Being Stretched ...

Chase Penix

I know this is my first entry, but I wanted to make sure I was past all of the superficial "tourist" observations and could share something of substance. This trip is teaching us to adapt to culture,(which of course is invaluable as a person called to cross-cultural ministry) but even more than that, it is teaching us to serve Humanity as effectively as possible.

We have been required to take an anthropological approach in all our different settings. We are learning to change our approach, depending on the people we work with. I´ve had to work with teens, small children, the homeless, and interact within a family. All groups have a different outlook not only because of their culture, but also because of where they are at in their lives. Because of this, this semester abroad is stretching and molding us as servants and ministers, but also forming us as students in the classroom.

We are learning the different approaches needed in different societal contexts. Tribal, peasant, and urban societies are the main focus. It has been quite an exercise going through the "what-ifs" in my mind as I work through the course. During the reading and class discussion, I have had to force myself to work through different scenarios that come up in every context. Just for fun, tonight when you, yes you the reader, do your devotional, read the story of Ruth and figure out how you can tell a tribesman that polygamy is wrong...

Finally, and most personally, the moment that I have been stretched the most. To fully understand why this was so hard, I need to take you to the previous semester while I was in Costa Rica. With less than a week to go, Amanda Osborne, Laura, and I were on our way home from a pizza shop, when we found ourselves staring down somebody´s revolver. He was obviously high, and wanted our money. So we forked over what little cash we had (we are college students so he was a little disappointed), and took Amanda´s bag that contained her iPod and Social Security Card. Not exactly a great experience.

Fast forward to this semester, last week. We were required to help out with a street ministry handing out soup to the homeless, many of which have serious drug problems. Anxiety is quite possibly the understatement of the year when trying to explain how I felt in the van riding to the serving point. I was going to confront people with the same problems, and more likely than not, the same capabilities as our friend, the Costa Rican gunman. However when I finally began to interact with the people, it really occurred to me that they, including our robber, are exactly the people I have been called to serve. There are very few circumstance that testify to spiritual bondage more than drug addiction. It´s this bondage we are called to approach as Christians, whether we are Stateside or abroad. This is just the beginning of a semester of eye-opening...