The Baboon Loves the Goat

I know that title seems crazy, but how awesome is this? On our way back home from the village on Palm Sunday, we stopped by some German missionaries' humble abode in a remote area. I met them in 2007. They are amazing people and are self-made vets here. They have a baboon named Sally who hangs out in their front yard and a monkey in the back, who has a new baby monkey that stays attached to her at all times. The unique thing about this situation is that there is also a family of goats.

For a few days now, the baboon, Sally, has decided she is the real mother of one of the baby goats. She held her like a baby, rocked her back and forth and ever so cautiously picked all of the ticks and fleas off of her baby goat's fuzzy white hair. What's different about this picture? Yes, a baboon is doing this for a goat! The real mom of the goat gets to come by every now and then with special permission from the baboon to actually nurse the goat for nutrition. Thoughtful, right? :)

There has to be some connection here. I think it is that there is neither Jew nor Greek.... see what I'm saying? God doesn't want physical or cultural boundaries for those who are to be in his Kingdom. Yes, these missionaries have completely opposite upbringings from these natives here, yet they mother them like the baboon and deeply care for them. The missionaries are not here to transform the natives' culture, but they are here to enhance their culture. They pray these people will know our Savior for a more meaningful life. Amazing day, really quite surreal.