Life quieted down. We learned how to "order" a sheep and a friend of ours delivered one from their farm. Our neighbor, L, promised to help me with language and also came over and helped us gut our sheep. Yes, you get a whole, live sheep and have to dismantle it yourself. Curt was very good at the killing and skinning part. The woman's role was to take all the insides and clean, organize, prepare and cook them. When Curt first opened the sheep (even though I have seen this done many times and helped out), it looked like a mess to me. Do you start with the lungs or the intestines? Our neighbor came over and walked me through it. Lungs, gallbladder and large intestine go to the dogs. Heart, liver and kidneys get washed off and boiled together to eat plain. The small intestine and stomach get cleaned out (the most fun part) and get wrapped together with the intestinal fat for a tasty treat (see pic on the side). And cut up the rest of the meat. Whew.
Now, with meat in the freezer (really just kept in an outdoor closet where everything will stay frozen until April), an understanding of where the stores are, a house that is finally put together, we could settle down for a long winter's nap. Until...
The owner's, A, dad shows up one afternoon. He is in a panic. He says that he's sure we're nice people but everyone in the village seems to think we're part of a cult and we need to leave. We panic. We just finished settling in after 2 very long and exhausting months of work. Leave? Lord, really?
He's pacing the floor and says that he's sorry but he has to live and work here and he can't be shunned by the community. It would mean the death of him and his family. We understand but we are panicking. We get in our car and take off for the next village, where A lives and works. We find her (a miracle) and explain what's going on (remember, we're still around a one year old in language). She gets in the car with us and we drive back. She confronts her father. They start yelling at each other but he won't budge. Curt finally is inspired by God to ask what he's afraid of. He's afraid we will start handing out books to children and convert them to some weird thing. We then offer to show him all of the things we own. We point out we have no literature and don't plan on working in the school in this village. He is still uncertain and shaky but finally leaves. A tells us to stay but we are unsure if he will return with the same demands.
We pray. We ask others to pray. What will happen? He can easily stir up the village against us and they can demand we leave. We have no friends. We can't speak the language. There is nothing to recommend us.
The next day, he returns. I am scared. We answer the door and he stands there and apologizes. Apologizes! In a culture of shame, one does NOT apologize. It is unheard of. He says that we can stay and he is sure we are nice people. I begin to cry from the relief of not having to leave. He pats me on the shoulder, tells me not to cry and everything will be alright. This is our house now.
Thank you, Lord.
