Settling in

Here's an old post of mine:

Frank the Missionary can't help but be wise. His is the sort of wisdom that confounds the wise. Here's his advice about settling into a new culture:

• Work out the local sense of humour. If you can get understand that, you've understood the culture - and you can be winsome and really start to enjoy the local peoples' company.


• Be vulnerable.


• Do routine fun, escapist things. For some inexplicable reason, the example Frank provided of this was walking down to the swamp with his wife each Sunday.


• In your ministry, spend the majority of your time doing stuff you love. Do this even should you be depressed. It'll look different then - it might just be washing the dishes. 

Happily, the Chilean sense of humour seems to be pretty similar to Australia - so, you give the people you love a hard time :P. I'm doing okay on this one. And, oftentimes, my cheeky comments only need simple Spanish and the people seem to find them funny, so that's a blessing too.

Being vulnerable is pretty much thrust upon you, but you can either accept it or fight it. Thank God I have come a long way on this one.

I really do need to work out some awesome Fiona-in-Chile traditions. I think I might keep going to the movies every Wednesday (cheap day!), but, as much as I enjoy the movies, it's a bit wierd going during the day.

I don't 100% agree with the last one - I think sacrifice is an important part of ministry, even if it brings suffering. But I do agree that the role God has each person play is generally something they are gifted at and love. And I don't envisage any problem doing the ministry I love here at Iglesia Cristo Redentor.