Cultural Intricacies and Other Thing I've Learned

There are so many intricacies to each culture. Every culture has similarities but no culture is the same, even if you are in one country you can find a variety of culture and you don't even have to cross a border. This place has many, many intricacies about it's culture and many times the way you make coffee in one area may be the "incorrect" way to make coffee in a different area. When learning a culture imitation can be the best teacher.

When speaking the language some words in some places can tell the person you are talking to where you are from, what your ethnicity is, or where you are learning the language. This is true in most cultures, nothing is simply cut and dry. If it were the world would be an easy, uncomplicated, rot of boring. We would figure each other out in seconds. Friendships wouldn't be born out of language blunders and jokes about those blunders later in the relationship when the language is finally learned for the foreigner. Reliance on the goodness of humanity to have patience and help you get something you need, or go where you need to go wouldn't be a necessity.

If you follow Jesus, learning the culture leads you to rely on God to put people in your path to help in such ways. You rely on him to take care of the things that can go on back home that are not pleasant, even though you would rather help take care of it yourself. You cannot have the patience it takes to deal with yourself and others without relying on God to give you that divine patience that only comes from him.

 If you plan to live in another culture, grace is everything. Even if it is grace to the waiter/waitress who gives you hot chocolate instead of the cappuccino you ordered, or looks at you funny when you clearly said you wanted a Fanta and asks you three times what you said. Also, grace for the bigger things like believers who are still a little shy about their faith to other non-believers, or non-believers who change the subject when the conversation starts getting to deep into a spiritual discussion. Because as believers we live in this vast and deep....very deep ocean of grace, even in the most frustrating things and people, we cannot act like we can't even spare a drop.

Also, just from my short time living overseas, I have to say that no matter the circumstances you must be thankful. Even if you feel as if you cannot be thankful in the moment, somewhere along the way landing on thankfulness is probably the most helpful thing in bringing perspective and a lot of joy. It can get hard, no doubt about it. Life is rough for anyone and when you are thousands of miles away from situations, and that far away from people you love, this is no exception.

I haven't lived here nearly as long as some others who moved here from their home cultures, but I can see these trends (or lack thereof) coming into play. I can see the necessity of God and his divine power to help us in our work, give us words, and help us lead a life that leads others to conviction. I understand the importance of other people, national people, and want and need their friendship.

I am so blessed to be here, blessed by people back home and their support and confidence in me. I am blessed by their prayers. I am thankful for these opportunities I am able to have for the declaration of the Kingdom because of those back home who see the importance of it. I thank you all.

All to God