A few days ago, we took a Skype call in the wee hours of the morning. It wasn't the wee hour in California, where they were making the call, but here, we were pretty zonked waiting for 2 AM to roll around. Needless to say, it was really late by the time we went to bed.
An early morning visitor at the gate seemed to come just a few minutes after I'd closed my eyes. I'd normally ignore it, thinking it was just a door-to-door salesman, but their persistence made me think it was an emergency.
I grabbed my robe and unlocked the front door, hair all crazy, eyes puffy, all the while freaking out that I'd been "caught" sleeping in. Women rise before the sun here, and I could already imagine the thoughts in their minds before I even opened the door. "Lazy foreigner. Does she just sleep all day?"
It turned out to be a couple of government agency gals sent out to poison any standing water in our community because of a dengue outbreak. They wanted to inspect the inside of my house and our back yard. WHAT?!?! For real?
I almost had a panic attack at the thought of not being able to prepare before letting them inside. Paraguayan women have a very high standard when it comes to floors. If they live in a home with a concrete or tiled floor, it WILL be mopped and shined at least once a day. If their living area is a dirt floor or simply the yard, then they will have swept that yard so clean that no grass grows and the dirt is packed tight like concrete.As these girls were looking around our home, taking notes on that official clipboard then tilting it slightly so I couldn't read it, I was just sure it said, "No standing water. Adequate drainage. Dirty floor. Unkempt yard. Lazy. Sleeps too late."
Truth is, I've never had to live off the land, so I don't rise when the sun does, nor do I sleep when it goes down. In fact, my body rebels against this heat so badly that I reserve most of my manual labor until the sun is long gone. And homeschooling two high schoolers doesn't leave much time for daily floor scrubbing, which, considering our dog, would have to be done several times a day to keep a Paraguayan-style shine. Nor do I have much skill in whipping up a totally-from-scratch meal several times per day.
So I can either let this drive me crazy, exhaust me from trying to "do it all," or go for option 3. I'll take door #3, Monty. I laugh about the areas I don't measure up and let them poke fun at what they consider my laziness. I ask for their advice on recipes and housecleaning. I let them see my embarrassment as I humbly reveal my inadequacies. I defer to them and choose to be teachable, so that they understand we are on level ground.
And do you know what I've found? That these shy, closed people who see themselves as inferior to neighboring countries, who have had not-so-positive experiences with foreigners in the past, view me as a peer rather than an authority. Someone they can let in to their circle. Someone who needs help and isn't afraid to admit it. Someone who came to teach and to learn.
They let down their guard, that protective stance that expects me to tell them that what they're doing is all wrong. And the door opens to friendships that give access to more important things than cooking and cleaning and what time I wake up.
Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 1 Cor 12:9bDo you ever struggle with living up to the expectations of your neighbors? Folks "back home"? Other missionaries? How could God use your weaknesses for His glory?
Oh this was good for me to read this morning Christie! Thanks! And yes, those expectations huh? Right now I am struggling with language. I am home with three little boys and my chances to speak in Spanish are really limited right now. And yet, God gave me a glimpse! We work with College aged Costa Ricans, many who want to spend some time in the USA at some point. To do that, they need to practice their...wait for it...ENGLISH!! I can do that! In fact, I have even worked in the ESL circles before! So, what I often cry about (my lack of Spanish) is in part, why God brought us here! He's amazing!
ReplyDeleteFunny how He works things out, isn't it? So many times I look back to say, "Wow! You knew what You were doing all along!"
DeleteAh, Humility opens so many more doors than pride.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the God work and thank you for the reminder.
My problem comes in identifying the pride. I'd so much rather call it embarrassment or self-protection, but it boils down to pride--too concerned with someone else's perception of me. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteKeep these journals, publish the book, light up our senses. You continue to demonstrate to the world what real Christianity is.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you sweet Rachel! I'm a poor example of the real thing, but I hope to keep my vessel clean enough that His light shines out of it without obstruction. ;)
DeleteChristie,
DeleteI love the blog. Having spent some time in Paraguay, I knew exactly what you were saying about the dirt packed like concrete. Despite their "adversities" I found the Paraguayans to be open and warm and inviting; always ready to accept a guest. I fell in love with the people of that small country. Keep up the good work and i enjoy reading your blog. By the way, I love what you wrote above, "I'm a poor example of the real thing, but I hope to keep my vessel clean enough that His light shines out of it without obstruction." Very powerful statement.
Blessings,
Mike
Thanks, Mike! You're right, the people here are very inviting, and once you're in their inner circle, you may as well be a blood relative. Great folks, and pretty amazing with those crazy squeegie sticks they use as mops!
DeleteThat is such a great perspective. I am living in the midst of Mormons. At the surface level, I will NEVER be able to compete. However, I just wonder how many of them, if I could really spend some time talking to them, really NEED to hear that Jesus gives us his righteousness so that we don't have to work to achieve it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's a little tougher for you to enter their world than it is for me. ;) But you're on to something--I think it's a universal need within every person to be reconciled with God, and how freeing to find out Jesus made it possible! Praying for you as you shine the light in your community!!
DeleteChristie, this was such a great post. I lived in Central America 7 years and their floor fetish marked me for life!!!! To this day, I feel that my house is perfectly clean IF THE FLOORS ARE CLEAN, even if I haven't dusted or straightened anything for week!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, we have an enemy prowling at our back whispering, "You don't measure up." Thanks for your honesty.
What is it about those floors? ;) Sometimes when I'm freaking out about them, my kids remind me that lots of people don't bother to look at our floors because inside our home at eye level looks so different than others', so I try to console myself with that. They have a point--even with very sparse decorations, there's a marked difference in HOW I decorate.
ReplyDeleteAnd I guess if it wasn't the floors, it'd be SOMETHING, because, as you say, it's that tactic of the enemy. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
here they not only sweep the floors (and not with a broom like i use), the ladies sweep the sand around their houses, all often pregnant with a baby tied to their back... my back starts to ache just watching.
ReplyDelete:-)
and the thoughts aren't so much "lazy foreigner" as "rich white person." and it is still hard because i rarely measure up to some impossibly hypothetical missionary created from memories of someone here before me, whether it be in service, in time available, in ministry, in language or just in how i relate to others. that used to discourage me. well, actually, it still does, because i do care and i do want people to be happy with me or to think i'm a good misso.
maybe that's the point - i need to stop representing me and be completely available to represent Jesus...
"i need to stop representing me and be completely available to represent Jesus..." I like that!!!
DeleteI can relate to this! We definitely have to keep the floors really clean here (we're also in Latin America!), too, and I really struggled with feeling inadequate with that for a long time. I've adapted in some ways; I now sweep my kitchen and main room about 4 times a day, but I still only mop them twice a week. I also just focus on those rooms and take it a little more easy with the bedrooms since visitors don't usually see those rooms. We also just take our shoes off and put on house shoes when we enter the house (which is really not normal at all here... but it helps me keep up the cultural standard of floor cleanliness!)
ReplyDeleteI really like that you said you ask for their advice on housekeeping. Doing that here has opened the doors to so many friendships!
Sarah, we've got a little routine on the mopping, too, as well as an emergency action plan when we get unexpected guests. ;) Coping skills! Thanks for commenting.
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