Termites Anyone?

February 10, 2012

Manley has continued to work at the church throughout the week. Almost all the trusses have been corrected and are now in the right position.

Before the moon rises over the mountain range in front of the lodge we hear the sound of a beating drum. It continues night after night. On one of our evening walks we discover a group sitting on the ground beating their sticks. They welcome us and teach us the art of harvesting termites. Everyone I that I ask has always told me that termites taste good! I have yet to try one myself, so for now we will take their word for it.

Termites are full of protein and can be eaten alive or cooked. The children were delighted to show us that they ate them alive and after a quick bite they spit out the wings.

Termites are usually gathered after it rains but it has not rained here for two months. So they pour some water over the termite area and then beat on their sticks over and over again. They are trying to reproduce the sound of heavy falling rain. As the termites begin to fly out of their hole they are captured in a plastic bag.

Later on we visited with Jane and Patrick in their humble home and they invited us to sample some of their hard work. A bowl was placed on the small table in front of us and it was alive with termites but their wings had been removed. We thanked them for their generous offer.

We had not come to eat but to bless their children with a ball, jump rope and dresses that were made by Cindy Bassett and some of the women in our home church. Each girl tried on her new dress and it was a perfect fit. Lilian, Jackline, Emily, Evon, Ruth and their friend walked together that evening wearing their new dresses and big smiles!

Little 5 year old Ruth kept looking down to make sure her doll was still in the pocket. Even at that age she was concerned about getting dirty. Every once in a while she would brush the dust of the bottom edges of her new dress. Dad was just as happy as the girls were and repeatedly gave thanks for blessing his family. Many thanks are sent home to you for all of your work and for making these little girls happy!

Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”