Where cultures meet
Recently one of our children went along to the mission field. On the way back he said, “Dad, is this your job now? Talking and driving around all day." At first I had to chuckle a bit and then think carefully about how to answer. Sometimes it can indeed feel like you are driving around in circles. But actually it's more like going around in circles.
Going around in circles. It is perhaps a somewhat odd expression. I meet an average of four cultures every day. Our family, contacts in the Netherlands, contacts at school, and at the various mission fields. Every time I speak to someone, I have to think: what is expected of me here and what is the custom here? Contacts within your own family, contacts with people from the Netherlands and the African school are usually self-evident. On the mission fields things are different. A cold-climate culture (Europe) and a warm-climate culture (Africa) do not simply get along, which is why I am often somewhere in between them. To bring “cold” and “warm” together you have to have a lot of conversations and sometimes skirt around certain topics. Sometimes you represent the cold culture, and sometimes you represent the warm culture. But always with the interests of missionary work in mind. It means choosing position every time.
I often don’t understand exactly what is going on. A lot of the time it takes me several weeks to find out. During these weeks I often talk around in circles, because it is insulting to confront people. That is why you have to start by indirectly observing, exploring, and collecting information, and trying to understand how everything is connected. We (as Europeans) are quicker to express what is or is not desirable, even though sometimes it is brought in a very nice way, because that is how we were raised. Often we are primarily individualistic in our thinking. This is different on the mission field. As a person you are not quick to speak out, you look after the community or your family. It is therefore not easy to say goodbye to a tradition, because you will soon be a shame to your community or family.
Sometimes there are topics that need to be discussed beforehand, because when “cold” and “warm” come into conflict, the door is proverbially closed. It is always instructive to experience that everyone’s thoughts and actions are based on their own customs and traditions. We look at them, and they look at us, with or without any feelings of frustration or biased opinions. And to be honest, that is understandable, because both parties think and speak differently.
Nice words don’t matter. People look closely at your behavior, attitude and actions. Because there is great distrust among these people. The other way around, you try to learn from their habits so that you can use that in conversations. As a “cold outsider” you have to put on a “warm” coat to represent your interests; after all, you are a guest. It is then important to promote these interests with a serving attitude, while monitoring the progress of the missionary work. But that is not always easy.
Driving around and talking in circles is not that bad. Sometimes you don’t visit someone for a week. The following week you are told, “I missed you, why didn’t you come?” or, “I saw you driving by, why didn’t you stop?” Even then I chuckle sometimes. Apparently that “warm” coat fits better and better. Or do they appreciate the “cold” more and more? Or is it that I am gaining more and more trust? Let me drive around again to find out.
Ultimately, it is my sincere wish that the missionary work may be blessed. It is not about what we do as puny and sinful people, but the work is done so that only a Triune God may receive the glory. May the Lord do it because of reasons within Himself. For what an undeserved grace it is when the Holy Spirit convicts sinners of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8) and leads them to Him who said, “I am the Door” (John 10:9a). I wish this is your supplication as well.
Mathias Weststrate
