My teammate Jon wrote this. He explains how our time in this country has been, and the challenges we have faced. I hope you enjoying reading about our experience here. And please continue to keep us and in your prayers!
Let me set the scene for you: It’s officially month 5 on the race. We just arrived this morning to our new country- Myanmar. I have a whirlwind of emotions running through my body. I have been looking forward to this country specifically for many reasons. Excitement, anxiousness, joy, a comfortable level of change is all racing through my body as we arrive at our new ministry host for the month.
After getting settled in the new shack we will call home for a month the wife of our host offers to bring us into town to get some food and simple supplies. I hop in the car just thrilled to go explore around town, get a close look at the culture, and see what the people will be like in this new area. We were walking around a local market, which if you have ever been to one in another country you may know how hectic and overwhelming they can be. You can tell Myanmar is not a very popular tourist country(they actually just opened their borders about 7 years ago) because of the way they stare, point, and make subtle comments to each other as you walk by. This is something I’ve grown accustomed to since our first month in Côte d’Ivoire, Africa. But something about this was different. They didn’t look at us with an enthusiastic curiosity that showed they wanted to meet us or know more. Some were sweet enough to give us a simple smile and a head nod. But the majority gave us one of those looks you would give the new kid on the block who was stepping into your territory and assuming he had bad intentions before you gave him a chance. To be honest I began to feel slightly unwelcome. And then something happened that was definitely a first for me. I felt something hit my foot, looked down and saw a giant glob of spit stretched from my ankle to my big toe. No joke this was the largest Loggie I have ever seen. I thought instantly because so many people here chew tobacco and we were in such a crowded area that maybe it was a simple accident. It was what followed that confirmed that was not the case.. As I looked up slightly confused, grossed out and extremely embarrassed I quickly saw a group of older men standing next to me pointing and laughing much louder than normal. They clearly saw what had happened and found it quite amusing. And the way they found pure enjoyment out of it made me realize this was not a simple accident but actually a direct hit.. The weird part is at this point you would think anger would surge through my veins, that I would say or do something that I would end up regretting. But what should have been an overwhelming sense anger became an overwhelming sadness.. I was no longer simply uncomfortable because I was in a crowded market that reeks of fish, and cow guts. I was uncomfortable because I was truly unwanted here.. For the first time since I left home I did not feel welcomed into a new country, rather the exact opposite.
I started to think the only place I would feel welcomed was at our ministry host.. Until the next scenario occurred…..
Next Scene: At our ministry host we have been living at a orphanage that could pass off as a small village. Not just a building with young children but actually a small community of homes and ages of locals that ranged from 2-70ish. It’s our privilege to join them this month and teach a variety of English classes. I was even blessed to get the class of 6-12 years olds which is basically my bread and butter. Couldn’t be happier. We started on Monday and everything seemed to be going really well. We would teach during the day and play soccer with the kids in the afternoon. I started to think less about my experience in town and decided I could be happy just staying in our little community all month. And then Wednesday night came along.. We have church services every night and we are always asked to preach at them which has been a really cool opportunity to step out of our shells and impart some life lessons we’ve learned onto the students. Well this day was a special day because we were going to be celebrating everyone who had a birthday in May on this night. Our host tells us we should stay after the service for some “fun” activities being held by the students. Little did we know what strange events were actually going to happen that night. After our normal service and singing happy birthday to the couple of children we were celebrating they decided to do something new. They called up two classes, the older Bible college students vs. the older English class students and were going to perform a debate. And what was the subject of this debate you ask. The Topic :Should we let foreigners live with us or No? Now we didn’t know this from the beginning because the whole thing was in Burmese. And the first class to go was the team who was arguing “No”. Not knowing at this time what’s going on the first girl takes the stage and begins to yell and the only word we can make out is “English” which continued to be proceed by a point in our direction, a couple more words and the crowd erupting in laughter. This happened over and over during her 1-2 minute turn at the microphone… Us beginning to look at each other started to feel something was going on here. The team on our side did us the favor by explaining in English what the debate was about during their turn on the stage. And seemed to have a calm debate manor to their approach when it was their turn at the microphone. But each time the other team came up the vibe turned rapidly from a mature debate to what I can only describe as a Comedy Central Roast. Their arguments were filled with shouting, pointing, passionate talking and always followed by the entire room bursting at the seams from laughter… Now being foreigners don’t get me wrong we get laughed at pretty often and usually assume they do it when we leave too, we don’t understand their cultures, we usually make kind of fools out of ourselves doing simple things like starting fires and cooking local food. But usually the have the respect to not do it in our faces. And we quickly realized they had taken their opportunity to mock us in front of everyone and used a different language to do it right in front of our faces.. Now I remember being a kid and don’t get me wrong I would have been right there laughing along. But the worst part was the teacher would be pointing and laughing right alongside them.. Even our ministry host couldn’t contain himself. We sat through about 30-40 minutes of this. Talk about awkward. And to make all of it even worse the side that didn’t even take the debate seriously, the side that took advantage of the mic to just make fun of us and mock us, THEY WON THE DEBATE!!!!! I understand what a debate is, and I understand if you bring solid arguments to the table even if it’s something I may not agree with, there still is opportunity to win. But they didn’t even debate. They simply turned it into a comedy show. And the teachers decided that whatever jokes they through in about us was more valid than the arguments applied by the opposing team.. We sat there baffled and without words until service was done, stood up and returned to our small little hut we call home..
