The young woman behind the bakery counter, with her big smile and dark, curly hair told me the price of bread I was buying for my family’s dinner. She said it so quickly in her local dialect that I didn't understand her. I paused and tried to remember the words in Albanian to politely ask her to repeat what she said. That moment, in the crowded bakery, I was tongue-tied and frozen. I reached in my purse, pulled out a handful of coins, and held them out to her in my open hand so she could take correct amount. I felt just like a two-year old. I mumbled ‘më fal’, which means sorry, and walked out the door embarrassed and frustrated with myself. Of course, the moment I got to the elevator of our apartment I remembered the words I could not find moments before! 

Experiences like this have stretched me beyond my comfort zone by causing me to feel dependent, even incompetent at times. My family is 5 months into a cross-cultural move that has taken us 5,000 miles from home. The culture we have dropped into is friendly, even happy we are here. While there are many similarities to our first culture, there are many differences that go well beyond the language. Even in a welcoming environment, the differences can feel overwhelming and disorienting. 

Global Migration: Over 280 million people worldwide live outside their country of origin. Often, people are fleeing oppressive governments, famine, or other extremely difficult situations and settling where the language and culture are vastly different than their own. The movement of people groups throughout the world is opening opportunities to share the Gospel in ways that would be impossible otherwise. God is using these traumatic and devastating experiences to open hearts to Him, and He wants us each to be a part of it. He calls us all to go share His good news— at times that means going to difficult places in the world and at times it just means crossing the street. 

The Wall: The Alliance has long-held the philosophy that reaching people at the heart level requires cross-cultural living. However, attempting to live cross-culturally is not easy or simple. The analogy used in the mission world is a wall. The barriers of understanding in language, family structure, differences in clothing, food, and even personal hygiene can be intimidating and stop us in our tracks. How can we overcome the wall of cultural differences? 

Become Like: To climb over the wall of differences, we carry the burden of change.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul says:
"I have become all things to all people
so that by all possible means
I might save some."

Admittedly, I have thought and said some cringe-worthy things in the past by demanding people adapt to my culture and language. To effectively reach the lost, we need to adapt, stretch, and not expect others to become like us. Rather than expecting people to come to our side of the wall, what are ways we can climb to them? How can we become like or adapt to the culture we are trying to reach?

True Hospitality: Showing God’s love to someone in a way they can best receive it might require some research and effort, but it opens hearts in ways mere words cannot. Find out how people are welcomed in their culture. Is it with tea or coffee? A handshake, kiss-kiss, or no touching at all? Discover what foods might feel like home for them and offer to help them find the foods they miss most. Learn a few phrases of greeting in their language (even if you mess it up completely, it will be appreciated). Are there places in the community they need help accessing? When we first moved to Kosovo, even basic things like getting internet or a haircut required help from others. Ask what they need, and then work to meet those needs, rather than assuming what is needed. Too often good intentions are not as helpful as we imagine.

God’s heart: God created people in His own image in a beautiful mosaic of people groups, languages and cultures. One is not “better” than the other. All are valuable in the sight of God. He commands us to love our neighbors, even when they are very different than ourselves. It might require us to climb the wall of a cultural barrier, but it is worth it and beautiful.

When a foreigner resides among you in your land, 
do not mistreat them... Love them as yourself.
Leviticus 19:33-34

My new friend: Since my bakery-fail, I have returned there many times and I am working to connect with the young woman behind the counter. She smiles at my efforts, even when I don’t say it quite right. As I learn more and more of her heart-language, I ask questions and have learned she and her family work in their bakery seven days a week. She asks where are you from and why are you here? And I am happy to tell her!

Want to connect more cross-culturally? Appleton Alliance Church’s Global Connections is for you! https://www.alliancechurch.org/ministries/global-connections