One Question: Advice on Serving in Malaysia

Recently, I wrote to many friends who are nationals of countries that receive missionaries. All of these friends have worked with westerners and many of them have served as missionaries themselves. I asked my friends to respond to one question, “What advice would you give a western missionary coming to serve in your country?” 

Every Monday, internet access permitting, I post their responses. Last week we heard from Sugi from Java, Indonesia and the week before from Soro here in Papua. If you missed it, you can read Sugi's letter here and Soro's letter here.

 Advice from Kae on serving in Malaysia

Bio: A Malaysian growing up in multicultural but still very Eastern cultured Malaysia, Kae first met the ‘West’ in her late teens at university in England. She later married a western culture French husband, and the two encountered many cultural clashes at the beginning. She describes finally coming to the understanding that their actions weren’t just about individual personalities, but also a reflection of each other’s culture. 

Kae describes her family life as “a bright and noisy space, and with our bicultural or third culture kids, I can say the journey has been exhilarating, excruciating, enriching.” Kae highly recommends the book Foreign to Familiar for anyone interested in better understanding how to navigate cross-cultural relationships.

Q: What advice would you give to a western missionary coming to serve in Malaysia?

I think one main difference is perhaps where the west values efficiency, or goals and objectives achieved, the east values RELATIONSHIPS, or networks and contacts made. So I spend and value my time differently: for me every moment I spend chatting and eating with someone is as valuable if not more, as every moment a westerner may spend doing something else to achieve a goal. 

I hope a western missionary will learn to appreciate the importance "easterners" attach to dialogue, communication, building relationships. I hope you will then find less frustration in how long it takes to get things done. Things will get done when the groundwork is laid, when friendships are made, but first, let's go and have a cup of tea, get to know you and get to know me! 

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What about you? Are you from a country that typically receives western missionaries and charity workers? What are we doing wrong? What are we doing right? E-mail me your thoughts on anisha@benhop.co.uk

  

One Question: Advice from Java, Indonesia

Recently, I wrote to many friends who are nationals of countries that receive missionaries. All of these friends have worked with westerners and many of them have served as missionaries themselves. I asked my friends to respond to one question, “What advice would you give a western missionary coming to serve in your country?” 

Every Monday, internet access permitting, I post their responses. Last week we heard from Soro here in Papua. If you missed it, you can read Soro's letter here.

 

Advice from Sugi on serving in Java, Indonesia

Bio: Sugi, together with his wife Elva, serve with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in Taiwan. Sugi and Elva travel throughout South East Asia working alongside local churches to provide in depth bible teaching to local pastors, church workers, and Christian fellowships. You can read more about the ministry of YWAM here: http://www.ywamtaipei.com/    

Q: What advice would you give to a western missionary coming to serve in Indonesia? 

I think this is not a simple question to answer, because the culture in Indonesia is really diverse. You live and serve among the people of Papua, which I don't really understand their culture. Honestly in my thought Papua still mostly jungle, people eat sagu (papeda), and eat silk worm. While I grew up eat rice as my main staple, from Chinese descendant, went to Catholic school from kindergarten up to high school in the Island of Java which predominantly Muslim.

I've met YWAMers from Papua in 2012 during National staff conference in Makassar (South Sulawesi) and I feel there are many things I need to know and learn from their culture. We might speak the same language though honestly I found it not easy to understand their Bahasa.

If one day I have the opportunity to visit and stay in Papua I would (and this could be my advice to westerners too):

·         Learn their language. Because when you learn their language, you learn their culture. 

·         Easterner mostly don't speak what in their mind, need to understand what we try to say between the lines. I sometimes find it hard to understand it too. Often I will rephrase what someone is trying to say just to make sure I understand what they are saying or if that's really what they mean to say. 

·         Don't be afraid to make mistakes (because you will) and learn from your mistakes. Better to learn from someone else's mistakes. Less painful. 

·         Can't learn anyone’s culture in a day, or a month. It takes sometime; so give yourselves some grace.

 

·         Watch and learn from the locals, don't be embarrassed to ask and learn. In general, I believe Indonesia is really hospitable.

What about you? Are you from a country that typically receives western missionaries and charity workers? What are we doing wrong? What are we doing right? E-mail me your thoughts on anisha@benhop.co.uk

One Question: Advice from Papua, Indonesia

In my last journal entry, I wrote about the ups and downs of adjusting to a new culture and life in Papua. In my list of 10 things, two of the positive aspects of living in Papua were the gains of having local friends who encourage and advise. 

Papuan and Indonesian friends have a lot to say about how western missionaries should behave and serve their country. So they should. Over the last three months we have learned a great deal from these friends, lessons that I could not have learned so effectively any other way.

Recently, I wrote to many friends who are nationals of countries that receive missionaries. All of these friends have worked with westerners and many of them have served as missionaries themselves. I asked my friends to respond to one question, 

“What advice would you give a western missionary coming to serve in your country?” 

Every Monday, internet access permitting, I’ll post their responses. Today we’ll start here in Papua with my friend Soro. Soro was our first language teacher and is on his way to Australia to complete his master’s degree. 

Advice from Soro in Papua, Indonesia

“Papua land is a small heaven which fell to the earth” this is a sentence of a song named “I am Papuan” it shows how Papuans so proud about their given island and everything consist in, such as, natural resources, beautiful views, multiple cultures and the creatures live in.

West Papua is a good place. However until today, many of areas in Papua still need special intentions because of the limitation of the access of some crucial sectors. This is one of the reasons why Papua needs those who come to serve with heart and strong willingness because of the challenges that they will face.

I know what is missionary when I was child, because missionary have brought Papua into a better civilization and close to Jesus. Until today missionary is still needed in West Papua, because West Papua needs those who work with heart and love.

Missionary are good people, and good people are mirror. People want to see if they look nice or not by facing a mirror, good people are candle, people put them on the high place so they can give the light for everyone. 

Jesus blesses all of us.

What have I learned from Soro?

• Papuans are very proud of their island. I must respect and honor their home.
•  Papuans recognise there will be challenges for western missionaries and aren't interested in flaky service. Those who come to serve must have a strong willingness to stay despite the difficulties.
• Above all, I must serve with genuine love. My life is a mirror to those around me. What kind of life am I living? Am I an example of genuine love, or caught up in my own service and thinking?

 I have much to learn, but with the help of local friends, I will do it.

What about you? Are you from a country that typically receives western missionaries and charity workers? What are we doing wrong? What are we doing right? E-mail me your thoughts on anisha@benhop.co.uk