I’m about to leave for K-town and in a couple of days I’ll probably be moving into my home stay in the slums. There are many unknowns and I will need to improvise, adjust and learn a ton in the next weeks.
However, there are some things I’ve been able to think through via discussion with teammates in order to prepare. Not so much about taking public bucket baths, but more regarding how to answer the inevitable questions:
“Who are you?” … “Why are you living here?”
My answer is simple yet complex. And I can explain from my own perspective quite clearly, at least to those who are like me. But how do I sensitively respond to such questions in a way that truly communicates my intentions in a way that my neighbors can understand from their perspective?
I’ll be using their language and they’ll interpret my response based on their own context, history, culture, semantics and perspective.
Who am I? Why am I living here?
I’m a devotee of Jesus. I’m a Jishu bokto. His devotees want to understand and be friends with people who are different from them so they can learn how to love them. Therefore, I value your community and your friendship and want to learn your language and culture. I want to learn about your religion and about who you are. I want to learn about your joys and struggles. Jishu left his home and family to love and serve others. Therefore, I am trying to follow my God’s example.
How will you help us?
Oh shoot… they got me! How will I help them? Actually, I need YOUR help right now. I don’t know how to survive properly here. You have knowledge and experience that I value. Please teach me how to survive here. You are valuable, and I am here to learn from you. I don’t know how to help you. I don’t know anything about this place. Please, I need you to be my teacher. I need you to show me how to live here.
I could introduce myself as a Christian, but this may be simply interpreted as Western culture, foreign, Hollywood, immoral, intolerant etc. It’s not MY definition of what a Christian is or should be that matters, it’s their perception of what Christian means that matters. Their point of view matters, and I’m going to join them to see life from their viewpoint – their perspective.
“What?! You’re not going to help them?” you may ask.
I don’t know how long this home stay will be. Even if I move into a long-term slum where I plan to live for many years, I’m an ignorant rookie. I don’t know jack at this point. Yes, I hope to serve my neighbors and share authentic life with them. This first year is considered a year of learning. It’s a foundational time of understanding this new and complex context.
I need to move slowly into action. But I’m convinced that proceeding with a learning attitude is also a way to empower and encourage my neighbors from the get go. They will be my teachers. I will be their student. I’m not the only one with stuff to offer.
My neighbors are resilient and creative survivors. They are my heroes and teachers. And eventually, I hope to point toward who they are as God’s image bearers. I hope to point toward their God-given creativity and beauty through which they have already found ways and reasons to live. Eventually, I hope to participate with my neighbors in finding innovative ways to serve and empower our community. Both to meet needs and also to encourage a process of team work and empowerment that can be continued without me.
People made in God’s image are everywhere, and the Holy Spirit is at work. My call is to follow God closely in community with my neighbors. God is at work, and my hope is that we will all see Jesus in new ways.
No doubt, as I meet my neighbors in their various circumstances, I will meet Jesus all over again. And this, my friends, is a privilege.
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I'm excited and so interested to hear about your year of learning.
ReplyDeletehey david. teresa here from the good old days of morrison. just a few questions for you, particularly in regards to your response to the question "how will you help us?"
ReplyDeletei understand that you are constantly thinking through your privilege (i'm hoping and assuming as a white, able-bodied, straight man), but your response troubles me. while your response comes across as humble and unobtrusive, you are asking of and taking from the poor people of colour in the slums. what is it exactly that you are exchanging in return?
how are your efforts not a replication of white colonial efforts of the past? perhaps it's not an exact replication, but it appears to be a more "liberal" and "anti-oppressive" offshoot.
i'm not trying to pick a fight with you. i'm only writing because i actually want you to elaborate and hear what you have to say. you were always the thoughtful, quiet one of "the guys" back in the day and i appreciated that.
Great to here from you Teresa! Thanks for your questions and concern with this. I appreciate all dialogue.
ReplyDeleteIt is certainly important for me to recognize my identity and the dynamics of my presence in light of the regrets throughout history. I'm in fact trying to do development in a way that works towards making things right. Living with and learning from my neighbors, especially as I start all this is, in my opinion, the opposite of colonial. And I hope that the only things I "take" from my neighbors is that which recognizes their potential and capabilities as teachers and experts in their local context. I believe that my "taking" can actually be empowering.
After I have a better grasp on culture, language, and the issues of this context, I hope to also give in more concrete ways. But I think the big attitudinal mistake of history's colonizers and many development organizations is arrogantly assuming the needs of people without first listening to them and treating them as equals with inside knowledge. I'm passionate about participation and humanizing relationships, and this takes time. I'd love to hear any more questions or comments from you either here or via email. Thanks for your words.