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Steve right after the the helicopter drop us off in the X-ray valley. It is a weird feeling when it disappears behind the mountans and the valley gets quiet. And your alone with people looking at you the first white man they've ever seen. A Maniwo man perched on a tree stump. This is a Maniwo style box seat for watching the heli come in. Highways in the Maniwo valley are a little different than what I am used to. Except for one older lady the only thing we saw of the women our first couple days in this village were their eyes peering at us from between the slats of this house.
Life looks like it has taken its toll on this old man. Notice the bow, arrows, and bamboo water pipe leaning up against the side of his house. Mike Moxness, a linguist from a neighboring language group played a crucial role in opening up this area. In this neck of the woods shell money is still being used. This man is display one of the more valuable of 30 denominations. Check out the story behind this picture by going to "Newsletters", then to "Updates from Irian", then "May 20, 1999"
Kitchen Maniwo style. Nothing out of the ordinary about this picture until you realize that this the first time they have eaten rice, something cooked in a metal pot, off of a plastic plate, and with a metal spoon. We tried to stress the importance of keeping infections clean. As you can see, this was probably the first time he had washed his hands in a long time. Right now the only way into Maniwo is by helichopter. Be praying that we can find a strip sight.
Getting a drink from a stream with a leaf cup Maniwo man "Motel 6" Cleaning sores in the Dao valley.