Tribal Missionary

We met a very interesting woman tonight after church.  She just flew in and is staying at our apt/hotel.  She attends our church here when she is in town, we got to walk back from church tonight with her.  Tomorrow she returns to the northern Thailand mountain area to minister to the Karen tribe who are refugees from Burma and very poor.  She told us about how rural and mountainous the area is with jungle like conditions.  Lots of snakes!  She lives with a family in their hut, very primitive. She dresses like they do with woven skirts and shirts.  We asked her what the food was like there and she said they eat rice in leaves with mashed up crickets, some chili is added for flavor.  She said you don't know that you are eating crickets and that it took her awhile to get used to it.  I would imagine so!  We asked her about the snakes and she said you have to carry a machete because its you or them.  There are five different kinds of poisonous snakes, one kind can fly!!  The first time she killed a snake it was with a ruler, she's a teacher.  She bought a machete the next day, the ruler is too short she said.  Cobras are easier to kill because you have clean shot when they lift up their head to strike you.  She assured us that she freaks out after the kill.  We think she's pretty amazing- WOW!