English Lotu (worship) was today. It was not so different from what I'm used to, but at the same time... I miss Rob's sermons. We didn't have a speaker, but we did have a video of someone through Focus on the Family. My dislike of that particular group aside (or at least of some of their positions), the video wasn't bad. There was some injecting of Christian thought into the practices of the ancient Israelites and their religion, but not so much that it skewed the message he was trying to convey. (I don't remember the name of the speaker, or I'd look him up.)

Tonight and last night we hear the noises from a local church, I can only assume. Loud music is coming and it's Christian worship songs. American ones. Very strange. Especially when the power dies and it suddenly stops, save for what I think is the congregation singing. (It's hard to make out and it's off-station, so we don't go.)

Speaking of... There's a fence around the station. Guarding the missionary homes, the hospital, and other buildings here. Uniformed security can be found along the road nearly constantly. In Mt Hagen, all the businesses have 6-8' fences with barbed (if not razor) wire on top. Even the churches lock themselves away behind these barriers.

On one side, the culture here is so tribal oriented that crimes are only really crimes if they are done against a member of your own tribe or clan. Thus, stealing from a "rival" clan, or just someone passing by isn't bad, or at least isn't as bad. There has been some instilling of Western values, but not everyone takes them. It's the same reason every business has gates and guards at the doors.

And yet, were not the words of Christ:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

Matthew 5:38-42

I just think fencing your church in sends the wrong signal. And yet, if the fence is what keeps it there, so that you can come back tomorrow and the whole church hasn't walked off...

Though, I suppose I'm still here, inside the fence.