VISION OF THE POSSIBLE, CHAPTER 7

Overview

This chapter covers our role and residency in our culture in which we work. How do we fit in in our culture and how does the public view us?

Comments

While we do not encounter major visa obstacles like many of our coworkers in Asia and the Middle East, I think this chapter is very relevant in discussing our role in the culture in which we live. We definately need to address how the people perceive us and what do they think we are doing in their villages when absolutely no one ever from the U.S. has expressed interest living in their village. Most, if not all of us, on our team have had the ability to enter our villages without a platform or “tentmaking” job. I think in some instances it may enhance or help our cause although the locals are always going to be skeptical as to why we left the U.S. to come to a dirty village and teach english or sell chickens. These platforms can also eat away at a lot of our time.

All of what he covers on p.110(middle of page-down) is very relevent and needs to be discussed thoroughly before we hit our locations. Having a good answer when people ask what you are doing there is vital. Even if it is not specific, you do not want to fumble through this answer and create more skepticism. I am not talking of being deceitful but having an answer that applies to what you are doing that you can say every time you are asked which will be often. This answer needs to be honest and thought out and we need to be comfortable with it.

He mentions the problem of the man basing his work out of his house. I have had a problem with this as I don’t leave my house to go to a work site. I leave my house to do language learning, record stories or do storying sessions but I don’t have a work location that the people see me going to. I have even been asked if we are on vacation here!!! As my storying project has evolved, I do tell some people now that I work out of my house on this project so they see me as having a worksite. As men living in the villages, I think we will always be fighting against this perception. It has helped me to have contacts in other villages that are helping us in our ministry or storying project. This way the people do see me and know that I am leaving to go somewhere to work.