|
Culture to Culture
Mission Trip Cultural
Sensitivity
Take some time before your trip
to learn a bit about your host
location. Learn about
some cultural behaviors and
rules, and perhaps if going to a
foreign location learn a few
simple words and phrases of
their language. The key to
adjusting smoothly on your trip
is to BE FLEXIBLE! Try some
foods that you may not otherwise
touch, do things you may not
otherwise volunteer to do, and
on the whole, be willing to
adapt to different schedules and
structures.
Above all, respect your hosts
and the people that you meet.
Serve them out of a heart of
love and humility, and remember
that you are a guest in their
country. You have gone to serve,
not to be served. Strive for
"Christ Likeness," not "Americanness,"
to shine through you.
Things in other cultures don't
run as on-time as things in the
States usually do. Make use of
the "waiting" time you're sure
to have. Use the time to get to
know your teammates better, or
nationals that may be with you.
Keep a book with you to pull out
during these times. Choose some
scripture to memorize and work
on it while you wait.
·
Greetings are very important in
many cultures. Find out ahead of
time or learn what the
appropriate greetings are as
soon as you arrive, then put
them into practice.
·
Remember that common body
language in the States, may mean
something totally different in
the culture you are going to.
For example, our common "okay"
sign is seen as inappropriate in
many Latin countries.
·
If they speak another language
where you are going, make sure
to learn a few phrases
beforehand. Learning the phrase,
"How do you say" can be very
useful, along with some
pointing, to pick up words and
phrases once you arrive.
·
Make sure to pay attention to
any dress-code guidelines you
may have been given for the
culture you are going to.
Dressing appropriately can
really have an affect on how
people treat you.
·
In many cultures showing respect
to those older than you is very
important.
·
Hospitality can look different
in other cultures. Our family
style way of serving meals and
serving yourself, isn't common
in other countries. If you're
going to be eating meals
prepared by nationals, be ready
to have a full plate of food set
in front of you and be ready to
eat it! Put aside any picky
eating habits during your trip.
·
It's best to not pull out your
camera during the first couple
days of your trip, until people
know you a little better. Ask
before you take people's
pictures, and be sensitive to
those who don't want their
picture taken. Don't make people
feel like they are part of your
sight-seeing tour.
·
Don't make promises you won't
keep, about staying in touch
with people or sending them
things, etc. Sometimes even
mentioning something as a
possibility, i.e. "maybe I can
send you some clothes," is
understood as a promise.
·
Long church services in
languages you don't understand
can be killers! To help pass the
time, try to at least pick out
what passage of scripture is
being taught and spend time
reading and meditating on it.
Also, let everything be a cue to
pray! Pray for the pastor as he
preaches. During worship, pray
that God would be glorified in
the service. If a child cries,
pray that he/she would grow up
to love and serve the Lord. If a
chicken runs through, pray that
God would provide adequate food
for the community. |
