A Filipino Cure for Fleas
On the Light Side . . .
One of our Dunagan family mission memories
Our family was in a remote Filipino village on one of our first missionary trips, and the national pastor hosting us was very nervous.
“I’ve never hosted foreigners and don’t know what to feed you,” he said.
“Oh, we’re easy to please,” we responded naively. “Just relax; we’ll eat whatever you put before us.”
A few minutes later the pastor introduced us to the church women who were going to be cooking our food. One of them was eating this very different looking egg. It was black; and as she cracked it open, she started tugging at the insides–pulling out a black embryonic chick!
We found out that balut (a fertilized duck egg with a nearly developed embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell) was a common Filipino food . . . and we were nervous.
The people gave us an esteemed room in the village — the only one with a rug. Unfortunately, the rug was totally infested with fleas; and within a few days my legs were covered with flea bites.
When the pastor saw the bug bites, he said, “Oh, that is terrible. We must do something about those fleas biting you. Yes, there is only one thing to do.”
“What is that?” we asked.
“Well, we must eat the dog. I was going to save it for a party, but I think we must eat it now.”
A few days later, Jon came into our room. “Guess what we’re having for dinner,” he said with a raised eyebrow.
Not balut, I hoped. (I didn’t know if I was that good of a missionary yet.)
I went to visit the church women and to see our menu for myself. These precious ladies were cutting up some strange white-looking meat. When I asked what it was, they talked among themselves in their Filipino language of Tagolog and then went to find someone who could interpret.A few minutes later one woman came in and distinctly pronounced with wonderful enunciation the new English word she had just learned.
“Dog.” she said.
“Dog?” I timidly asked, as my mind whirled with memories of special pets from my childhood.
The woman clarified herself: “Yes, you know — Ruff! Ruff!”
Yes, I knew far too well. But that’s what we and our kids had for dinner that night. Our menu actually consisted of nearly-raw dog meat and fried dog intestines.
And we still had fleas!
This story was excerpted from Ann’s book, The Mission-Minded Child – Raising a New Generation to Fulfill God’s Purpose , Chapter 11, “Making Missions Fun – At Home, School, and Church”
Welcome Cornelia!
I’m glad you “found” us, and look forward to getting to know you more! Blessings to you and your family!
Ann
.-= Ann Dunagan´s last blog ..A Special Day at Osanidde! =-.
just found your site…and ministry…I want to know more! your heart seems amazing and the book looks great-
blessings-
cornelia seigneur – oregon
http://www.corneliaseigneur.com/sudan-refugees/
.-= Cornelia Becker Seigneur´s last blog ..6-year-old suspended for bringing camping utensil to school =-.
Christy,
Just to clarify, our family has never eaten balut; however, those precious Filipino, balut-eating, church-cooking ladies were the ones who cooked the DOG, and we did eat that!
WOW!!!! With a wonderful grandfather-in-law like that, your family has some powerful mission-minded heritage in your blood! And years ago, your grandfather-in-law’s new California church-plant must have had some “interesting” potlucks!!!
Blessings to you and your family!
Ann
Thank you for the hearty laugh! My grandfather-in-law was rather the opposite of you. He left the Philippines and formed a church in California. He was once asked on an airplane NOT to eat the balut he had begun snacking on mid-flight, because of the terrible effect the smell was having on the rest of the passengers who didn’t share his appreciation for Filipino cuisine. Kudos on eating it!
.-= Christy B.´s last blog ..Life Lessons =-.
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.-= Ann Dunagan´s last blog ..MEATY: A Vision for Souls – by Amy Carmichael =-.