After a few days of processing how I felt about this new place I was suppose to call “home” for the month I think I’m starting to understand why were here. Usually It’s made clear by the people we are helping by the thank yous and explanation of why it’s important to invite other cultures in to give new perspectives. This country on the other hand showed us by there unwillingness to welcome others in. We didn’t come here to change their culture, nor tell them how they live is wrong, we simply came here to do what they wanted us to do just like we do everywhere we go. And even if they don’t show it, they wouldn’t have invited us to stay if they truly felt like we were more of a burden that a blessing. If they didn’t feel there was something we would bring with us. They have such spoiled perspectives of us that they have simply created a barrier to letting us in emotionally. That’s something I desire to change. I sat there and thought about the horrible impression they have of westerners. About how they see so little of them that they have created this assumption to not only steer clear but actually find them and physically disrespect them. And if I play my cards right, If I show them the love I came here to show them, If I valued them and respected them the way I wanted to be, I just maybe get the chance to leave a better impression then what they have. I started to feel pretty proud of being spit on, and mocked. Because I get the chance to show a different impression. I felt blessed that my first instinct wasn’t anger, It was to simply breath, understand where they are coming from and try to be who Jesus would be in this situation. I sat there and thought of all the towns he went to where he was mocked, disrespected, thrown out, and ridiculed. And did he throw a punch? Did he scream in someone’s face? Did he spit back? Did he throw in the towel because he felt unwanted? No, he continued to be the loving, compassionate, understanding man he was While at the same time standing his ground and not letting hate win. He didn’t allow himself to stoop down to the level of the man being lead by anger. He didn’t meet them on their level by hardening his heart. He decided to use his heart as a example. He used and showed the love of God to better each place he passed through and each person he came into contact with. Because he knew the importance of why he was their, to do God’s work, to bring people to the grace, mercy and forgiveness we have all received. If we went only to the places where people loved and valued us and our cause would we really be spreading the love and compassion we set out to spread? Sometimes it takes going to the places that don’t welcome you to spread what they need. New perspectives, and open hearts. So I tell you this story not to feel bad for me, not because I want to make those who treated us this way to be perceived as “the bad guys”. I tell you this because there are places like this, there are times whether your in your home town or across the world where people won’t give you a fair chance. There are times you will be judged by where you come from, the color of your skin, the language you speak, or the culture you carry. And even though the first thought we usually have is to respond with anger, attack them for their differences, or simply become passive and walk away I want you to take on a new outlook. Try showing those who treat you with hate or anger your LOVE. It’s easy to allow a hardened heart harden yours. But what takes true courage and strength is to use your heart to soften theirs. Don’t get angry, don’t get sad, and don’t give up. Because those are the people who need love in their lives. Those are the people we are meant to love also. And trust me I’m not writing this because I did it with ease, it actually took me a week to come to learn this and having 3 more weeks left here and Im still only in the practice stage. But ask anyone whose accomplished something they wanted to learn, Practice makes PERFECT.. So practice this until showing Love is all you think about when given an opportunity.
One of my favorite comedians says this about it. “Hate doesn’t beat hate, hate has never beaten hate because the only thing it does is create more hate. There’s only one thing that can beat hate and that is Love.
