Today was a little bit unusual of a Sunday for us. It started last night when I got a phone call at 8 pm, from a lady that we know in the village of Mhlaba Cross. Her 2 year old granddaughter had gotten sick and died suddenly this week on Wednesday night. Best we can tell, it seems that she died from dehydration.....very sad! In any case, the family wasn't regularly attending any church, so they just called around and found a 'preacher' to come and do the funeral. However, on Saturday, the 'preacher' backed out on them....he must have decided that he didn't want to work on Christmas weekend. So they were left without anyone to do the funeral. I am glad that Jeanette thought to call me. I was able to go with one of our men early this morning and preach a 15 minute Gospel message at the graveside. It really was a very sad ordeal. In African tradition, when a little baby dies, the men are not allowed to accompany the funeral procession to the graveside. They allowed us to be there, since we were preaching, and the father was there. When we finished preaching, they asked everyone to leave, including the father, and then they carried on with some ritual to cleanse the mother of the dead child from evil spirits/bad luck. They believe that if they don't do this, then the mother may not be able to have any more children. After they finish their rituals, then a few men are allowed back to finish filling the grave with dirt. Every funeral here is surrounded with a great deal of fear, but especially the funeral of little children. It is sad to see the people with no hope, groping for answers in the darkness.
Please pray for these folks at Mhlaba Cross village. We still have contact with them, and will be trying to see next week if we can get a group of folks together to study the Scriptures. It does seem that God has opened a door to work with them, through many various circumstances over the last several months. It was undeniable that the Lord wanted us there this morning, and I trust that our show of concern will open the door further. Please pray to that end.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
African Culture Commandment #2
Save Face At All Cost!
One of the things that is taboo in many of the world's cultures, if not most, is the art of confrontation. I know that many of you are thinking right now....'well, nobody likes confrontation', and you are right that probably 99.9% of the people on the planet are not comfortable with confrontation. (We've all met a few souls that seem to thrive on it, but usually even they don't like to be on the receiving end) However, in American culture, even though most don't like to receive confrontation, there are many who don't hesitate to dish it out. In the rest of the world, this is usually looked on with great disdain, especially in African culture. The general rule here is that it is NEVER ok to embarass another with confrontational tactics, no matter how much it may indeed be deserved! If you ever watch an African family negotiate 'lebola' (the amount to be paid by the soon to be groom to the family of a daughter getting married), you would think that NOTHING was getting accomplished. Usually the girl's family names it's price, then the groom's family counter's with another offer, and so on. All of this is done at a big family gathering, and never face to face by the bride and groom with parents. Instead representatives are chosen to go back and forth as messengers, until an amount is agreed upon. Usually the side that 'wins' the negotiations is the side that is able to sit the longest :-)....and believe me they can sit for a long time!!! But, all of this system for negotiating lebola is built carefully around this priniciple of confrontation being taboo.
Most times, if you embarass an African through face to face confrontation, you have probably just made an enemy for life. He will never forget, nor forgive you for that, unless his heart is altered by the forgiving love of Christ. Biblically, we are commanded to confront certain issues at certain times, however, I think that many of us could review our spirit and approach to confrontation. Much can be learned by the patience and cautiousness used by Africans in their relationships in this regard. A Christian has the responsibility of learning how to balance cautiousness and confrontation in his sphere of relationships.
One of the things that is taboo in many of the world's cultures, if not most, is the art of confrontation. I know that many of you are thinking right now....'well, nobody likes confrontation', and you are right that probably 99.9% of the people on the planet are not comfortable with confrontation. (We've all met a few souls that seem to thrive on it, but usually even they don't like to be on the receiving end) However, in American culture, even though most don't like to receive confrontation, there are many who don't hesitate to dish it out. In the rest of the world, this is usually looked on with great disdain, especially in African culture. The general rule here is that it is NEVER ok to embarass another with confrontational tactics, no matter how much it may indeed be deserved! If you ever watch an African family negotiate 'lebola' (the amount to be paid by the soon to be groom to the family of a daughter getting married), you would think that NOTHING was getting accomplished. Usually the girl's family names it's price, then the groom's family counter's with another offer, and so on. All of this is done at a big family gathering, and never face to face by the bride and groom with parents. Instead representatives are chosen to go back and forth as messengers, until an amount is agreed upon. Usually the side that 'wins' the negotiations is the side that is able to sit the longest :-)....and believe me they can sit for a long time!!! But, all of this system for negotiating lebola is built carefully around this priniciple of confrontation being taboo.
