Last month my team and I were doing English Clubs, movie nights, and other special events for our students. Our goal was just to speak English with them, build relationships and where we saw God leading to plant a seed, water a seed, or allow God to harvest it. So no we didn’t teach the Gospel but yet we got to live it out a daily bases. Our mission was just to show God in our walk, talk, and everyday life. When I first heard about what we would be doing in Ukraine I really thought I was going to have a hard time because for one I had heard stories about people being racist against Black people there. My source was completely right when they told me that I would experience racism. I ended up calling my parents crying because it was up close a personal more than I have ever seen it. I almost wrote a blog about it but I didn’t want to give the enemy praise for being a jerk. My second reason was because I honestly think I have a hard time starting conversations and the only thing that was require of me is to start conversation…… talk and be normal. Be I’m not normal!!! LOL…..well at least I don’t think I am. I’m really weird when it comes to meeting new people.
The month went great though!!! I fell in love with my students in my English clubs and classes. We hung out with them after clubs and classes and it made me realize that when I get home I want to be more interactive with the foreign students on campus. Now I know how hard it is for them to get adjusted to a new place and new people. Been there done that!!! LOL….. Anyways far on the race, it’s amazing to experience the reactions of people toward me. It seems like in every country I go to I tend to be the center of attention. I really wish I understood why but I have kind of narrowed it down to three of the main reasons. One reason is because I am a Black American and for some reason it’s unheard of to be Black and a Missionary. Secondly I have a black southern accent (and people like it for some reason), and lastly I am a foreigner. Even in Africa, I stuck out because I was black but not from Africa nor did I speak their language; so for some of them they thought I felt like I was better than them. (Craziness right)
• I’ve been asked a lot of questions when it comes to my nationality.
• Are you from Africa? • Are you Nigerian? (By an Indian man that was darker than me)
• Are you Indian?……India people had to look at me pretty hard to tell if I was Indian or not in my area until they noticed my hair. Lol……
• Are you colored? (In South Africa, Where being lighter means that you are colored and not black and the coloreds and blacks really don’t like each other)
• You’re Filipino you just were not baked right! (One of my orphan kids in the Philippines….lol….I think this was the funniest of all of them)
• Are you Honduran?…..(Until they realize that I don’t speak much Spanish at all)
I’m just me a……… Black American Missionary…….I’m not an African American because when I was in Africa most people made sure that I knew I wasn’t African once they realized that I wasn’t from there. But beyond that I don’t want to be categorized by any of that…..What I want people to see is God! My nationality isn’t important…….It’s my residence….and that’s in Heaven one day.
