Slowly, Slowly

Slowly, slowly isn’t a handicap.
To go fast is to go, To go slow is to go.
Fast, fast has no blessing.

These island proverbs embrace doing things slowly. These past weeks I was reminded of them and even learned that the neighboring countries have their own versions of these same proverbs in their languages.
It can often be a frustration when two cultures meet if their pace of life is different. Generally the pace of island life is slower. The expectation that things will or should get done in a certain amount of time is different.

Island sunsetting

Our upbringing in the West often valued speed and efficiency.

Time is of the essence.
The early bird gets the worm.
Time is money.
We haven’t got all day.
There’s no time like the present.

It is funny that the blog last week talked about the speedy trip on the back of a boda (African motorcycle), because while that was terrifyingly fast and Tom wished it to slow down, often times things here move slowly and we wish they would move faster. As a very apt example, as I was walking in an international airport last week, I often found myself stuck behind groups of people walking at a much slower pace than I would have chosen or expected.  I found myself waiting for an opening, so that I might quickly get by and go at my own, faster pace.

We have changed though.  We have slowed down during our life on the islands. We don’t come to a day with the same expectations that we did when we first arrived. One of our colleagues here was talking about a short-termer who struggles with not getting much done each day. She came from being a terribly efficient person in her western home country with a packed schedule. Now she sits around talking to people, learning language and making friends, and feels like she isn’t getting anything done. We gave our usual advice for people new to the islands— set low expectations for each day. Plan on getting one thing done in the morning, one thing done in the afternoon.  If you get to more, great! If not, great! Because ultimately it isn’t in our control. I might want to speed around and get a lot of things done but an errand at an office (that seems like it should take 5 minutes) might take hours. I might have to wait a long time and then learn I have to come back another day. I might plan to do something and then have an unexpected visitor that talks for a long time before eventually coming to the reason they came (if they had one).

Slowly, slowly sugar crystals form rock candy!

But even if it was all in my control and I could rush and get lots done, those proverbs tell us that islanders don’t see that as a good thing. I have had islanders comment a few times on the speed I walk. If I am walking by myself, going somewhere on an errand for example, it’s not conscious but I walk much faster than islanders would. They ask me if everything is okay? Am I in a hurry? One islander talked about how foreigners are always walking by so fast, so they don’t greet the people they pass properly or thoroughly enough.

It is still a challenge sometimes to slow myself down and to be content with the slower speed. I have one island friend that walks very slowly and it takes a lot of conscious effort to walk at her speed.  But I have to remind myself that this is what I am doing right now, I am walking with my friend, so I can take all the time needed for that, even if that is slowly, slowly.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We made it back safely to Clove Island with our daughter’s refrigerated meds! Thanks for praying. Our colleague’s toddler daughter had an encouraging report from her scans and is able to cut back on a lot of her meds and was released from the hospital.  Our teammate will be able to work at the hospital and was able to meet the island woman that she will be working closely with, still waiting to negotiate all the expectations. Tom has been able to study with Muki and his son Mtsa several times. Our island sister on the small island has continued to stand strong. A new worker has arrived safely on the big island and started orientation. 


PRAYERS REQUESTED
One of our good friends and former colleagues is visiting the islands this week, pray that her short time would encourage all those that she is able to reconnect with (including us!). The heat has definitely increased— pray for our stamina and energy levels as we head into the hotter, more humid season. Next month we will be going to the small island to help run the orientation for the new team starting there, pray for us as we coordinate with the team leaders and plan that time. Pray also that we would know the best way to travel to the small island (there are no direct flights right now, so the airline makes people pay double to go via the big island). One brother on Clove Island just lost his aunt (who was also his defender before the rest of his family), pray that he would be comforted and strengthen his relationship with the rest of his family during this time of grief.