Which is better, a vacuum cleaner or a broom?

Today's photo is from Romania. These cows were trained to walk down the road and even open their own gate and go into their barn. They would never survive on our roads here in the US. This picture is a good example of today's study in preparing for a mission trip.

“Heads up!” is an expression of warning commonly used when someone is about to get clunked by a flying object. Well, here is a “heads up” about a common cross-cultural issue that often clunks short-timers and makes them fall.

Most Americans are great workers and up a high priority or value on doing a task with utmost efficiency. Remember the “hard-working” stereotype? There is an old adage that one doesn’t play until the work is done. Most Americans actually enjoy getting a job done…and the faster, the better!

Let’s look at an example from our culture: the floor is dirty. The smartest, easiest, and most efficient method of cleaning the floor has been invented – the vacuum cleaner. Every year there are newer and better vacuum cleaners on the market. The new ones are lighter, have more suction, and now have directional lights…all to clean your carpets easier, faster, and more efficiently. This is important to us. Investing in a product to do the job quicker and better than the old method is a no-brainer.

Now let’s consider the people in the country where your team is going. Possibly the thousands of years, the floors have been cleaned in the same way: with a broom. No one’s complaining. No one seems to be looking for a better method. Would anyone in these countries want the vacuum cleaner that was just described? Probably not.

The broom-users are happy to sweep and may choose to spend time talking with a friend who just dropped by while they are sweeping. Efficiency may never have crossed their minds.

Many cultures value their relationships higher than anything else and put little value in doing a task most efficiently. Now here is the “heads up”. If we are to be servants with the humility and love of Christ, we need to show openness and acceptance to the way of life of our hosts. When it comes to doing a task, you may be tempted to think and act more like an American than a Christian. When you’re tempted to ask the typical American question, “How can this job be done better or faster?”, you need to stop and remind yourself that this culture is operating with different values and that your question might be inappropriate or even disrespectful.

Demonstrating your acceptance of the way things are done in other countries shows honor, respect, and the love of Christ.

So remember:
Be open to learning why your hosts do things the way they do.
It may not be important to introduce them to your favorite higher technology.
You are trying to build relationships that honor the Lord, whom you represent.
You have come to serve in whatever capacity is needed.
You have come to learn from your new friends.
You have come to accept and love brothers and sisters in Christ who are different from you.

Read Philippians 2:3-4. Paraphrase these verses to concur with the points listed about. You may find this passage helpful to memorize.