Cultural Adaptation...It's Not Easy

I grew up on the Mississippi Gulf-coast. Biloxi to be exact. We (Biloxians) were definitely of the southern persuasion although our culture was very different from the rest of Mississippi. We would be more prone to eat shrimp creole, oysters or mullet (and wash it down with a Barq's Root Beer) than black eyed peas and cornbread.  Instead of a drawn out southern drawl our accent had a definite New Orleans flavor with strange sounding words that were borrowed from many different cultures.  Biloxi was founded in 1699 and has Spanish, French and many other influences. The name is taken from a tribe of Choctaw Indians that inhabited the area.

In 1969  when I was 14 I went to live with my father in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.  He was stationed at a nearby Air force base and my mother and I wanted to be near him. He had just returned from a year long stint in Vietnam and we missed him.  I was enrolled in summer school and I was not culturally prepared for what was coming!  I could not believe the differences in dress, music, accent, moral standards and last but not least violence.  I truthfully think that I could have moved to Italy and fit in about as well.  How did I adapt?  I retreated even further into my introverted shell and kept to myself.  I did not make a single friend that entire summer at school, church or in our neighborhood.  I have not one good memory of that time except for watching the Apollo 11 moon landing.  I failed cultural adaptation 101. No one prepared me for the changes and the differences. I foundered and almost went under!

Most of you are in transition at the moment.  You are living in one country studying language and soon you will be moving to a new field of service.  You have received much information and training and you, more than most are prepared to face what comes.  You have been on mission trips and many of you have even visited your future field.  All of this preparation and knowledge is good, but you must not think that adaptation will be without it's challenges.  Many of you already feel frustration about language and or cultural issues. Many have expressed after arriving on their field of service that it was harder than they thought. Some thought it would be like an eternal mission trip, but it wasn't. Adding to these issues is the issue of stress on the family.  Some have expressed that they can't wait to get to the field where there will be less stress and more time.  The reality is that stress seems to increase for the first few years on the field, and time...well let's just say you will probably be more busy than you have ever been in your life.

What are some things that we can do to mitigate these issues that have been presented?

• Make sure your devotional time (prayer and Bible study) is strong and productive.
• Work on communication with your spouse and children (if married of course).
• On the field, take some time make your house a home (comfort as well as security).
• Begin immediately to meet people and try to make friends.
• Find an accountability partner.
  
• Take control of you calendar. If you don't someone else will!
• Set aside family time and time for you and your spouse.
• Learn as much as possible about your community and participate in events if possible.
• Remember that you are not alone. 

Matthew 28:19-20  "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,  baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold,  I am with you always,  to the end of the age."  ESV

Have a great week.
Grace,
Mike