So You're Going Cross-Cultural...
...Here's what you need to know!By Amanda FormanHere we were on another flight to Quito, Ecuador with another Global Encounters Team. Trying to find 20+ people’s luggage was a bit of a challenge but we finally made it through customs, immigration and baggage claim. As we rolled our bags through the open doors I eagerly scanned the large crowd, straining to see if I could recognize anyone. Finally, a familiar face; I ran to meet my friends with hugs and kisses. It was so good to see part of my Ecuadorian family again. No, I’m not related to anyone in Ecuador by blood, but we are still family. I look back on those happy moments as one of the highlights of the trip.Connecting with people and becoming true friends with them is a pretty amazing experience. Jesus had a knack for connecting with different people; his disciples were a very diverse bunch of rich, poor, shady, religious, foreign, young and old. He cared about people and served them in true humility no matter who they were. I believe, that following Jesus’ example of loving people is the key to connecting with people everywhere.
Moving on to a different setting... you would have thought that I would have been excited to spend a month in China with my family learning about culture and seeing new places, but to be honest, China was not high on my “countries I want to visit before I die” list. Growing up with an Asian Mom, you would have thought that I would have this great love for Asian culture, but I didn’t really like Asians that much at all. Asian people are weird; just think about the food they eat! I would tell the Lord, “I will go anywhere, but I really would rather not go work in China or anywhere that resembles it.” I know, great heart for people right?I think this is a pitfall that we tend to fall into – we want to choose who to love. We want to tell God that we will love only this certain type of person, child or culture. I want the really cute and popular five-year-old girl at the children’s program to say that I am her “Favorite leader.” And of course we breathe a sigh of relief then the troubled kids end up on someone else’s team for the children’s camp. I know I’ve thought things like that.
In order to truly connect with someone we have to stop judging who is “good enough” for us to love and who “deserves” to talk with us and just love the people around us (whoever they are and even if they’re Asian). It makes me think of little “David” at an Ecuadorian summer camp. When the horn would sound for the teams to line up in their colors I could hear leaders running past my cabin frantically yelling, “Amarillo!!!!!!” “ROOOJJJJOOOOOOO” “AZUL!” “Verde!!!!!” …….. “DAVID!!!” Almost without fail this challenging kid would not listen, wouldn’t line up, wouldn’t play the game or would pop his balloon and need another one. I think that his team would have gladly gifted him to anyone who would take him. But God reminded me that He loves David too and put me, and our team, there to show him unconditional love. That doesn’t mean that he behaved any differently, but it meant I didn’t mind dealing with him so much or making him another balloon.
I worked with homeless kids here in Florida for a few years. It was very challenging and fulfilling work to touch the lives of the most needy. There were nights where the kids behaved so badly that we couldn’t even tell the story. It was not natural for me to love them, but God began to really work in my heart during this time. As I prayed for them, God gave me an incredible love for these kids. I began to realize that I had the privilege and honor of working with them and a great opportunity to impact their lives for the kingdom. Don’t feel like loving people? Pray for them and ask God to give you a love for them – it’s incredible how He can change your heart.I now love China and would go back there in a heartbeat; although, I still think that we Asians are a little odd. People are people wherever they live and whatever language they speak and whatever odd foods they eat. Connecting with people is not about you, so get out of your comfort zone and think of others. It’s the street kids that drive you crazy because they are constantly misbehaving, the quiet one that won’t smile at you, the loud ones that won’t shut up, the perfect ones that always do what you tell them, we must love all of them. It’s ok that they’re different from us or don’t think like us. The key to connecting with other cultures is having an open heart overflowing with the Love of God. His love never fails and can cross all barriers.
Just some ideas for you …
- Pray for the people around you
- Sit next to someone you don’t normally sit next to at meal times or on the bus.
- Be willing to try speaking a foreign language no matter how uncomfortable you feel.
- Try to find common ground (Sports, Movies, Culture, History etc.)
- Reach out to people that no one else is reaching out to.
- Spend time with the Lord and allow Him to affirm you and give you strength/love.
- Listen to the Holy Spirit when he prompts you to talk with someone
Amanda Forman lives with her family in southern Florida and has traveled on several Global Encounters teams. She has actually visited six continents, including extensive travels in China and Africa, and hopes to add Antarctica to her collection in the future. Amanda recently graduated with a biology major, and is pursuing opportunities in humanitarian aid and development. Click here to watch a short video about Ecuador's culture and heritage that she created for the Global Encounters teams.