An update from the beautiful country of Thailand, July 25, 2012
by Katelyn Pauls
The rainy season is now upon us here in Thailand. Every day for the last 3-4 days it has down-poured in the afternoon. However, the weather is cooler now and we are able to sleep comfortably at night with no air conditioning, just leaving the windows open. We have been doing some rearranging the last two days. Another student missionary from Southern Adventist University is coming on Thursday and they don’t have a room for her. So, she will be moving in with me and my roommate. It will be a little cozy but we will make do. It’s just temporary for now unless we decide that we really like it, then it might just stick!
The classes are going pretty well. Some students are trying my patience but I know that God put them there for a reason. Most of them are adorable and eager to learn. I have one student who is my age. She is a pleasure to teach because she is eager to learn and can communicate better than most of my other students. Today I asked her about fun things to do in the area. Now I know the name of some beautiful waterfalls and temples I need to visit.
I’m learning more about myself every day that I’m here. Last night my roommate and I had a “heart-to-heart” conversation. To make a long story short, and less embarrassing, I learned some things about me that I need to change. I learned some of my strengths and weaknesses and how they can build up or break down the team spirit we have here. I know that I need my friends here and I want to do everything I can to strengthen our team and not destroy it. God, give me the strength to change for the better. Help me to listen to Your leading and give me the humility to accept the advice given to me. Thank you, Father.
Good job, taking advice so gracefully and showing willingness to change and grow, so early in your missionary experience. If you can get a copy, I highly recommend the book With Eyes Wide Open.
Thanks for sharing!
One of the great lessons of living in a new culture is how "unabsolute" our preconceived notions are about life. A "great sin" in one culture may be seen as a minor slip in another; a "glitch" in behavior may be perceived in another as terrible beyond words. The absolutes we have learned from childhood may now seem narrow and prejudiced, when measured by the mores and standards of a different social environment.
This is what makes missionary work so demanding. At the time our family served in South America for 13 years, the percentage of foreign missionaries who actually lasted "full term" was at about 7 percent, and it's little wonder that few if any Americans now go on multi-year terms. As the 3rd World has grown more complex and educated, Americans serving abroad have faced increasingly steep learning/adaptational curves.
But not to worry, don't give up, don't wilt before the blast. Focus on your task and don't be afraid to ask questions and laugh frequently and well at your own missteps. You'll have the time of your life, if you don't take yourself and your personal views too seriously. You may well find that you will learn far more than you will ever teach your own students—and your openness and good humor will teach them more about Christianity than anything they'll learn by rote from a book.