LEARNING TO LAUGH AT THEMSELVES
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| Michael and Amy are learning the Indonesian culture and language. |
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January 6, 2009
by Dena McMaster
Missionaries Michael and Amy Hutteman are studying the Indonesian culture and language and are finding plenty of reasons to laugh at themselves.
Michael wrote, "Every day since we arrived, we have found ourselves in all kinds of little situations where things go terribly wrong and all we can do is laugh. We say the wrong things. We do the wrong things. We act the wrong way. Sometimes we probably even look the wrong way. Through all of these little embarrassments we are learning to take ourselves pretty lightly."
Each embarrassing situation, each cultural mistake brings them closer to understanding the culture and language of the Indonesian people so that eventually they can effectively give the Gospel message in a clear, culturally relevant way.
After a month in Indonesia Michael and Amy are beginning to learn the lesson of finding themselves funny. "It helps that all our friends and neighbors are the first to laugh," Michael wrote.
Recently Michael mixed up the words for wedding and funeral, and sister and neighbor during a conversation with a store clerk in his neighborhood. The resulting conversation left everyone chuckling. But, it also gave him insight into Indonesian culture and helped him relate to his friends.
Pray for diligence for Michael and Amy as they continue studying the culture and language. They also asked for prayer that the light of Jesus will shine through their lives.
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