Monday, April 25, 2011
Cross Cultural At Home
I am back in the States now for a couple of months and nothing could be more plain and clear than the fact that I am not any more at home in american culture.
I know, you are probably saying, «When was Arnie ever at home in any culture.» Well, while I have wrestled often with my cultural identity, and for as long as I can remember, I was very much american, and now I am not. I am reminded of that as I look at how much I have become a part of various communities in Southern Africa. More and more, I have been involved with the lives of my neighbors there and at home in the settings. I was reminded of this once again as I was shopping at a store recently. I always have problems wanting to say words in Portuguese and Lolo instead of English.
It has been a pleasure and joy learning the whats behind the thats of God's dealings with Africa. I find that it is hardest being here in the States and being expected to know and be a part of what God is doing here, while I feel out of place. My contacts and communities are not as much here any more, but I have ties and I am trying to reestablish them.
One of the things that hurts the most about being a missionary in a foreign context is the fact that one has to try and keep an appendage in so many different cultural contexts. When I was a teenager, one missionary encouraged us to «wherever you go, be all there.» I think I have taken that to an extreme. While I do regret the loss of contact and even at times fellowship with american church life, I have been so rewarded by the fact that God gave people and churches to replace those things there.
Now that I am here, I find that I am feeling the same pressures and pains of cultural adjustments, along with the fear that I will become distracted by the theme park that is america. Sometimes, I just want to be roasting cashew nuts with my friends as we discuss the meaning of some parable Jesus told. Here, finding places and people to have those types of informal evangelism as a lifestyle feels impossible, and I often have frustrations because the assumptions that need to be addressed are so different.
I guess I am just ranting about my typical missionary insecurity.
I know, you are probably saying, «When was Arnie ever at home in any culture.» Well, while I have wrestled often with my cultural identity, and for as long as I can remember, I was very much american, and now I am not. I am reminded of that as I look at how much I have become a part of various communities in Southern Africa. More and more, I have been involved with the lives of my neighbors there and at home in the settings. I was reminded of this once again as I was shopping at a store recently. I always have problems wanting to say words in Portuguese and Lolo instead of English.
It has been a pleasure and joy learning the whats behind the thats of God's dealings with Africa. I find that it is hardest being here in the States and being expected to know and be a part of what God is doing here, while I feel out of place. My contacts and communities are not as much here any more, but I have ties and I am trying to reestablish them.
One of the things that hurts the most about being a missionary in a foreign context is the fact that one has to try and keep an appendage in so many different cultural contexts. When I was a teenager, one missionary encouraged us to «wherever you go, be all there.» I think I have taken that to an extreme. While I do regret the loss of contact and even at times fellowship with american church life, I have been so rewarded by the fact that God gave people and churches to replace those things there.
Now that I am here, I find that I am feeling the same pressures and pains of cultural adjustments, along with the fear that I will become distracted by the theme park that is america. Sometimes, I just want to be roasting cashew nuts with my friends as we discuss the meaning of some parable Jesus told. Here, finding places and people to have those types of informal evangelism as a lifestyle feels impossible, and I often have frustrations because the assumptions that need to be addressed are so different.
I guess I am just ranting about my typical missionary insecurity.
