It was a warm, sunny Monday afternoon, and my Gogodala sister, Angela, and I were working in the garden when I noticed a middle-aged woman coming up the hill to our house. I recognized her as the Kewa village women’s leader at the evangelical church. We exchanged greetings, and she asked me if I would come to the women’s fellowship meeting on Wednesday and give a talk. After asking a few more questions, I learned that the women had been reading through a small book about fear written specifically for women in PNG by a Christian organization. I asked to borrow the book and told her I would pray about her request.

After the woman left, Angela remarked to me, “Fear is the Gogodala’s biggest problem! People fear monsters in the mouth of the creeks, they fear the spirits, they fear not being able to provide food for their family each day, they fear snakes, they fear magic being done against them . . .” her list went on. I knew people here have many fears, but what could I share in one little talk that would make a difference?

As I read the book about fear, I noticed it said nothing about the 23rd Psalm, which has been a great comfort to me. Feeling impressed to talk about that passage of scripture, I prayed for God’s direction. He guided me to paint a word picture about the Eastern shepherd and how Jesus wants to be our shepherd and loves us even more than a human shepherd loves his sheep. With a Shepherd like Him, we have nothing to fear as long as we stay close to Him.

On Wednesday morning, I arrived early at the evangelical church and watched the group gather. It started out small, and I thought to myself, Oh, good! Maybe we can keep this talk informal and just sit in a circle and share. However, by the time it was my turn to talk, the church was more than half filled. Feeling a tinge of nervousness, I prayed silently that my audience would find hope and comfort in my message. As I spoke to the ladies, I could see they were very interested and involved. Judging by the comments I heard afterward, they were touched, and for this I praise God.

When we finished at the church, the ladies headed out the back door and across a grassy lawn to a sitting house where the program resumed. This was to be a time when the ladies gave gifts to each other, like secret sisters. Then there would be a feast of rice, sago and fish followed by games. The gift presentation lasted a good two hours. During this time, the ladies divided up into their mother’s clans (a novelty to them since children are always considered part of their fathers’ clans), and the old rivalries broke out. The “eagles” flapped their arms, and some held up scarves with pictures of eagles as they danced around. Then the wallaby clan would come hopping in, and the two clans would face off. What made it even more amusing to watch was that most of the ladies flapping and hopping were grandmothers! Of course it was all in fun, and there was lots of camaraderie.

As I watched, I was reminded how important it is to the Gogodala to belong to a group and how connected all of them are with each other. In our Western culture, we are so individualistic. It’s hard to describe the feelings I experienced that day as I was pulled into their circle to be one of them.

For the feast, the ladies made sure I was comfortable with a clean mat to sit on, and then they brought me love offerings of sago and Milo (a hot-chocolate drink). I received so much food that there was plenty to share with my Gogodala sisters and their children. Their hospitality never ceases to amaze me. They always make sure that we are well taken care of and enjoying ourselves.

With the feasting over, it was time for games on the lawn. I joined the eagles’ relay team. Oh how the Gogodala love to play games, and I enjoyed playing with them!

The day’s events came to a close too quickly, and it was time to say my goodbyes. As I hugged my sisters, I felt connected to these people in ways I had never felt before. For many days after, people talked about the “white lady who played with us.” I heard comments such as, “We know we are from different denominations, but we want to hear what you have to say.” And, “The ladies like what Laurie is doing with them. You are part of our community now!”

Just spending a day participating in an event with the ladies, sharing physical and spiritual food with them and joining in their games, seems to have gone a long way. Please pray that God will continue to open doors and work on Gogodala hearts so we can share even greater things with them that will last for all eternity and melt away their fears.

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