March 19, 2006
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Procrastination Is a Tune Best Played by Ear ~ D.K.H. Fillmann
Yes, I have work I ought to be doing, but instead, I’m fiddling about on Xanga. Those “Grade This Timed Essay” posts will wait, won’t they? The good doctor is napping, the hunter is happily tapping on IM, and the others were watching a high school diving meet and laughing hysterically. I watched about three minutes of it, and it was rather funny to see all these scrawny fellows in Speedos doing somewhat lame dives (compared to the Olympics!).
Tomorrow is our monthly ministry to moms of preschoolers where we babysit the kids for the morning. I’ll just get myself hyped up over the pizza. Speaking of pizza, I got my cholesterol checked, and I was pleased to see that it was 150. I’m not a big eater of fatty things. It’s not really on purpose, though. I just don’t like that many fatty things other than pizza and ice cream. We ate at McDonalds before the retreat on Friday, and I felt like I had enough fat for a week in my McFish and half-order of fries.
I just finished reading Peace Child by Don Richardson. Wow. What kind of faith must one have to be a missionary and to take a wife and seven month old son to a tribe of treacherous cannibals where no white man speaks the language? That’s just what Don Richardson did. He and his wife Carol went to Irian Jaya (island north of Australia) in 1962 to witness to the Sawi people.
The book goes into detail about many of the concepts and customs of the people. One highly-prized ideal was the “fattening a friend for slaughter.” It wasn’t just enough to kill someone. The best and most highly-regarded way to murder was to first befriend a person (from another tribe or village) and get him to trust you fully. Then, after many months of friendship, the “friend” would be dramatically murdered, cooked, and eaten.
Richardson shares his frustration at trying to share the story of Jesus and His love with these people and at finding that they thought Judas was the one to be admired because of his deceitfulness. “…It seemed God had not troubled Himself to prepare the Sawi…for the coming of the gospel…The Sawis had no name for God. Nor even the concept of Him…” Disheartened and wondering if any man at any time had ever faced a communication barrier such as his, Richardson wondered what would happen. And then, he learned of the tradition of the Peace Child.
The story of the Sawi people and their conversion from paganism to Christianity and the story of the Richardsons and their faithful ministry is a fascinating and compelling read. The book would not be appropriate for younger readers (or as a read aloud for those listeners) as there as cannibalistic practices and killing are discussed in some detail. But, for a more mature reader (late middle school and above), Peace Child will make you marvel at God’s hand even in the remotest corner of the world.
Comments (14)
hehehehehehehehe
That’s what I live for.;D
I have to say I am a lover of the McFish, however, due to my new “granola” lifestyle I have not eaten on in FOREVER! I love the fatty food, I just know it’s not good for you. On a side note, Walk the Line was a really lame movie, it was the story of Johnny Cash. It really had no theme or point, when it end I was like, “is that it, it’s over”! However, I am excited to watch the new Pride and Prejudice tomorrow with Rob!
Hi TeacherPerson! I haven’t forgotten your request for a high-quality digital image of myself for the board at church. I could send you one, but considering I’m probably getting engaged in about two months, I figured I’d wait until he and I get our pictures taken together and send you one of those.
I really enjoy reading the book reviews you post. Sometimes your reviews sound even better than the books themselves!
(Meaning, I like your writing!)
~Rhonnie
Woah, did I say that? I hope I got a good grade on that essay, if you’re quoting me now.
Since you insist on a picture, check out http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/Rhonwyyn/ME/JLP3.gif
If that’s not at a high enough resolution, let me know and I’ll try to get a better one. That’s my most recent professional pic (Spring 2005). If you want something a bit more candid, try this one (Fall 2005): http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/Rhonwyyn/ME/fulllength.jpg
Your cholesterol reading is outstanding! You are very blessed to have a reading like that with no deliberate dietary changes to produce it.
I loved Peace Child… It was quite inspiring. Now that you’ve mentioned it I want to read it again… When I have time…. =/
I’ve read it, and Don Richardson also wrote Eternity in Their Hearts, which is one of my favorite books. I should have put it on my list.
