It’s been said that the average person suffers from three delusions.
First, that he has a good sense of humor. Second, that he’s a good
driver. And third, that he’s a good listener! *
On a mission trip, a sense of humor (good or otherwise) sure makes
life sweeter. If you’re smart, you’ll let someone with local experience
do the driving. But what about being a good listener, a good learner?
Many a missionary has discovered he or she isn’t as good at this as
first assumed. When you’re in another culture and get overwhelmed, it’s
easier to withdraw, stick with your own ways of doing things, and tune
out what you can’t make sense of.
What are some ways to avoid that trap, and instead learn as much as
we can? Here are half a dozen of my favorite cultural engagement
strategies for short-term teams.
» Read the article, Sustaining a Culture of Learning: Six Strategies for Short-Term Teams. I wrote it for a newsletter from Delta Ministries.
* Told you I was going to find a way to use this illustration somewhere!