Most times, if you embarass an African through face to face confrontation, you have probably just made an enemy for life. He will never forget, nor forgive you for that, unless his heart is altered by the forgiving love of Christ. Biblically, we are commanded to confront certain issues at certain times, however, I think that many of us could review our spirit and approach to confrontation. Much can be learned by the patience and cautiousness used by Africans in their relationships in this regard. A Christian has the responsibility of learning how to balance cautiousness and confrontation in his sphere of relationships.
Monday, December 10, 2007
African Culture Commandment #1
You Can't Argue With the Clan!
While the majority of Americans are born and bred with an independent - look out for number one at all costs - spirit, the African culture produces a very different perspective on life. Almost every decision that an African makes, he is expected to first consider the wishes and needs of his clan and determine his choices based on the greater good. The reason for this is probably largely due to the fact that most Africans depend on others within their clan for survival. By 'clan', I mean all levels of extended family - to aunts, uncles, cousins, and sometimes beyond. It is most common to see one working African supporting many members of extended family. Due to a shortage of employment opportunities, and many other factors, the number of employed family members is usually very few - thus you are expected to support the rest. Therefore, any decision from further education, to employment considerations, to marriage and everything in between, requires consultation with all parties (involved or not) before one can do anything else.
While there are many selfless benefits to this kind of mental approach, it also produces many stumblingblocks, especially when it comes to following the claims of Christ on one's life. You can imagine the struggle for an African Christian, born and bred with this 'clan' mentality, when it comes to Christ's claims of discipleship in Luke 14:26.
While the majority of Americans are born and bred with an independent - look out for number one at all costs - spirit, the African culture produces a very different perspective on life. Almost every decision that an African makes, he is expected to first consider the wishes and needs of his clan and determine his choices based on the greater good. The reason for this is probably largely due to the fact that most Africans depend on others within their clan for survival. By 'clan', I mean all levels of extended family - to aunts, uncles, cousins, and sometimes beyond. It is most common to see one working African supporting many members of extended family. Due to a shortage of employment opportunities, and many other factors, the number of employed family members is usually very few - thus you are expected to support the rest. Therefore, any decision from further education, to employment considerations, to marriage and everything in between, requires consultation with all parties (involved or not) before one can do anything else.
While there are many selfless benefits to this kind of mental approach, it also produces many stumblingblocks, especially when it comes to following the claims of Christ on one's life. You can imagine the struggle for an African Christian, born and bred with this 'clan' mentality, when it comes to Christ's claims of discipleship in Luke 14:26.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Culture and Language
I do believe all missionaries should get together and write a book about all the funny stories we have regarding language differences and barriers. We have a ton - and we live in a country where English is a trade language!
Sunday, was one such occassion for me. At Motupa, we meet in a Primary school room. Each week, there are different posters and such highlighting what they are learning. This past week, my eye caught the one on homonyms - words that are pronounced the same, but have different meanings. Now, I am one of those poor, tormented souls that should've been an English professor. I was the weird one that always loved English in school - and thought that diagraming was fun. Proof-reading is painful for me. When my husband asks me to proof-read something, he always prefaces it (with a knowing smile) by saying, "Now, it doesn't have to be perfect - I DON'T want to rewrite the whole thing, okay?" So, when I read the poster hanging on the wall in the dusty, hot classroom, everything within me shouted, "ERROR! WRONG! CORRECTION!"
This was the list of homonymns for the class...
Live/Leave
Fit/Feet
Sit/Seat
Flower/Flour
Pane/Pain
And now I'm sure you see what I saw. HOWEVER.... Africans pronounce their "i" as a long "e". Now, go back and reread those first few words with a long "e". (And yes - it's killing me that I can't figure out on Blogger how to type and "e" with a line over it to indicate that it's a long "e". Pray for me - no - pray for my soon-to-be-homeschooled kids.)
It struck me as funny, yet it is a real reminder of the differences in culture. It's all in your perspective. That is exactly what culture shock is - feeling stupid and wondering why everyone else is being stupid. It's understanding others - as they try to understand strange Americans! It's something being wrong to us - and right to them (and the other way as well).
I share a hilarious story here that I've read from a missionary wife on the subject...
Smith's Ghost ~
When we translate we must be very careful to use the right idioms. Since idioms are (according to Webster) “The way of speaking and putting words together peculiar to a language”, we have to know the cultural meaning behind words and phrases before we use them. If we are not careful, we could be communicating something entirely different from our intended meaning. To illustrate this point, here is a true story of what happened to an African Christian who once came to the States to study.
The African student was assigned to stay with a Christian couple whom I’ll call “the Smiths.” All was going very well with this arrangement until one day when the student was left alone in the house. That morning the Smiths had decided to go out for a day in town, so they said goodbye to their African guest and left. He was studying very intently at the table when the phone range. Not wanting to let it go unanswered, he picked it up and said, “Hello?”
