These last two years have presented me with many ups and downs. Living in another culture insures that there will be many aspects of life that will go against the grain of what you are used to doing, thinking, or feeling. In the midst of all this I have learned that it is extremely important to pick your battles carefully.
Sometimes tension arises due to cultural differences that are amoral and of little consequence. Don’t let these sorts of things get under your skin or become a bigger deal then they need to be. Weigh whether or not fighting against those things is going to be worth your energy and how it will impact those around you.
For instance, in one of my earlier blogs I told about getting a dog bite. My landlord’s wife wanted to rub red chili pepper in the bite…a home remedy to cleanse it. This is not something I would normally do, but it was not a moral issue and it was not worth damaging my relationship or worth my energy to put up a fight.
Other issues will come up that are worth addressing. Prayer is so important as you ask God to help you maneuver through these things with grace and love for yourself and others.
Another thing that I am constantly reminded of here is that only God is able to make things grow. We get to be part of plowing, planting, and watering; but only the Holy Spirit moving can change a person’s heart. Don’t let this give you an excuse to sit back, but allow it to take the pressure and responsibility off of you to make people accept what you are sharing.
Love people. Spend time with them. This is the best way to show them who Christ is and how he is a part of your own life. It is also a great way to learn language. Relationships with nationals are great motivation to want to speak better, and also a means through which to listen, practice, and learn the new way of communicating.
Two years can seem like a very long time and a very short time all at once. Don’t allow yourself to think that your own strength can make anything happen in that time, or that you will truly be able to evaluate what you did….God has asked us to go and asked us to sow seeds and reap the harvest, but we cannot cause the seeds to grow. Do your part but trust God to do his. Do not evaluate your success based on what you see. So much happens in the spiritual realm and in the future that we are unaware of.