Step by Step to Crossing Cultures

Most people don’t just leap directly into going overseas to live the rest of their lives in a foreign culture. They start with little stepping stones. You can take these steps intentionally, or you can help someone else do it, much like you would help a little child put their toe into the water, and then slowly wade out and learn to float. Here are some ideas:

Level 1 – Aquaintance with a foreign culture. It seems that much of what we think about a foreign culture is stereotyped. For example, when I say, “Iran,” most people will have an immediate image. They won’t catch the nuance that Iran is Persian whereas another nation – say, Egypt – is not. What images do we have of China? What images do we have of Vietnam or Korea? or Nigeria? The first step is to become deeply acquainted: to have more than a passing, stereotypical image. We can help people in this way by sharing links to things that are deeply introspective and perhaps shocking – not “man hit by bus” necessarily but rather short yet deep examinations of a culture. For example, consider:

• A short 1:59 video of a market in Shanghai, China. It’s not a documentary or anything, just someone’s short clips of what life is like.
• Children “Left Behind” in China. This is a 3-part documentary about Chinese children who are left with their grandparents in the villages while parents migrate to the cities in search of work. This is a massive trend.

Level 2 – Chance meetings with a foreign culture. In any city in the West there are likely some flavors of foreign cultures to be found. Keep your eyes open! For example, in Minnesota there were a large number of Somali Muslims as well as Russians in the local Costco. I almost felt back “abroad” as the Costco there much reminded me of the Tesco in Penang, Malaysia, with the many headscarves and full-length robes. Take a moment to talk with people: just naturally, not forced conversations (and no Four Spiritual Laws right now–this is observation!). Keep an eye open for someone you can help and exchange a bit of conversation with. How did they respond to you? What emotions do you think they displayed? Are you certain you read their emotions right? How did you feel when responding to them? How do you feel about all the “foreigners” around you, now that you’ve started noticing them? How do you think God feels about them? Re-read the story of Solomon: why did God bring foreigners to Israel, and to the Temple?

Level 3 – Intentional experience of a foreign culture. Find the pockets in your city where there are elements of foreign culture. Go to dinner at a Chinese take-out place: then, after you’ve gone there once or twice, ask the owner if they serve authentic Chinese (not the Americanized version), or where he would recommend. Or find a Chinese person in your circle of acquaintance and ask them. Try out authentic Chinese and see how it’s different. Find an Indian restaurant. Try German or Polish or Russian food. Find an authentic Mexican restaurant (not the Americanized version). See if there is a minority community in your city–a “Chinatown” for example. Go spend an afternoon there. See what the experience is like. Keep a journal of your feelings and of the people you meet and how they respond to you.

Level 4 – Begin making friends with foreigners. One possibility is ministry to exchange students. Many are visiting and feel alone, and would welcome a chance to have a meal with an American family, have someone befriend them, give them an opportunity to share. Another possibility is through business networks. Or, simply take the time to buy food in cross-cultural markets in your city (if they are present) and befriend people there. Are there foreigners in your church? Seek friendships that are not casual but are ongoing. Only time and shared experience brings depth. This is the stage where you have to commit to something intentional with a few people rather than a broad experience. Ask God to bring you people and then stick with them, warts and all.

Level 5 – Take an international trip. Now it’s time to go even deeper. Start thinking about an international short-term missions trip. Preferably this will be to a culture that you already resonate with. Expect that such a trip will have trials at every stage. Journal the trials. How do you respond to them? What do you learn from them? What do you learn from the culture, and your experience of it? What were the highs and the lows? Did it meet your expectations? Do you feel like you met the culture’s expectations? What does God have to say to the culture? What might he say through you? How can you serve the culture?

Level 6 – Preparation. (Parts of Level 6 might be done before Level 5). Now is the time to really deeply explore what God says about crossing cultures, and missions, and you. Take a Perspectives course, or a missions course at a Bible school. Read through the Bible hunting for all the instances where God talks about the world, foreigners, missions, etc.

Level 7 – Choose a destination to serve. If you’ve made it this far, you’re well on the track to becoming a missionary. Now is the time to begin examining your calling and the culture you feel called to serve. A few more short-term trips may be in order while you settle on a destination.

Level 8 – Agency selection. Again, parts of level 7 and 8 can be mixed in here. Generally, though, I recommend knowing where you are being called, and selecting an agency that will facilitate the calling, and not the other way around. I know there are authors who say missionaries should offer themselves sacrificially to an agency, but I think that’s the course to burnout. We should offer ourselves to God, who knows how He has designed us, and who has made our burden light. Knowing our calling is something between us and God. Anyway, once you’ve selected an agency, you’ll need to go through their candidate preparation.

Level 9 – Head out to the field. This is the end-point: but as Lewis said in the Last Battle, “This is Chapter One of the real story.” Every thing else is just preface. I won’t go into the real story here, as my aim is more to help you navigate the preface first. We tend to want to jump straight to the back of the book–but if you read the full story the ending is always more satisfying. And in order to decide which story you want to read, its best to read the preface first. I hope this guide helps you!

If you have comments, please post them below to help us all.