Jessamyjoy's travel blogs:
- Senegal 2007
- Two months translating, interpreting and... 2005
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Family day
Entry 16 of 33 | show all | print this entry |
Today people came from all over for a "mission family" party to say good-bye to several people who are going on furlough or moving away. Three nurses, all of whom happened to be German, came down from the Evangelical Hospital of Bembéréké. The missionary family who had returned to Togo after the recent events forced their evacuation made the trip over. Bible translators (who I was obviously happy to talk with) popped over from another village as did several others and all of us from Parakou south (where I am) and north got together here under "la paillote" for a huge lasagna dinner and dessert and sharing time, thanking people for their service and praying them on their way.
I'm constantly amazed at the family God's given me (us) around the world. Someone read a verse about leaving home and family to serve God and the blessings that come with that. Everyone here today had left their home country and their families (Australia, Canada, South Africa, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the US and elsewhere in Bénin) to follow the Lord's call. But being the gracious God he is, he gave us all a new family made up of people from every background, speaking every language (French, German, English, Spanish, Fon, Fulani, Bariba...this is a much longer list!) that loves us just as much and cares for us just as greatly. I've not even been here two weeks and I already felt as though I could stand up and testify to the love I've been given by these people and the love I have for them.
I'll spare the details of the family afternoon, but I wanted to share a particular blessing. All of the Béninois shared the same thing and it struck me as something hard for me, an American of my generation, race, faith and economic background, to understand. But what they said shows that our God transcends these human divisions, erases them and covers us all with his infallible love that joins us truly as his children. Each of the guys I work with in the office shared a specific thing about both of the bosses that we all share who are both white men from North America.
It should be noted that colonial notions are still quite strong. As a white person, even a young female, I'm accorded a certain amount of unusual respect. At someone's home I would be offered the best seat, a cold drink (but not water because everyone knows Westerners can't drink the water) and honored. Old ideas die hard, I think, but here...the ideas aren't that old and I find myself squinting my eyes, brain churning to comprehend that I'm looked at not only as though I think I'm more important, but as though I am, somehow, more important. At home in the States I would love to believe that race is no longer an "issue"...but we all know that's not true. And here the dimensions of this "issue" multiply and complicate beyond liberal rationalization. It's true, when we walk, and probably even more when we drive because not many people do, the streets sometimes people yell out, "Hey, white person!" in a variety of languages. Kids may taunt us in the same way. I think I mentioned that babies absolutely love to stare at me. I love it because I'll be happily going about my shopping, just walking along or singing a song in church, looking around at my brothers and sisters and then I look down to see my clapping...whoa, WHITE hands. I forget that I don't look like everyone else! Usually a more obvious than gracious, curious kid reminds me by staring and I guess I'm grateful. I've rarely been the only one of anything. But it's hard to remember...and I wonder if I did remember if there would be a way to "act accordingly". I hope I always act the same no matter what...but I know I'm not treated the same as everyone else is here. Yes, prices are doubled, tripled, quadrupled the second I walk up to a stand (little do they know that despite the vast gap in our incomes I actually am without any money), yes, I see disdain in some people's eyes. But what happened today supersedes these things and is what I will remember about "race relations" and missionary-church-people relations when I leave Africa. Whether it's scars from slavery and Jim Crow in the US or the recent remainders of European imperialism in Africa, we cannot change years of history, but we can change our own hearts and behavior, by the grace and mercy of God. Sometimes, that's enough. A forest fire is started from a single flame.
The guys in the office said that even though Jim and Jon are "les patrons" (the bosses) and they are the employees, you can't tell when you walk in the office. Everyone shakes hands, something, commented one, that you don't do with your African boss, pats each other on the back, stops to chat and uses "tu" the informal "you" with one another. Elie, a local pastor, told a story with tears in his eyes of Jon coming to apologize to him. Unheard of for a boss to apologize. Each one expressed respect but more importantly friendship and love for the "patrons". I've experienced this friendship and love as we start each morning around a round table, reading God's Word and praying for people we know and then warmly shake hands for the second time that day and wish each other "bonne journée" (have a nice day). Every time anyone enters a room, they are wished "bonne arrivée" and if the other person is working, they are wished "bon travail". We stop throughout the day to talk football strategy or climatology or God's grace. Because in the end that's what it's all about. Imperialism, race, age, sex, nationality...all that remains, as Dorothé said today, is to call one another brother. That's God's grace.
Latest Comments (2)
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It's amazing (reply)
Jun 16, 2005 00:41 EST by jeff_west2000
When ever I get together with another brother or sister from a different culture it always blows me away. It must have something to do with the beauty that's displayed when God's love and our unity under Christ overcomes everything else around. Acts 4:32 'All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.' ... show all
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God's people (reply)
Jun 14, 2005 00:25 EST by shasan
It's so awesome that you're there representing the two things that have the most power (in my opinion) to unite people--language and religion.
I'm wondering though...what about tribal differences? In neighboring Nigeria, I found that tribal conflicts between Hausa/Fulani/Yoruba often outweighed religion/language in establishing good relations. For instance, Christian Fulani would fight ea... show all
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