This week we’re writing our support letters, getting
initial paperwork done, checking that our vaccines are up to date, and turning
our eyes and hearts towards China. To
understand the culture so we can better minister, we’re reading 3 books (plus a
lot more!) The first, One World Two
Minds, talks about the differences between us and the Chinese, especially
how the way we think affects the way we see the world. It is a short book – only 76 pages – but it
is not a short “read”. After each
section I need to put down the book and think, “How can I effectively minister
to the Chinese people? What do I need to
do to teach in a way that reaches them?”
Our basic way of thinking is based on Greek philosophy and
starts from the viewpoint of the individual human being and how the world
relates to him. Individual achievement is valued. We know one person can change the world. Our
thinking process is linear. We think in
terms of cause and effect, logical progression of thought – the scientific
method. Not so with Eastern thought,
which is more holistic. They start with
the whole, because they know that the individual is too insignificant to have
an effect on it. Their thinking is
circular. They consider every point and
how it fits into the whole. They must be
in harmony with the whole.
We see ourselves
as the central figure, looking at the universe and trying to make sense of
it. They see the universe as the
reality, and we are insignificant dots on it, whose role is not so much to explain
and understand it as to relate to it.
The question that leaves me is, “How do I teach in an effective way to
bridge the gap?” We choose teaching
topics next week, and I must admit, I’m not comfortable with anything right
now.
So the prayer request this week is
that we choose topics and teach in a way that reaches their hearts. (And that we can get funds together for the
plane tickets quickly because prices are rising so quickly.)
Leslie for the Team
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