VILLAGE STORY

The village elders had failed time after time to resolve a difficult problem.
​They invited a very wise person from another village to come and help them. In time, she came.
People gathered to hear her wisdom. She asked them: "Do you know what I am going to tell you?" In unison they responded, "NO". The wise women replied, "You will only learn what you already know, and if you don't know, I am leaving." She left. The village was in an uproar.

Months passed and the problem didn't go away. The elders debated and issued a second invitation to the wise women. In advance of her arrival, they coached the villagers. When the woman arrived the second time, the village gathered. Again she asked, "Do you know what I am going to tell you?" The villagers shouted in unison, "YES". She stared at the people. "If you already know, then I have nothing to tell you." She left.

The village became even more frustrated, but after many months, the issued a third invitation. This time they were ready for the wise woman "Do you know what I am going to tell you?" Half the villagers shouted "YES"; the other half shouted "NO". The wise woman looked at the people and said, "Those who know should now get together with those who don't; and then you will all know." She rose left and never returned.

That night, an elderly woman had a dream. "Last night, a voice told me the meaning of the message from the wise women. She wanted us to know that really important knowledge can be derived from our own community and our traditions, not from outside experts”.
We already have the knowledge. We already know that the wisdom of locals will always exceed the knowledge of the experts.

We just don't have the confidence to believe in ourselves."