Different But How Different?
My complete experience of daily interacting with a culture outside of the United States was when we were in Uganda for three weeks six years ago. I was immediately hit with how totally different their culture is than ours. Next a great wave of emotion swept over me as I felt guilty not for all the new things I had bought recently, but for all the things cluttering my house that I knew could disappear tomorrow and I wouldn't have missed them. Somehow I thought if those things could have been packed in my luggage, that gift would have generously enhanced the lives of these people. It doesn't take long to realize that just as more things do not provide the answer to my problems, more things will not erase their problems either. If I could suddenly take all the things I had been storing for my next garage sale, and given them to these people, the chances are I would not have blessed them. Instead I would have burdened them. Uganda and the United States, both are places where you find people who are possessed by their possessions.
Saturday Steve presented a seminar on conflict resolution. Twenty two men sat attentively through the presentation and politely thanked my husband when the time ended. The big question is how many of these men at least began to see the need to change their minds about the importance of recognizing conflict and dealing with it biblicaly? Steve's understanding of Ugandan culture is that the people studiously ignore any conflict. When sin is involved no one wants to forgive others. The Ugandans who have embraced the gospel must at least to some degree understand these principles but it is a slow process. In order to change how they deal with these things they have to pull away from not just their families but also from the standard practice of their fellow countrymen.
Sounds so different from us but is it? How many of us know someone who repeatedly gossips and people only shake their heads and keep quiet until a crisis occurs and reconciliation seems impossible? How many of us years after being sinned against still bristle at the sound of that person's name? We may go to the seminar on conflict resolution, give vocal assent to the principles but know we will most likely only use them when we have no choice. Although we love the grace of God shown through Christ we often value more our pride and our comfort rather than promoting God's glory and the peace and unity of the church.
When you write your check to help with work in another country or when you pray for missionaries, remember that no matter how different these people are, you are more like them than not. We are all sinners no matter what continent or what language, sinners in need of God's grace in our lives. We need to practice the gospel in all areas as we demonstrate that grace and a desire for godliness in all our relationships.
Please continue to pray for Steve. He is due to return to the U.S. 9/16. He is preaching his last Sunday in northern Uganda at three villages as well as to the staff at the mission. This week is his last week of classes on the life of Christ. Pray that God would grant him wisdom and strength.
Please also pray for my daughter Jessica as she is scheduled for a c-section on 9/12. We are all eager for Henry's safe arrival.
Saturday Steve presented a seminar on conflict resolution. Twenty two men sat attentively through the presentation and politely thanked my husband when the time ended. The big question is how many of these men at least began to see the need to change their minds about the importance of recognizing conflict and dealing with it biblicaly? Steve's understanding of Ugandan culture is that the people studiously ignore any conflict. When sin is involved no one wants to forgive others. The Ugandans who have embraced the gospel must at least to some degree understand these principles but it is a slow process. In order to change how they deal with these things they have to pull away from not just their families but also from the standard practice of their fellow countrymen.
Sounds so different from us but is it? How many of us know someone who repeatedly gossips and people only shake their heads and keep quiet until a crisis occurs and reconciliation seems impossible? How many of us years after being sinned against still bristle at the sound of that person's name? We may go to the seminar on conflict resolution, give vocal assent to the principles but know we will most likely only use them when we have no choice. Although we love the grace of God shown through Christ we often value more our pride and our comfort rather than promoting God's glory and the peace and unity of the church.
When you write your check to help with work in another country or when you pray for missionaries, remember that no matter how different these people are, you are more like them than not. We are all sinners no matter what continent or what language, sinners in need of God's grace in our lives. We need to practice the gospel in all areas as we demonstrate that grace and a desire for godliness in all our relationships.
Please continue to pray for Steve. He is due to return to the U.S. 9/16. He is preaching his last Sunday in northern Uganda at three villages as well as to the staff at the mission. This week is his last week of classes on the life of Christ. Pray that God would grant him wisdom and strength.
Please also pray for my daughter Jessica as she is scheduled for a c-section on 9/12. We are all eager for Henry's safe arrival.
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