How did Christianity change this culture?

Overall, Christianity had a positive impact on the Sawi culture. Some parts of their culture were destroyed, but they were going to be destroyed anyways and the things they did were just not right(cannibalism). The Sawi people can not be isolated forever, they will have to live alongside modern societies eventually. Being Christian, they will be more accepted than if they had kept to their old ways, treachery and violence.

Accepting Christianity also gives faith and strength to the people, it makes them feel united. Tribes came together and stopped fighting to pray together and honor God. The Sawi used to be violent and treacherous, but accepting God changed everything for them.

What should we do when we are confronted with other cultures?

When confronted with other cultures, I think the most important thing is to experience the culture firsthand. Many people make negative judgements about other people and their culture without knowing anything about them and their language/clothes/style. They would probably change their outlook if they got to experience that culture. One of the first things Don Richardson did after arriving in the Sawi tribe was to try to learn Sawi words. He spent many years living amongst them in the same kind of houses that they lived in. He talked with them, asked them questions about their history, traditions, and customs. He definately did not agree with their violent nature and cannabalistic ways but it didn't make him like the Sawi people any less. When learning about new cultures, there will probably be things that you won't agree with, such as cannibalism with the Sawi. But, it is best to try to understand the things they do and why they do it.

Growing up in America, a place where people from all over the world live, I experienced a lot of different cultures. Learning about different cultures is a really interesting experience for me, I like to learn about people and places that are different from me and where I live. I learned spanish for 2 years in middle school, and chinese for 2 years in high school, and would have probably learned another language if I had not come to TCIS. Those classes were really fun, because we not only learned the language but also got to experience different things like food and clothing style, customs, and traditions. It's fascinating that people from the same world could be so different. When I get older, one of the things I wish to do most is to just spend a year or two traveling around to different countries to see what they are like.