June 17, 2008

  • Traditions, Myths and Misconceptions

    It’s hard enough trying to serve and minister to a different culture, but it really takes awhile before the local traditions and beliefs begin to unfold.  Foreigners are not made privy to traditional practices until the barrier of judgment is removed and there is a development of mutual trust and friendship.  Secret things are hidden from outsiders …things like the beating of the drums, rites of passage, sexual cleansings, funeral beliefs and rituals, polygamy and traditional healing practices of scarification and herbs. There is also witchcraft and the occasional rumors (or not) of body mutilations and sacrifices. The Tonga beliefs and traditions are slowly diminishing thanks to education and Christian beliefs, but they still exist here and there especially in the rural communities we serve.  Giving medical care and Jesus then becomes somewhat interesting and challenging at times.  Let me share with you some of these traditional beliefs and practices:

     

    • Beating of the drums in the distance at night occurs after the village has had a mass circumcision of young men during their rite of passage into manhood
    • Sex with a virgin can cure HIV
    • After a husband dies, the widow must be sexually cleansed by one of the husband’s relatives, most preferably the brother, in order to prevent the husband’s ghost from returning.
    • Herbs are put into little cloth pouches and worn on the body with string in order to promote healing or protection from whatever (charms)
    • Cutting of the skin with razor blades in order to put herbs underneath for healing purposes (tattooing or scarification)
    • Some widows are made to spend a night sleeping with one arm over their husband’s coffin and then the second night using the other arm.  When the husband is buried, the widow must run back to the house and enter backwards so the husband’s ghost doesn’t see her.  The widow must be covered with mud all over so the husband’s ghost doesn’t recognize her.  The children of the widow must be awakened early in the morning before sunrise to be bathed in cold water three days in a row to be cleansed also after the man’s death
    • Polygamy is still alive and well here…sometimes up to 4 or more wives.  One man well known here at the farm had 4 wives and 25 children.
    • Women are taught not to cry out during labor and delivery or the baby will die
    • An herb is sometimes given to induce labor that has been known to cause uterine rupture and death

     

    Lots of teaching from God’s Word goes along with the medical care given here at Sons of Thunder.  Many of the things which have been disclosed to me after three years of living among the Tonga people include superstitions and beliefs that are really grounded in fear.  We, as Christians, know who operates in fear…don’t we? But God says “perfect love casts out all fear.” So as we show the love of Jesus in our actions and combine them with God’s Word, we hope to see these myths and superstitions dissipate..