BY: Dr. John David Smith
BMA Missions
bmamissions.org

Early in our ministry in the Cape Verde Islands, we were working on all the necessary documents for our residency there, setting up house, and endless other things. One day, I needed one document from a government office in order to accomplish everything on my list. I had submitted my request a few days earlier. I walked into the office as soon as they opened on Monday, eager to get lots done that day. I was glad to be the only person waiting in line. I was also happy to see that the four employees were seemingly sitting around with nothing to do, so certainly they had put their seal on my document…because that’s all I needed. After a long wait, the gentleman in charge asked me if he could help me. I stated my purpose for being there to which he responded, “Come back in three days; it should be ready then.” I was disappointed, angry, and imagined all the things I could say to him about how he was holding up my show! I refrained from saying anything; but as I walked back home, I rehearsed several things in my mind that I would have liked to have said to him! This was one of many encounters that I would have with myself in adapting to a new culture. The areas that were painful to me were in the areas of me being task-oriented while they were people-oriented. Also, I was time-oriented, and they were event-oriented. Getting things done in a timely manner was at the very top of my list. I don’t think it was even in the top ten on their list. Needless to say, this behind-the-scenes struggle with cultural adaptation caused me lots more frustration until I adjusted. This issue of mission:world is about opening to you a small window into the lives of missionaries so that you can see “Real Life: Things You Never Knew About the Mission Field.” We trust that stories of “real life” frustrations and victories will give you new insights on how to pray for and support your missionaries.