It’s not weird, it’s just different!
We just finished cross-cultural training in North Carolina. It was a flood of information and the fellow servants we met made it all worth drowning in vast sea that is cross-cultural service. One of the big ideas from training was the phrase, “It’s not weird, it’s just different.” When you live in a culture other than your home culture, this is either the phrase you repeat in your head to stay sane or you say out loud to anyone that will listen so that they know you aren’t used to whatever “it” is. The idea here is that, since you’ve spent your entire existence in one culture (probably) and that’s all you’ve known, you will likely see the other cultural you now live in as weird different. This could be in only a few aspects, such as the way they cook or the way they celebrate holidays. Or, in epic fashion, it quite literally could mean that everything is so opposite from home that you can’t help but see how weird different everything is. Let’s be honest though, weird is part of the English language (estranho in Portuguese) for a reason. For example, when you grill nice German brats and get ready to prep the bun with brown mustard and kraut but your wife just wants ketchup, that’s not different that’s weird. Or, when you order a pizza with friends on a nice summer evening in Brazil and they bust out ketchup and mayonnaise and begin to ruin their slice, it’s weird and not different. In practice though, it’s just different (not weird) because you’ve not yet been exposed to it. It’s a whole new outlook on living in another culture when you are excited to eat weird different foods, live in a weird different type of home, fellowship with weird different Christ followers, and share the love of Jesus with weird different people! 2 Corinthians 4:1-12 (NIV) was our memory verse for training. In terms of the idea of “different not weird”, it’s great to remember verse 1 (2-12 apply are great as well) and how “since we have this ministry, we do not lose heart”. As weird different (difficult, dangerous, against you, and scary) as the world may be, by His mercy we have the hope, truth, and the Holy Spirit, guiding us as we stand firm in the truth of the Gospel. So, do not lose heart!
Hey, speaking of “different not weird”! We recently posted a short video on social media that updated everyone on our current percentage of monthly support and the timeline of when we planned to head to Brazil. Well, guess what?!!! We are taking a weird different route to get on the field. Truthfully, it’s not too different, it’s just part of a bigger plan God has for us that we didn’t know was coming. We currently sit at 89.?% (82% when we posted the video) and fully plan to reach 100% before we go to Brazil. Through a series of very speedy events, (we found amazing flights, were given the OK by our international and Brazil director, and then enthusiastically greenlit by the US director) we have now booked flights for the end of November. WE ARE HEADED TO BRAZIL!!!!
So what do this mean? We are still seeking the Lord for provision. We truly value those who support us and trust that God will speak to those who have yet to join us in partnership.
Why would we book flights prior to 100% support? It’s a valid question. We are trying to get there in time to settle into our new, and very empty, rental before two separate Brazil team orientations happen that will be highly beneficial for us to attend. One is in São Paulo with the directors and the Southern team and the other is in Natal for the Northern team. Our agency usually gives the “go ahead” when you are between 90-100%, and they expressed to us that, at this point, it is best for us to get to Brazil.
How can you still help? Again, we are not quite to 100%. If the Holy Spirit is moving you to partner with us, please heed that call. Your partnership is valued more than you know. You aren’t just coming alongside us financially, you are stepping in to the work the God is doing through His people (us) as the Light of the World is shared in the depths of darkness. If you are interested in partnering, please reach out to us via, text/call, email, or social media.
May God bless you as you lean on His strength and share the glorious Gospel we have in our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.
—Chris
