Our contact this month, Kevin, graciously took us around Auckland last Sunday. While walking up Mt. Eden to a look out point high above the city, we saw a Maori man dressed in traditional robes, holding a talking stick, and displaying tribal facial tattoos. His name is Amato, which is short for a much longer name that I could barely catch much less pronounce. At the prompting of Kevin, we began a conversation with this wise old man, who we later found out is the chief of the largest Maori tribe in New Zealand.
Chief Amato explained to us that his facial tattoos were called a Moko. They were his birthright passed down from his grandfather, to his father, and then to him. He waited his entire life to receive this high honor that was bestowed on him. In fact, his moko was only 10 years old. I sat in awe of this man and his wisdom. The more he spoke the more I loved hearing about Maori culture. They have such a connection with God and creation already engrained in their culture. it is beautiful.
