“You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.” Luke 7:45 (NIV)
Next week I leave America and head back to Africa. During eleven months in America only three times did we receive an invitation to someone’s home. Had it not been for our strong family ties in Oregon we would have spent our furlough in splendid isolation. Africa is a different story. I know that when I arrive in Tete I will be invited to everyone’s home and if I do not show up in the first week, my friends will come find me where I am staying and visit me. Most of the churches we visited in the U.S. gave us a “5-minute window” for us to share information about our previous three years of ministry in Africa. In Mozambique, when I arrive at any church they will give me a seat of honor at the front of the church. They will bring chairs from a neighbor’s house if necessary so that my wife and children don’t have to sit on the floor. I will be invited to preach and take as long as I wish. When the service is over we will more than likely be invited to dine with people who spend the better part of their lives hungry.
American Christians are amazingly generous. They have faithfully supported us financially for almost ten years. But I guess after living in Africa all that time I expected a different reception in America. Maybe I wished that when I came to someone’s house that they would serve me tea like they do in Africa. Or act like they don’t have anything else in the world more important than conversing with a guest. But this is America. Everyone is very busy. If I showed up unannounced at someone’s house here they would think it very strange while in Africa it is the most normal thing you can do. In Africa you don’t make appointments! You just show up.
I will miss the comfort in America. The furniture here is so soft! But I look forward to the hospitality in Africa. The chairs are very hard, but the welcome is very warm.
[...] My friend Lingamish writes about his furlough in an entry Window On The World: Hospitality in Africa. He’s not complaining, but I am. Why are not missionaries more honored? Why does so little of the American church’s money go to support missionaries? A church that sends 5% of its budget outside its own immediate community is regarded as “mission oriented” at least in my denomination. Often, that’s the total outreach budget. The rest takes care of the facilities and the upkeep on the present members. [...]
Oh my friend this entry actually made my heart ache. I know you are not complaining but you have definitely made me think.
I wonder if I lived closer if I would invite you and your family to my house. I would want to and I hope that I would – but I wonder – would I be too embarrassed because of my too small apartment, my almost non-existent “rainy-day funds” which would provide refreshments, or more importantly, my sometimes waning faith?
I cannot help but feel that we live in a vacuum-sealed country, which promotes an “ADD” culture that seeps into all areas of our lives. There are so many things that keep us occupied, running around so we never seem to have enough time to visit friends, pick up a phone, or even gently touch someone on the back and ask them how they are doing while really listening to their answer… The land of the almighty dollar doth distract… Perhaps we put things off until we have more money, until we can afford to treat you to a banquet, until we are able to discuss faith intelligently… Distractions lend to excuses – poor excuses.
The comment left by Pacesetters – is true. Our church rarely speaks of missionaries and if a missionary does come to our church to speak, rarely is it for more than 5 or 10 minutes – not nearly enough time to share. There is fellowship after the service but again, few stay – always in a rush. How fortunate and wonderful that there are people like you and your family – Adventurers and Crusaders! We that remain behind need to do more to support all of you!
You have been blessed to experience much and pass that insight and wisdom to others. I hope you continue to blog even when overseas!
Have a safe trip – please keep posting! Prayers and well wishes to you and your family! (And please stay healthy!)
kp,
You’ve been a dear friend for us, even at a distance!
Citificattion has a lot to answer for in the West, a couple of generations ago the reception would have been very different… it’s about 15 years since we were in Zaire (now CDR) but I still miss many aspects of life there!
[...] In a previous post I discussed how as overseas missionaries we can sometimes feel isolated when we are in our home country. Life continues in our absence and it is often hard to fit into the fast-paced rhythm of modern American life when you are only here for a few short months. I’d hate for you to think that we spent our time in “the U.S. of A” all sad and lonely. We had a terrific time with family and some very dear friends. When we met acquaintances at churches they were invariably kind to us and mostly in-the-know about what we had been doing. On our final Sunday at my home church I had an enlightening moment that reminded me of how the Lord surrounds us with his love while we are in a far-away land. My wife and I were sitting in the pew listening to the pastor and I noticed that seated on either side of us and in the pew in front of us were members of the same TLC group. A TLC group is a small group that usually meets once a month at someone’s home for fellowship and prayer. TLC stands for “Tender Loving Care” or “The Lord Cares.” This particular group has met for more than ten years in the same house. I’ve had a chance to attend this group a couple times over the years and have been amazed seeing the body of Christ in action, ministering to one another with various gifts. I know that this TLC group gets our email updates about our work in Mozambique and they pray for us regularly. So for me, that brief revelation on a Sunday morning, seeing myself literally surrounded by God’s people reminded me how as a missionary, the Lord remembers us in our isolation on the other side of the world and surrounds us with prayers and TLC. [...]