Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Masai Medecine: Remember not to cough
On Sunday's I usually eat at one of the missionary families house for lunch. This past Sunday they also invited our Masai cow herders to come over for lunch, which they did gladly. So there we were eating, when we noticed that one of the Masai was not eating his food. "He must be extraordinarily picky' I thought, "everyone likes beans and rice." We offered him other food but he said that he was OK and there was nothing wrong with his food. Finally another one of the Masai spoke up and said that he (the one not eating) had a sore throat and was coughing. Now we understood, or so we thought, he was sick and it hurt him to eat. But then his friend proceeded to explain that yesterday he had cut something out of the throat of the sick man to cure him of his cough. He did it with a razor blade and used warm milk to ease the pain. I still wasn't sure what he had cut out so last night I went to visit them. They didn't let me look in his mouth arguing that I couldn't see anything anyways, Whatever it was they had removed and it was gone. Through much explanation I learned that it was the epiglottis that had been removed. Apparently it is a common practice among the Masai because of the six that live at Kibidula four have had theirs removed. As for me I'd take any garlic potion over warm milk and a razor.
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I guess epiglottitis is not a life-threatening problem. How horrible!
ReplyDeletePlease Andrew, don't ever let them even get near you with warm milk and a razor. Garlic, eucalyptus, heating compress, hot salt water, charcoal, hot and cold treatments, there are MANY acceptable alternatives!!!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is hilarious...This is totally off-topic, but I remembered that I never addressed it before...Maybe you could show the following to your pastor-I think you once mentioned that you don't do foot-washing..John 13:14,15 makes it clear that we should do it, if we call ourselves His disciples, and here are some SOP quotes.
ReplyDeleteWhen they assembled to partake of the Lord's Supper, the ordinance of feet-washing was to be established as a religious ceremony.--RH June 21, 1898. {PaM 170.2}
These ordinances are regarded too much as a form, and not as a sacred thing to call to mind the Lord Jesus. Christ ordained them, and delegated His power to His ministers, who have the treasure in earthen vessels. They are to superintend these special appointments of the One who established them to continue to the close of time. It is on these, His own appointments, that He meets with and energizes His people by His personal presence. Notwithstanding that there may be hearts and hands that are unsanctified who will administer the ordinance, still Jesus is in the midst of His people to work on human hearts. All who keep before them, in the act of feet-washing, the humiliation of Christ, all who will keep their hearts humble, and keep in view the true tabernacle and service, which the Lord pitched and not man, will never fail to derive benefit from every discourse given, and spiritual strength from every communion. These ordinances are established for a purpose. Christ's followers are to bear in mind the example of Christ in His humility. This ordinance is to encourage humility, but it should never be termed humiliating, in the sense of being degrading to humanity. It is to make tender our hearts toward one another.--RH May 31, 1898. {PaM 170.3}
Thandi,
ReplyDeleteAndrew loves foot washing services, so maybe there must have been some miscommunication. He even wrote a blog on how much he loved communion services. Great study on foot washing!
Andrew's sister and your sister in Christ,
Emily
Andrew,
ReplyDeleteThis is an epic tale, to be sure. You should advise them of the benefits of the following:
"Raw Garlic cloves + Straight Lemon Juice. To be drunk in one fanatical swig."
I think the Masai might really buy into it. I've tried to indoctrinate a few of my college peers, but they don't seem to get the point.