Yep, you read the title. This one may be a bit controversial, but it’s something that I have thought about often. I am only speaking from my own experiences, and the purpose for writing this is simply to share something I have learned about missions and culture since being on the field for four months.
I’ve never been one to enjoy a lot of attention. Being on the world race has been hilarious in that respect because a group of fifty people with huge packs isn’t exactly subtle. I try to look at different perspectives often, and I wonder how we are perceived during our time in these countries. Our cultural differences scream out in contrast, regardless of where we are. As Americans, we don’t always pay attention to how we speak. We joke in a rude manner, and our sarcasm is usually unkind. We have loud laughter, and our facial expressions are anything but discreet. If we are dissatisfied in the slightest, our faces present an obvious display of our attitudes. We get frustrated by the tiniest of inconveniences, and complain daily. Although we are guests of these countries, we expect church services and locals to speak English, and we get frustrated when they don’t. Our human nature is sinful and self-centered, so we have to make intentional efforts to correct it.
Furthermore, the root of our ideals is flawed. As missionaries, we need to recognize that we are not God. Hopefully we are vessels for Him, but we are not heroes traveling over oceans to save civilizations. Not even close. God is already at work in each community long before we ever arrive. We are, instead, the flawed human beings who said yes to be the hands and feet for God to move through and with.
Looking upon poverty through the lens of comparison is inaccurate and dishonoring. We need to be careful with how we label our experiences. For example, the “less fortunate” people we meet are often very content with their lives and what they have. Their “lower quality of life” may just be what your mind has conjured up as a result of comparing your own life. Just because someone hasn’t experienced the luxuries we have doesn’t mean that their lives are lacking. At the end of the day, those you look sadly upon are living and breathing just like you and me. Speaking, loving, thinking humans with names and families, who probably have a better grasp on the value of earning your belongings with hard work, gratefulness, and a willingness to share.
My intention is not to undermine the power of giving and helping those in need—the Bible tells us to! Instead, I am bringing light to the fact that the pity felt for people whose lives look different than your own may not be coming from a helpful or accurate place in your mind. Our service should be out of our love for our brothers and sisters, along with obedience to the one who created them. The purpose for missions should not be about the size of the impact made. I think it should be more heavily focused on the relationships made along the way. Spreading God’s love should be more about God, not us.
This being said, I’d like to share about the nature of the relationships that have impacted me most on the race. In my experiences, I have met some of the most giving and gracious people. The kindness and hospitality we have received has been incredible. I feel it to be such a privilege that they have trusted me with their stories.
Similarly, I think it is prideful to say you are going on a mission trip to teach people. I was humbled recently at one of my favorite ministries in this regard. We went to visit this Christian rehabilitation and addiction center. Upon our arrival, we were asked to share a devotional with the men there. This was already intimidating, seeing how most of them were much older than us. Shortly after our group gave a short teaching on a passage in the new testament, one of the older men raised his hand. He asked some real and hard questions to challenge the idea that we are worthy of God’s love (see another blog coming soon). That day I realized something important—we are still learning. I so badly wanted to sit down and be taught by our new friends. They have walked through situations I can’t even imagine, and their testimonies are symphonies of God’s love. The Lord found and met each of them in their hardships and led them to where they are now. While their stories aren’t over yet, neither is mine. The power of relationship is revealed when both parties mutually share and receive what they have learned. It would be so unfortunate to close myself off and not learn from the beautiful people I meet each day by choosing to carry an arrogant, one-sided disposition. I have found the Holy Spirit flows most easily through humility, and people are much more likely to hear you if you treat them like your family.
All of this to say, thank goodness for grace. So much grace from strangers who are forgiving and understanding of our mistakes. Cultural boundaries and customs are sometimes disregarded as we arrive at each place. Of course, this is no fault of our own. Our western backgrounds have simply inhibited us from knowing all the dos and don’ts of different cultures. We try to ask our hosts, be observant, and practice signs of respect upon the arrival of each country. Inevitably though, we fall short. Whether it’s accidentally touching a kid’s head in Thailand (a sign of disrespect), or mistakenly attempting the traditional Malaysian handshake, we are imperfect. Our harsh tones, impolite mannerisms, and lack of social awareness is received with such graceful hearts. No one expects us to be perfect, and we are certainly far from it. I am so thankful that God has given me the insight to see how our group is affecting our surroundings. I try to use this awareness to help our squad grow to better reflect the character of Jesus.
Thank you for reading,
–Lexi Hatten
