Coaching at RashidatO.com | Social Activism at Whereveryougolove.com
IG: @RashidatO_ FB: @WhereverYouGoLove.com
My journey in South East Asia has been interesting from many perspectives, but especially from the perspective of race and of being in a dark colored skin.
The interesting thing is that I chose this route because I have always been interested in going to Asia. I visited Japan when I was only 9 years old and I loved the experience. It has been an experience that has stayed with me for over 20 years. I love white sticky rice, barbecued pork, and colorfulness of the culture.
I knew, before I went on the World Race, that Asians are proud. They are territorial and loyal to their culture, heritage, and their people. A few times I have considered moving to Asian countries, but I was warned that I would be met with resistance if I were to take a job in their country. I was told they would not welcome or accept me because I would be “taking a job” from one of them, from one of their people. Because of these warnings, I expected any job transition to be exceptionally hard if I ever took a job in an Asian country. What I had not considered was how much of this or other cultural mindsets may or may not affect me as a missionary in these countries.
In each country, though, God has shown me adversity and love.
In Cambodia, I had some stare and point as they looked at the deep hue of my skin, but I had others hold my hand and show me the love of Christ regardless of how others looked at me. This very much altered my mindset from thinking that wherever I was going I was going to love. Instead, God showed that no matter where I went God loved me.
In Thailand, there were more black people vacationing and therefore I was not so out of place to the people of that area. But I watched my team try to include me in some things that they thought of as American sometimes forgetting that my heritage and skin as a black person meant that I came from a different background and made me slightly different than them. But I felt their love as we came together through out ups and downs of this thing called the World Race to be united as sons and daughters of Christ.
In Malaysia, I experienced some of the locals literally put me to the back of the line because of the color of my skin, but I also experienced my teammate come along side and join me on this journey. She asked me “how can I support you in this”. Linked by the love of Jesus to love and support each other through all situations, including injustice, we modeled an example Christ’s love that I believe will eradicate racism and discrimination around the world.
In the Philippines, God wrapped up Asia with an experience completely different than what I had experienced in every other Asian country so far…
One day on the way to mall to use the internet I walked by some men and loudly I heard one say “I like that one, the black one!” I laughed as I sped up to walk with some of the ladies from my group. Honestly, if my skin was any lighter I would have been blushing! On another occasion I received a beautiful gift of handmade earrings from an aspiring jewelry designer at the church. I was blessed that he would share his gift with me. Every time I wore those earrings I received so many compliments, but the compliments were not just of the earrings that I was wearing. I was standing outside of church one Sunday waiting to leave with my team and girl parted the crowd to get to me. She asked me if I would take a picture with her. I shrugged and agreed even though I was surprised that she wanted only me in her picture. After the flash of the picture she turned to me as said…
“You are beautiful! I love your complexion and your beautiful skin!”
As she continued her compliments and rubbed the skin of my dark brown arm I started to tear up. I believe in no way that my love, affirmation, and affection should be grounded by anything that is said on earth, but I am blessed when someone appreciates the beauty, inside and out, that God has meticulously hand crafted in me.
As I leave Asia I know that I will not be able to say to goodbye to racism, discrimination, or bigotry for the rest of my life, but I leave with a much clearer understanding of how God sees me. I leave Asia having clearly experienced all the love languages from Him. I leave Asia having experienced God in a deeper way.
I can’t wait to see what Africa will bring!
