DIFFICULT STEPS
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| The Yanomamis are changing their belief that a baby isn`t a person until someone picks it up. |
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November 14, 2008
by Brian Johnson
Bartering is common among the Yanomami tribe in Brazil. But this time, missionary Diane Hartman knew she couldn't make the trade.
Carmelita, a woman witch doctor in the tribe, had come to the missionaries wanting to trade something to get a ball for her son, but village leaders had asked Diane and her husband, Mike, not to trade with the woman for a year.
Sadly, a few months ago Carmelita had allowed her newborn baby to die.
For centuries, the Yanomamis have believed that a baby isn't really a person until someone picked the child up. Babies are born on banana leaves and as soon as someone picks the newborn up, they will keep it. But if they don't want it, they allow it to die. They show no feelings of sadness or remorse.
It's a cultural practice that village and church leaders are taking steps to discourage.
Sometimes there are no easy answers for the Hartmans and other missionaries in cross-cultural ministry. Please pray for them as they deal with situations like this, and pray that they will be able to show Carmelita her need for God.
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