A voice on the other end said, “Hello? Is Mr. Smith there, please?”
“No, he just passed away,” (His incorrect translation for “he went away.”)
“Uh, really?” said the voice incredulously. “I didn’t know that. I’m sorry. Is his wife
there?”
“No, she passed away with him.”
The voice faltered, “Um I’m sorry to hear that…and who are you?”
“I’m his ghost.” (He meant to say “guest”, but with his heavy accent the diphthong
came out just a little bit wrong.)
When the confusion was later explained to the African student, he was very embarrassed. Fortunately no damage was done, and the two gentlemen were able to laugh at the humorous memory. (At the Edge of the Village by Lisa Leidenfrost/Canon Press)
Sunday, was one such occassion for me. At Motupa, we meet in a Primary school room. Each week, there are different posters and such highlighting what they are learning. This past week, my eye caught the one on homonyms - words that are pronounced the same, but have different meanings. Now, I am one of those poor, tormented souls that should've been an English professor. I was the weird one that always loved English in school - and thought that diagraming was fun. Proof-reading is painful for me. When my husband asks me to proof-read something, he always prefaces it (with a knowing smile) by saying, "Now, it doesn't have to be perfect - I DON'T want to rewrite the whole thing, okay?" So, when I read the poster hanging on the wall in the dusty, hot classroom, everything within me shouted, "ERROR! WRONG! CORRECTION!"
This was the list of homonymns for the class...
Live/Leave
Fit/Feet
Sit/Seat
Flower/Flour
Pane/Pain
And now I'm sure you see what I saw. HOWEVER.... Africans pronounce their "i" as a long "e". Now, go back and reread those first few words with a long "e". (And yes - it's killing me that I can't figure out on Blogger how to type and "e" with a line over it to indicate that it's a long "e". Pray for me - no - pray for my soon-to-be-homeschooled kids.)
It struck me as funny, yet it is a real reminder of the differences in culture. It's all in your perspective. That is exactly what culture shock is - feeling stupid and wondering why everyone else is being stupid. It's understanding others - as they try to understand strange Americans! It's something being wrong to us - and right to them (and the other way as well).
I share a hilarious story here that I've read from a missionary wife on the subject...
Smith's Ghost ~
When we translate we must be very careful to use the right idioms. Since idioms are (according to Webster) “The way of speaking and putting words together peculiar to a language”, we have to know the cultural meaning behind words and phrases before we use them. If we are not careful, we could be communicating something entirely different from our intended meaning. To illustrate this point, here is a true story of what happened to an African Christian who once came to the States to study.
The African student was assigned to stay with a Christian couple whom I’ll call “the Smiths.” All was going very well with this arrangement until one day when the student was left alone in the house. That morning the Smiths had decided to go out for a day in town, so they said goodbye to their African guest and left. He was studying very intently at the table when the phone range. Not wanting to let it go unanswered, he picked it up and said, “Hello?”
A voice on the other end said, “Hello? Is Mr. Smith there, please?”
“No, he just passed away,” (His incorrect translation for “he went away.”)
“Uh, really?” said the voice incredulously. “I didn’t know that. I’m sorry. Is his wife
there?”
“No, she passed away with him.”
The voice faltered, “Um I’m sorry to hear that…and who are you?”
“I’m his ghost.” (He meant to say “guest”, but with his heavy accent the diphthong
came out just a little bit wrong.)
When the confusion was later explained to the African student, he was very embarrassed. Fortunately no damage was done, and the two gentlemen were able to laugh at the humorous memory. (At the Edge of the Village by Lisa Leidenfrost/Canon Press)
When you have two homes...
Did anyone read the Hawthorne's recent prayer letter (Indonesia)?
They've found the words that I've been fumbling to find for 3 years! :o)
It seemed strange not feeling strange in this culture! It was different to come here and not feel out of place. We were able to start right back into using the Indonesian language and doing things the Indonesian way. We seem to have 2 homes and we can be at home and homesick at the same time in both places.
Wow, does that ever sum up our hearts right now, as we are preparing for furlough.
These songs take on new meaning to missionaries:
This world is not my home,
I'm just a passing through...
~~~~~
I'd rather have Jesus,
than houses or lands...
~~~~~
But just think of stepping on shore and finding it Heaven!
Of touching a hand and finding it God's!
Of breathing new air and finding it celestial!
Of waking up in Glory and finding it HOME!
~~~~~
A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
He's building a palace for me over There;
Though exiled from Home, yet still I may sing:
All glory to God, I'm a child of the KING!
Graphic Courtesy of allposters.com
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