After living in the United States for most of my life I have become comfortable with the social and cultural norms. I have become comfortable with the food, the music, the interactions with new people that I meet (such as shaking their hand or just saying hello nice to meet you). I am comfortable with the culture that I live in because it’s normal for me. It’s become my norm.
Two weeks ago, all that I knew and was comfortable with was rocked by God calling me into this season of ministry. Not only am I living and serving in a new country. I am immersed in a new language, new food culture, new people and new ways to interact. It is really hard to change the way you do things when you move to a new country. I think that’s why people are afraid to travel or move to a new place, because they are afraid of what is going to change. For me this has been a huge struggle and has been very different from what I know. Not only because I thrive on connecting with others and cherish the relationships I have, but I like to talk and meet new people.
I perceived this year to be doing ministry in other countries but everything else staying the same. I don’t know why I thought that or wanted to think that. I guess because it was easier this way. This is not the case, it is the opposite of what I thought. This year the culture will change every month and there will be a different language to learn each month. This is both exciting and scary to me. I like to learn about new cultures and new countries, but wait I am actually living in them? Wait, I live in Chile?
In Chile when you meet someone you hug and kiss them on the cheek, not just with the people you know, but with everyone around you! Well this is different… why do I have kiss them on the cheek? I don’t even do that with my own family, this is weird, how can I avoid this? Nope here it comes… ohh Hola! During the first couple of days these were my interactions, the normal on the inside of me was screaming to shake their hand and say it’s nice to meet you. Yet, that’s the exact opposite of what I have been doing. I have been embracing the culture even though it has been so hard.
The culture shock has been real for sure, I can’t speak Spanish very well, I can’t eat gluten, I can’t connect with people through words because I can barely understand what people are saying. But what I can do is smile, I can sit with people and listen, I can laugh with kids, I can dance with the people, I can sing with the people here, I can share my testimony in Spanish in front of the whole church, I can talk in short sentences, I can pray for others. I can and I will.
Two weeks in and I have already learned so much about the culture in Chile, it’s so different. God made culture different for a reason, he made his people all different colors, shapes and sizes. He created cultures and languages. As a culture in America we can get stuck in our ways and become comfortable with our lives.
Although our cultures are different and feel weird to one another. The common universal norm that we share is LOVE. Not only love but God’s LOVE, in this culture I see God’s love so clearly. Although it is hard not knowing the language very well, not being able to eat the food, or knowing how to interact in this culture. I know that culture was made in the image of God’s love! These people are full of love and kindness and they have welcomed us with open arms. What a blessing to have for our first month!
Culture is a very beautiful gift and I’m learning to cherish it. Love to you all and the culture back home in the States!
