Let’s Get Straight to the Important Part. In the previous article, I wrote that I did not like the first service in Putussibau. But we must not jump to conclusions… I repent. Today, some more details about yesterday’s service came to light.
It turns out that there were many newcomers at that service—Catholics and residents of remote villages who were attending a service like this for the first time. Now I understand why many of them reacted so “weakly” to my requests to confess, declare, cast out demons, and receive the Holy Spirit. It was all a shock to them.
I was also given testimonies from yesterday’s service today. Many people received healing, but in their culture, it is not customary to come forward and tell everyone about it. Personally, however, people are happy to share their testimonies. There you have it: a “culture clash.” The pastor also told me that many people in Putassibau still remain in paganism and ancestral traditions.
By the way, speaking of traditions
House in the Putassibau Jungle
This morning we went into the jungle to hold a service in one of the village churches. We traveled along an aw-f-u-l road. (By the way, I’m writing this article right in the car… bouncing around in the back seat.) On the way to the church, we crossed many rivers and drove past small villages. I can’t imagine how people live there at all. A few houses, with jungle all around. No civilization. Romantic…
But we could often see contrasts: an old little hut with a satellite dish right beside it. Since this is the equator, their dishes point upward. They have an interesting way of drying clothes. People back home try to hide clotheslines from public view, but there, clothes are dried right in front of the house. Ropes are stretched in front of the door, with all sorts of rags, underwear, and other things hanging from them. Quite a funny sight! Underwear… with holes so large you could put your hand through them. Maybe it’s some kind of “joke” for them—to hang such things in front of the house for everyone to see… I don’t know.
A Service in the Jungle
So, we arrived… What is this? A church in the jungle is a wooden structure with windows without glass. Chickens run around the yard, dogs bark… Believe me, I’m not criticizing; I’m simply amazed at how people live there. Since this is the equator… the heat and humidity are unbearable. Everything inside is so simple that, wearing shiny shoes and carrying an iPad, you feel like an alien.
Church in the Putassibau Jungle 
Local Church Pastor 
Village Church Hall
The men in the church sit on the right, and the women on the left. The situation with the testimonies was just as “sad” as it had been yesterday in another village. We had great difficulty persuading several people to come forward and give their testimonies. I don’t know what they were talking about because the microphone and acoustics were… well, you understand… nonexistent… 18th century… plus the jungle. However, at the end of the meeting, a couple of people came up to me and thanked me for the service and healing.
-- A woman had suffered pain in her right arm for five years and could not use it fully. After prayer, the pain completely disappeared.
-- An elderly man had been unable to eat for many days (I don’t know what the problem was), but after prayer he came to the table, ate some food, and said that he now felt well.
Now, about the real traditions
When the service ended, for some reason everyone remained in their places. The church pastors came up to me and asked me to eat. Imagining what they would feed me there, I smiled and politely declined. But from their reaction, I realized that I was in trouble… I had no choice. They explained several times what they wanted from me until I finally understood. It turned out that, as the guest, I had to be the first to approach the table and serve myself food—only after that could everyone else come up and eat. That was their tradition. Esther the interpreter told me that refusing in such a situation was not allowed and that I had to eat at least a little. Otherwise… they would roast me over a fire. Just kidding! Until I begin the ceremony, no one will touch the food. This is important to them because I am the guest of honor. “Okay,” I replied… while thinking to myself: “Heat, flies, jungle, local dishes… Oh no! I just hope I don’t get food poisoning!”
Dmitriy Leo serves himself local food first 
Dmitriy Leo and Esther the interpreter at the table 
Traditional dishes of Kalimantan
Esther told me that, as an interpreter, she often finds herself in similar situations. Besides, everyone has different traditions, and sometimes you have to eat things that even a hungry person would refuse. For example, here they eat birds with their feathers still on, squirrels, various four-legged animals, and so on. But I was lucky this time. There was chicken, rice, beans, tofu, and bamboo shoots on the table. Here is my advice: if you eat in the jungle, eat hot spices as well (chili peppers) to kill various parasites.
A “penthouse” in the jungle
A home for the entire family
When we were returning, we passed some interesting “houses,” or I don’t even know what to call them. I don’t know what they are called in the local language, but it is a long building in which the entire family lives.
Everyone who shares the same surname lives together in one house. There may be 50 or more people living there. A sign in front of such a “penthouse” bears the surname of the family living there. Moreover, these are quite solid, modern houses, unlike the other huts. They even have fences, which is very rare in the jungle. Very interesting!
I am currently at Aguz’s house. They have just shown me a huge beehive located right on the terrace of their home. These are enormous wild bees. It turns out that the Aguz family uses the honey from this beehive for food. I don’t know how they get it, but there is some extreme adventure at every turn here.
Okay, let’s have a quick snack and hurry to the second service…
In conclusion… I want to go home. I don’t want to be a missionary. Tomorrow, it will take several hours to reach yet another village. I don’t know what traditions they have there. I hope I won’t have to chew on any cockroaches. Please keep supporting me in prayer. I try to look at everything with humor, but sometimes it isn’t funny. Thank you all for your support!
