A Painful Tradition

A Painful Tradition
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

A few days ago Onepadeo fell on the trail. Her back has been sore ever since. The Dao respond to this kind of pain by cutting.

This wasn't the first time that this had been done to her. Once again she grasped tightly to the back of her friend, Simitaku,
while Amiyoo moved the bamboo knife close. Her husband, Kogepiyaa, yelled, "Make it a big cut!"

We never know what to do in situations like this. We hate seeing our friends get cut. "I am afraid, I don't want my friend to be
in pain." Derek said. Kogepiyaa replied, "You white people, have medicine, but we don't. This is what we do." Then Amiyoo cut,
and her blood dripped down to the ground.

We had hoped that when these people came to know the Lord, they would stop cutting themselves. However this hasn't happened yet.
Hopefully soon they will realize that they don't have to do this anymore.