Room to Be Different

We were at a thrift store, looking for clothes for our daughter. She needed to supplement her wardrobe for school in the fall. I collected some options and she whittled things down to what she liked. A few times she chose things that were similar to clothes I wear, but other times I was caught off guard as she chose colors, patterns and styles that I would never choose for myself.

Enjoying music and book on town green

I was actually happy about that. As much as our daughter might look like me (a frequent comment on our travels), I don’t actually want her to be just like me. Part of her growing up and maturing will be finding out who she is apart from us. If she attempted to always be like us it would stunt her growth and potential.

Years ago, I was teaching some kids and wanting them to make cards for their parents, so I did a sample one, expecting the kids to look at my sample drawing and then make their own creative drawings. But instead, the kids tirelessly worked to recreate my exact drawing, even though I told them to make theirs different.  It was a fail. For most, my example was too hard to copy, but too good for them to imagine doing anything else.  Instead of setting the kids free to be themselves and make something different, I had given them an insurmountable goal and stifled creativity.

Fun with friends

Sometimes I’ve worried about that being a team leader. Our first team leaders were amazingly gifted in ways that we aren’t and I remember having to remind myself to try not to compare myself to them too much. It was a delicate balance of not rejecting their example while not being bound by it either. We see people with different gifts and backgrounds join our team and we know that they will naturally look up to us as their team leaders, but at the same time, we don’t want a team full of Tom & Megan’s. We have to be conscious that our words and praise affirm different ways of living and reaching out on the islands, lest our example speak too loudly and seem like the only way. (This is also where having veteran teammates who provide more diverse models is so great!)

As an organization, we are wanting, looking to be more diverse. We want teammates from different countries and cultures— knowing that with that diversity we will gain new perspectives and outlooks. Our teams will become deeper and richer. At the same time we realize that lots of our models and structures are designed from western mindsets and cater to western ideals. Won’t these models just stifle nonWesterners or set them up to be uncomfortable or to feel like they are failing?

An experienced cook immediately knows how to take a recipe and make it their own. They can improvise, using what they have.  They know what works and what doesn’t.  On the other hand, an inexperienced cook must look at the recipe closely. They aren’t sure if substituting different things will work. They don’t know which instructions and ingredients will make the difference between a successful or failed dish.

We have a cookbook that is a standout as it doesn’t assume you have access to the same ingredients as the authors. There are no pictures for you to compare your finished dish with the beautiful ‘right one’. Instead at every step it lists a bunch of different possibilities and variations depending on what you have and what method of cooking is available to you. The writers obviously had a diverse background and were thoughtful and intentional to make their cookbook helpful for lots of people in different contexts.

As we look ahead with our kids, our teams, the islands— we are looking for more role models. One model, one way usually isn’t enough. We pray that different godly men and women will enter our kids’ lives to inspire them and open up different paths and possibilities for them. We pray for more teammates from different cultures and backgrounds! May we all flourish into the unique people and communities God has made each of us to be!

Bike injury

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We have continued to be blessed by the chances to reconnect with friends and groups after many years. We have thankful that God has seen us through all the travels and logistics. We are thankful that this coming week our youngest son will turn 10 and we will be able to see extended family members that we haven’t seen in years! We are thankful that our daughter wasn't more hurt after a bad fall off a bike (swollen face and black eye, but nothing broken).

PRAYERS REQUESTED
We continue to hear from teammates and islanders about high prices and shortages on goods— most recently it was struggles to find gas canisters for stoves. Pray for them as they. Pray with us on the islands that we would have teams prepared to receive and welcome more workers from different countries and for the workers and sending groups. Pray for Megan’s back— after weeks with lots of travel and meetings, it is becoming more sensitive and quick to ache— pray for strengthening and no injury. Pray that our teammates would be sustained through more events (even with loud speakers set up right in front of their house)— pray for their rest and endurance. Pray for the translation project and checking this week.