In The Face of Adversity

Day two of our DELTA missions training was all about culture. Culture stress affects the body by heightening focus, which I find a blessing. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 says "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, sot hat I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself  under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it."

The Incarnational Model is the philosophy of voluntary setting aside our way of life in order to conform of the way of life of those one is seeking to reach for the purpose of being able to show Jesus' love in word and deed. That's basically what Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians. He is forming to their culture in order to better understand those he is ministering to, and so that they may better understand Paul. We were told to be award of Ethnocentrism which affects our bias and causes us to be judgmental of another way of life.

I wouldn't know, but apparently Americans are the only true "time-keepers." What I mean is that we always say "Let's meet here at this time" and shun the late-comers (at least I do). Americans are punctual, anticipate crisis, and take satisfaction in achieving goals. On the flip side, we were told to expect El Salvadorians to not stress time, downplay crisis, and be satisfied by interaction. Some of that sounds pretty nice. I mean, if I never had a time commitment, I could never be late to anything! Not even my seven o'clock government class. Sad to say, that just isn't the American way...

We did several team building exercises. One of them being lunch. Bound together like prisoners, we were forced to work together, otherwise no sustenance for you! Our wrists were tied together so when I moved my arm, my teammates arm followed. So we decided to take turns. She took a bite, then I took a bite when she chewed. And on and on. Drinking the dark red punch was much more difficult. It's a miracle we all got away without a spill.





The other difficult, and my least favorite task was balancing. We were given a square block of wood with a large nail hammered in the middle and twelve more nails of the same size, and we were told to balance all twelve nails onto the one. No touching the wood or the table, and no help from the twenty-four hands surrounding. Half the group gave up without trying. I might have taken a five minute nap. We were lucky that one of us had done it before, although he was given careful instructions not to help us, he may have hinted a time or two. Forty-five grueling minutes later, and only two team members left at work, we had finally balanced twelve nails onto one. And yes, it is possible. Don't give up so quickly.

All but four of us had participated in training before, and they kept bringing up another balancing game. I had finally had enough of their roundabout talk and demanded our task-manager to bring out the old ball and rope. On a three inch long pipe were tied many strings which we had to hold onto the end of. On top of the pipe was placed a whiffle ball. The twelve of us circled up, grabbed our strings, and began to lift the centerpiece into the air. No dropping allowed. This was my favorite game of the day, not only because I had to take charge, but because it was successful in less than ten minutes. We walked across the room, slowly, without dropping the whiffle ball, and then through a doorway. One by one, tugging and pulling and straightening our strings, we arrived safely on the other side. No one dropping the ball.