Phuan people address one another using titles before the name or by just the title. No one is addressed as just “John” or “Mary”.

They are addressed by just a title such as, “Teacher” or “Mr.” or “Miss” (“Mr.” and “Miss” is used even when talking to young children) or “older sister”, or “grandpa” or “mom” or “little brother”.

Or, they address each other with a title with a name such as, “older sister Mary” or “paternal grandpa John” or “auntie older than my mother, Anne”.

Phuan people determine the intimacy of a relationship by the title used when addressing the person. Mr. or Miss or Teacher indicates a formal and distant relationship whereas, family titles (used even when not related) indicate a close relationship.

Mrs. Noy recently told us, “I’m very close to “younger sister, Tai” - very close. She always calls me “elder sister Tai.”

God also uses familial terms of endearment with us: Jesus referred to us a “brothers” and “sisters” and “mothers”. God the Father calls us His children.

• Pray that Phuan people, by the thousands, will be included in Heaven’s family