Missions Textbook 40
The Initial Few Weeks
in another Culture

We Never Saw It Coming: An Introduction to Christian Missions (textbook)

So, you have finally arrived in your new culture. The initial adjustment will begin to permeate the honeymoon phase. You will begin to realize that you have chosen a long-term relationship with your new culture. You can smooth out the transition from infatuation to reality in the coming months by doing more than gawking at the nationals drinking coffee in their cafes.

In the first few days, you need to observe the immediate area around your residence and place of work. What surrounds you and who are the people there? You will need to shop for food and other items – perhaps even for materials to build or update your home. Where are the nearest grocery store, hardware store, pharmacy, and health services? How do the people shop? Do they carry baskets, reusable bags, boxes, or perhaps they purchase bags? What is the procedure in the markets? In Russia, there were three lines: 1. to place your order (milk, sausage, tomatoes); 2. to pay for your order; and 3. to pick up your order.

Language learning should begin now, even if your official classes haven’t started yet. A little tourist language book – Berlitz is a good publisher for these – will have all the phrases and sentences you need for the first few days. Practice these phrases, smile, and learn how to say, “Did I say that right? Please correct me.” Then repeat the sentence until they let you know you have it right. Then go use it somewhere else to practice. Carry a tiny notebook and pen with you all the time. In it you will write your new phrases, and you will also write in English the things you wished you had known how to say in their language. Find someone to help you with those.

Who lives in your neighborhood? They could be young or old, families, students, farmers, rich, poor, or somewhere in between. How many ethnic groups do you detect? Do they all speak the same language? Do they seem to be friendly? Do your clothes fit in, or do you look like a tourist? Study what they wear and how they wear their clothes. In some cultures (Russia, for example), they dress up when they leave the house.

In many countries, you will have to officially register your place of residence. If you are staying temporarily in a hotel, youth hostel, or a bed and breakfast, they may take your passport and register for you. If the country has, for example, a three-month tourist visa, you may have acquired that at the airport. Otherwise, you need to quickly discover where the police station or registry office is so you can get this done. It will probably only be valid for a certain length of time (Three months? A year?), so you eventually will become very familiar with this process.

Once you have had a couple nights’ sleep, venture out into the community a bit more. How do people travel? Are they all in their own cars? Do they ride a bus or trolley, go by taxi, or ride bicycles? Austrians walked and took the bus and trolley when they were going downtown to shop or work. Many did not own a car, but took a train when they were traveling further. When Russians had a long way to go, they would often hitchhike, paying whoever stopped to pick them up. (Not to be recommended!)

When new missionaries came to our location, we always encouraged them to buy an all-day pass for public transportation and to travel to the end of every line to see the length and breadth of their area. In some cases, it might not be safe to do that, but you can ask advice from other missionaries, national believers, or even hotel personnel. While you are at it, start to learn the names of places – plazas, main thoroughfares, markets, parks, tunnels, cathedrals.

Where do people gather? In some cultures, it might be the town square, a park, or an indoor mall. What do they do for entertainment? Would your family be able to participate? Would they want to? Where do the nationals eat? What do they eat?

You will need to find out where all the services are in your location. Where are the doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and clinics, and what is the procedure to get medical assistance. In Austria, when we went into the doctor’s office, we simply noticed who was there before us. The doctor would come out and ask who’s next, and eventually it was our turn. There was no receptionist to take down information, and there really was no way to pay for services. Everyone had complete medical coverage, and actual cash never changed hands.

There are so many things you will need to learn to do, but you won’t find out until you get there! Government offices may be in larger or capital cities. You will also have to discover where the banks are and how they function. You will have to learn how to pay your bills, rent, and for the various insurance policies you will need. Where is the garage to repair your car? How do you buy fuel for the car. On vacation in Italy one time, that was quite an adventure! If your children are in school, you (and they) will have to figure out how they work, when school hours are, how homework is done, what the children wear to school and what food and drink they will need.

Are you tired yet? By the second or third week, you will be feeling overwhelmed by how much is unfamiliar. Nothing makes sense, and it’s time to remind yourself: “It’s not stupid; it’s just different. What seems inefficient and clumsy to you makes perfect sense to the nationals, and they are used to coping with everyday tasks every day. It’s very important to remember also: Your basic needs are not ignored; they are just met differently in each culture. The trick is to find out how!

Force yourself to go out and talk to people. It would be so much easier to stay in your apartment and read a book and wait for language school to start. Instead, go find a friendly shopkeeper to talk with. Ask questions, admit your ignorance, and ask for help. Go to the same people every day or week, and use their language as much as possible. Figure out how to make friends in that culture. How do people greet one another? How to they say goodbye? How close do they stand to one another while talking? (Americans like their space!)

Other missionaries or others from your home country (business people, diplomats) can be a help to you, but if at all possible, avoid ex-patriots who have a bad attitude toward the host country. They won’t help you get over culture shock, because maybe they never got over it themselves. The nationals also know who the people are who don’t like them and who think they are better than the nationals.

Once you have settled in a bit more, look for some entertainment. You will need breaks. Perhaps a hike in the mountains or a walk on the beach. Maybe a movie or a concert or an opera. Floyd and I attended dozens of concerts and operettas during our years in Austria, usually sitting in the inexpensive seats. We also loved to have tea and pastries. We went hiking and skiing with Austrian friends. Read a book, play a game with the kids, or learn to cook one of your host culture’s famous dishes.

Finally, review the goals and methods of your upcoming ministry. The more you plan, the fewer surprises, but you have to stay open for surprises. You have to stay flexible because as you learn the language and the culture, you will most certainly modify your methods, if not your goals as well.

We Never Saw It Coming: An Introduction to Christian Missions (textbook)

SHOP

Privacy Policy