When Bible translator (and friend), JoAnne Shetler (author of "And The Word Came With Power"), arrived in the Philippines in the 1960s, her Balangao "Papa" told her if she wanted to learn the language, she needed to eat more rice. And he was right. The more Jo ate rice with village families, the more Balangao she learned.
The same is true here in Timor. Rice is the foundation of every lunch and dinner and, for between meals, we have morning and afternoon tea time.
During these times we fellowship across the table with brothers and sister from many language communities. All of them want to teach us Indonesian - and the more Julie eats rice, the more she learns.
Sharing heartfelt greetings in Indonesian is strengthening the bonds between us.
(Footnote: Jon is terrible with languages. Of course, his hearing isn't so great anyways and he can't roll his rrrrrr's.)
The same is true here in Timor. Rice is the foundation of every lunch and dinner and, for between meals, we have morning and afternoon tea time. During these times we fellowship across the table with brothers and sister from many language communities. All of them want to teach us Indonesian - and the more Julie eats rice, the more she learns.
(Footnote: Jon is terrible with languages. Of course, his hearing isn't so great anyways and he can't roll his rrrrrr's.)
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