This blog is the continuation of Jimi’s story of pig attack.
If you have not seen the beginning of this story, you can go to HeartCryMissionary and read it.
(I think this part of the story is where those “mere two months” took place where
they were not in the village.)
After that attack, Jimi and Perin came to Sentani to be
cared at the hospital. During this time, we also arrived in Sentani to start
our short term mission, sent out from Guam under Pacific Islands University’s
commission.
When we arrived, we were told that there will be two helpers
that will be staying with us and throughout the ministry in Sentani.
Surprisingly, these helpers did not show up on the first day. I think they had
some hesitation of staying with us because we were new to the land. When they came
in the next day, it was little bit challenging for us because we did not know
how to speak bahasa and they did not know how to speak English. With the help
of Mark Kave’s translation, we found out that Jimi’s foot was chewed up by a
pig. All the information about the pig attack that we got goes like this: “He
was at the village and the pig tried to attack the children so he got in
between the pig and the children to protect them and he got attacked.” That’s
all the information that we got. We did not get the part that he was so badly
attacked that people thought he was death. When we saw his toe, it was in a
much better condition, where there are only few scabs that requires cleaning,
and the small pin that holds the bones together was still sticking out of his
toe.
Jimi and Perin were huge help to us in our ministries. They
did not only help us at the house, but they were able to help us learn bahasa
Indonesia much quicker. For them, not knowing a lot of basic English, I was
forcing myself to understand them. With this, I was able to explore and learned
a lot of different words. This was a win win situation. We did not only learned
Indonesian Language, but this was also benefiting Jimi and Perin’s English. By
the time we finished our five week mission in Sentani, I was able to deliver my
last speech in bahasa Indonesia. I did not catch this when I was there, but
when I started thinking about it, Jimi started speaking to us with basic
English phrases. This probably doesn’t mean a lot to some people, but I am
blessed that I was part of the beginning stage of Jimi learning English. I
heard that he is now learning English right now and I thank God that he is
continuing building those basic language that we started with in the housing at
Stakin.
The first time I arrived in Papua, the first thing that came
to my mind was to start learning basic bahasa Indonesia. We went to the mall,
and I saw one book store, so I entered and browse the shelves, searching for
Bahasa Indonesia book. I did find it, but this book was used for people who
wants to learn English. I did use it everyday, but it was very hard. Jimi saw
me reading it, so he asked me if he can borrow it. I gave it to him because I’d
prefer just learning through other people and there were some translated notes
that I had before I arrived. He used it for couple of days and I think that
started his interest of expanding his knowledge of English language. When he
gave it to me, there were some writings in it. These writings were responding
to the exercise in this book. I was happy to see this book used in a right way.
Aside from learning English, the examples that Jimi and
Pereng are showing through their ministries are admirable. Seeing the testimony
of Jimi and Perin’s past, and start thinking about the time we spent under one
roof in Sentani, I learn so much about them. These two servants of God are true
leaders and I wish many who wants to learn to be missionary will be able to
come across the stories of these two. I praise the Lord for His blessings that
He allowed me to get to know these two servants.
