they typically go through a process called “bush orientation.” No, they don’t have to learn about all the different types of bushes found in the jungle before they move in. Although having experienced poison ivy the grows prolific in the bush here in Missouri, that might not be a bad idea.

I will let John Michael tell you what “bush orientation” is like in Papua New Guinea. He wrote:

So, now for a quick recap of our “bush orientation” time with the Mariama tribe: Mariama has a strong established church thanks to the efforts of the Woodard and Holmquist families over the last 11 years. This being the case, we were turned over to the Mariama Believers and put into their care, and care for us they did. They spent a lot of time teaching us their way of life which took the form of 12-hour hikes through the jungle to hunt pigs (which also turned up a couple tree kangaroos, a monitor lizard, and many other things,) teaching us how to “pul” a canoe (I promise this is MUCH more difficult than it sounds and I have the wet clothes to prove it,) scouring the jungle to find greens and work their gardens, teaching us how to build various things they use for daily life, how to hunt crocodiles, and many, many other things. Throughout all of these events they used the time to also teach us the country’s national language.

While we were greatly appreciative for all the time and energy they poured into us teaching us these things, I think we are most grateful for the time they spent discipling us and teaching and showing us how God has changed their thinking and their lives as a whole. Many of the church leaders spent time with me to talk to me about the things I need to consider as I will soon move into my own tribal location. They gave us really great advice about how to best reach the people. It was encouraging to have these relationships with Believers from a culture so different from our own. Different language, different culture, different…well, nearly everything, but ONE SPIRIT. It really was amazing.

It was not all that long ago, that John Michael and his wife Jessi were sitting here in phonetics class. Now they are preparing to begin a work in a tribal location in Papua New Guinea. Their learning did not stop when they graduated from our Missionary Training Center. The fact is, it really just began.

Your prayers are much appreciated as we train a new batch of budding missionary candidates who are following in the footsteps of John Michael and Jessi. Phonetics begins in a few days for our first semester students. That class can be a struggle for some. Please pray that we will have wisdom in how to help students pronounce these strange exotic sounds that are found in other languages.