Mary, You must have loved doing book reports in school. I enjoy your reviews. Thile
Thank you for your comments on my site. And I must say, you have an amazing ability to read and review books! Thank you for sharing with us your insights. I am going to start making a list of your recommendations. Oprah has nothing on you!!!!! I’d join your book club any day! God bless you today, Becky
Who is George MacDonald? I’m afraid he’ll be somebody famous and I’ll feel stupid. Of course he’s somebody famous, and I do feel stupid. Sort of. Lol! Anyway, I’m not sure exactly what he has to do with shepherding, whoever he is, but since I’d randomly decided that the Kent’s own flocks of sheep I figured that having Ethan be a shepherd would be easy since I’m changing his occupation. I wanted Ethan to be a servant in some way to make Jane’s conflict greater since she’s struggling to see which world she fits into, the upper class or the lower one. She’s going to find out eventually that she’s a duchess, so having Ethan be a shepherd will add some conflict. Maybe too much, lol! But hey, this is all in fun. Serious fun, but fun. I know I’m not at a skill level where publishing is a possibility, so I just want to have fun and improve my skills at the same time. Definitely improve my skills, but as for everything being one hundred percent accurate, since no one but my xanga buds is likely to ever read this, I don’t mind if there are historical inaccuracies, as long as it’s not something like having Jane change into a pair of jeans and hop into a sports car.
At the same time, I also want to work on my research skills, since that’s important for writing, so I want to study as much as I can about the time period and work it into the story as much as possible, especially when I write it.
Thank you so much for all your comments and advice! I always look forward to your opinion more than anybody since you have such helpful suggestions. I love them!
So, was your retreat fun? Of course it had to be.
Where did you go? What kinds of things did you guys do?
Hey, I thought of something I’m curious about. What is your favorite book? Or your top five favorite books, rather. Narrowing it down to one is usually impossible.
Mine are The Blue Castle, Rilla of Ingleside, (both by L.M. Montgomery), The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers, Ella Enchanted, and a little known series my Grammy read me when I was younger called The Riverboat Adventure series. Do you have a favorite genre, too, or just all kinds of books depending on whether they’re good or not? Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction or both? Lol, now I sound like I’m interviewing you!
Have fun grading your essays.
~Britt
Hello, Mary!
Yes, I’ve seen your comments on my good friend Britt’s sites and I have been meaning to say hello myself.
I read that you have a daughter named Libby and I have been meaning to comment ever since. 
I don’t often come across people with my name, you know. Is your daughter’s full name Elizabeth, as is mine?
So, tell me about yourself. What grade do you teach? Or when you say “teaching English,” do you mean to your homeschooled children? I was homeschooled through most of my education. I’m so glad I was! Do you do much writing? Britt and I are in a group of writers called The Wayside In Writer’s Society. I’m sure she’s told you about it. It’s so fun!
I’m writing a novel/novella (we’ll see how long it gets), which can be found on my other xanga: xanga.com/All_The_While_Immersed Feel free to read and tell me what you think!
I hope we can chat more later!
Tah-tah! ♥Libby
Hello, I’m /finally/ getting around to responding to your comment. Thank you so much for stopping by my site, I’m glad you like my background.
I’ve found I’m more of a nature /outdoors-y girl, so most of the time I have backgrounds of flowers, sunsets or panoramas on my xanga. The one I currently have was so fresh and spring-y to me, I decided to use it. There’s still snow where I live, so at least I can come on here and see green and growing things. Oh well, soon enough…
It’s fun to see a couple people I know on here! I know Brittany and Libby, the two gals who commented right above me. Small world!
~Jen
“Peace Child” is such a good book! I had to read it while my husband and I were on our DTS with YWAM in Los Angeles. My husband wrote a book report on that book and I did mine on “Bruchko” ~ also a very good book about a young missionary alone in the jungles of South America (I think). It has been a while since I have read that book. ~We have some good friends that live in Irian Jaya ~ they minister in the jungles where Don Richardson & his family ministered! Very inspiring!
Be Blessed,
Cassie Godfrey