Christmas 2011

The Christmas Party

In our department we have several ex-pat (whiteskin) workers and more PNG workers than that. Each year we have budgetted to have a little get together for

christmas. The aim of that budget is to have enough money to have some cake, sit together and grow together as a team and celebrate Christ's birth. But

the proper way to celebrate has been elusive to us over the past 5 years or so. Previous management has tried various things. Some years we have had a

small party over banana bread (sweet kai), some years we have purchased rice and sugar and gifted the PNG employees (as a Christmas bonus instead of a

party), but neither of these things really help the team to come together. It is important in PNG culture to share celebrations. Working side by side

isn't enough to form lasting relationships. Last year our well meaning department manager thought he'd surprise everyone with a nice breakfast at his

house. It was a great idea, but the PNG employees disliked it greatly. We're not 100% why.

This year we have an acting department manager. He decided to give the employees the options before them.

It's important to know that between last year and this year, there was a 1 week training for all PNG staff on centre to learn a little more about ex-pat

culture. Many of us coming here have received cultural training and have tried to adapt and not make huge mistakes, but still, we do things that seem odd

to Papua New Guineans. Odd in such a way that we may have caused insult which harmed relationship building without even knowing it. So keep in mind, that

they have had their eyes open to how we operate and live.

The idea of financial support has eluded some. The idea that we volunteer to uproot our lives to come here because we want to help is not entirely grasped.

A lot of ex-pats come to this country to harvest it's resources, we come to provide a resource that will last.

So given that this year has been a remarkable shift towards really developing relationships.... we should not have been as surprised as we were to have our

PNG employees come to us and say

"we want to throw you a mumu."

A mumu is celebratory feast. It is a lot of work to prepare, as a cooking pit must be dug, food donated and gathered from gardens, a pig killed. In PNG

culture, when a pig is killed, it is a significant event. It shows that the occasion has a special meaning.

But, we didn't have enough money in the budget for anything more than buying a pig.

This is where THIS Christmas story begins.

The employees said 'the pig is important, we will donate food from our gardens, we will also donate 20 kina each, and we want everyone to bring their

families'

?!?!?!

WOW. Such hospitality is not unusual here. They even got together and wrote a letter from which I'll quote:

"We feel that this time together will signify Christ's birth and strengthen relationships within the departmen. As you will learn over time, Papua New

Guineans are relationship orientated people and this will definitely mean a lot to us. We extend our invitation to our Expat Brothers who are working in

CTS to attend this mumu to show as a team we have stood together this year 2011"

What started out as a "how are we going to accomplish the department party and grow relationships without angering the staff" turned into the staff honoring

our desires, and not only GIVING to the cause, but doing so with hospitality and cheer. How does this type of thing turn around like that?

Very simply put, God is at work in our lives.
Our department manager put it out there, was willing to take their guidance, and they responded.

I am excited as we will partake of this mumu today. My son and I went to help kill the pig, and learned that in the highlands they kill the pig differently

than in the coastal area. They take a blunt axe to the crown of it's skull. Then they bath it in boiling water to shave the hair off, because they don't

skin the pig, they leave the skin on when it cooks.

I asked a friend what the best part was, he said 'the spine'. In PNG, the best piece of the pig, often has no meat. Often it's a piece of skin covered,

hairy fat. And often as an ex-pat they will offer this 'best piece' to you to eat.

So what do you do in that situation? I personally have given it to my son, who seems to enjoy that part of their culture.

The other day the high school vice-principal said "I was in my office and I heard a young voice speaking perfect tok pisin and I thought, 'who is that

student'. And he stepped out of his office and my daughter was talking to the office staff. He was impressed with her Tok Pisin.

Two days ago I heard my son teaching a line of PNG boys and girls how to play a ball game in tok pisin. For him it's important to do proper training and

rules before the game begins, so he was explaining the rules to them. They all looked on at him and listened, and fully understood him as he fluently spoke

to them about boundaries and outs, and fouls, etc.

This Christmas I'm thankful for the changes God makes in our lives and in the lives of people around us. I see a significant difference this Christmas in

the way we interact with our PNG friends and the relationships seem deeper.


I learned a lot today. It wasn't my first mumu, but it was perhaps the one I was closest to. Apparently, the thrower of the mumu mounts the pig head in front of their house as a way to declare 'I have killed this many pigs'. Also traditionally whoever keeps the head, throws the next mumu.

This mumu we sang praise songs, read Luke 2 in Tok Pisin and honored each other by giving certificates for time with CTS as well as doling out portions of the pig. This is a sign of honor and respejavascript:void(0)ct and appreciation. Even I was given a section of the cooked pig, having been here nearly 5 years.

It was a good day.
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