At home, they call me Bizzy.
At church, they call me Liz.
At school, they call me Zibby.
At work, they call me Elizabeth.
But in Kenya, they call me Mzungu.
The dictionary defines “Mzungu” as, “someone who roams around; wanderer”. In reality, it is used as the given name for any white person in East Africa. As soon as a white person arrives, they are immediately surrounded by dirty children yelling, “Mzungu! Mzungu! Mzungu!”. So with my starch white skin and bleach blonde hair, you can imagine that I’ve experienced these swarms of children a number of times while wandering the streets of Kibera.
For many children, white people are seen as a symbol of wealth and prosperity. They assume that if you’ve arrived in their town, you’ve come bearing gifts. Whether toys, clothes, sleeping items, or simply the gift of time. African children have come to recognize mzungus as a source of hope and goodness. This is what they’ve seen in the past and this is the assumption that they’ve placed on all white people.
As I reflected on these experiences, I began relating them to Christianity. We are called to be mzungus in our mission field. Your mission field might be your work, your school or your home. Regardless, we are called to take the mzungu mentality with us.
Let me tell you something about mzungus, they stand out! And in a good way! Being so physically different works to our advantage because we’re able to shine that beacon of hope even further. Just as mzungus stand out in Kenya, we are all called to stand out as Christians wherever we go! We are called to represent Christ in a positive way, even if we’re just walking the streets. Just as mzungus are a noticable representation of Christ, so should we be spewing the love of the Lord everywhere we go.
In most situations, this seems easier said than done. We’re all human. We get frustrated and sometimes we don’t act in the most Christ-like manner. Thankfully, God has given us immense amounts of grace and we’re able to try again the next day.
While we might not always be as diligent as we might hope, take the mentality of a mzungu with you. How do outsiders perceive you? Do they see you as a beacon of hope; someone who looks and acts different from the rest? Or do you blend in with the crowd?
Be different. Be bold. Be passionate. Be a beacon of hope. Live the life of a mzungu.
