Why Micronesians Can't be Missionaries.

These are random thoughts. I did not have the time to set it up in a nice academic fashion. So forgive me if the grammar is poor, and the thoughts there are hard to follow. I type it in as it unfolds in my head.

(up next: if I have the time: Part 2: Why we islanders can & must be Missionaries)

1) The Identity Problem: There is no real unity within Micronesians. They are all loose affiliations. The problem has to do with the mentality that Micronesians have when identifying themselves. They are first and foremost from the villages they are born into: Nechocho, Rumu'u, Dededo etc.

So the church polity in the islands makes each local village church autonomous. This makes it difficult when politics and economics come into play where the village has to take a stand on issues. It becomes a damage to church relationships. Because sometimes churches on the same island can found themselves on the opposite sides of the political spectrum. Given the little population of those villages sometimes the ones voting are the same people that populate the church.

2)The lack of Global Mission: Many Micronesian Christians lack a global vision of the Great Commission. They just do not relate to it. And so there is no budget for mission work. The only existing budget that they to have is sent to a local Missionary in Yap. Other than that, there is no other effort to do anything else. But even the one that they have in Yap was initiated by foreign missionaries in the islands, not the islanders themselves.

3)The Receiving Mentality: For over a 100+ some years Micronesians have been on the receiving end of monetary benefits and stuff that the West has introduced into the islands. And so Micronesians in the many years that has passed grew comfortable with this set up. They see themselves as the ones who should be receiving not the ones giving.

4) Economical Woes: Many of the islands lack a solid economical foundation. Many of the islanders are aware of this. The distorted mentality here is that Missionaries being sent are or should be at a better advantage, economically, over the people they are sent to. Otherwise how would they support themselves and give support to the people in need.

5)Role Models: The missionaries that the islands have been receiving are, in the minds of the local islanders, rich white Westerners. They are also smart and intelligent. In this day and age, an average islander out in the islands still has no idea what the internet is. This may change, and if it does they are already at a disadvantage of being late comers.

And the list goes on....

My response

For greater clarity of thoughts, and sensitivity to each other-- and others.

Mr. Howard Merrell raise the issue: "...when we defend our way, because it makes us more comfortable we are wrong."

This was in regards to my previous statement that it seems to indicate that how one views time is a purely personal matter. I speak of my cultural view of time using the pronouns "I" "my" and "my own." I imply that those who manage their time more by the clock do it to further their own goals.
My reply is that of a "yes, I agree." I was pointing out that time is running the show too much in the world; whether it be because of economical pressures or academic pursuit, time is dictating it. Those who run their lives by the clock do so out of necessity. They have no choice over it. The world's business is run by time. My point being there is a lot of "stuff" to do.
And that is why vacations are sought after: to get away from the "rush" of life and to have personal time alone. Whether we like it or not time's telling us what to do. But at least here in the islands time is laid back. There is no rush. No hectic schedule to follow.
But then you point out to me something of your culture. You said that in the USA it is culturally inappropriate for me to make someone wait for an appointment. I might be costing them money. It seem to indicate that the other person has other priorities to attend and the meeting with you is just one in many. Where is the value of a person then? in the appointment?

Anyways, I like how Mr. and Mrs. Plaxton put it (found in the comment):

"Happiness, thanks for your continued insights into Micronesian culture and thinking. We need more of this - from the Micronesian side AND from the insane, time-and-event oriented, Western side, if we are ever to more fully love and appreciate each other. The best ground is probably somewhere in between - I wonder why that is so hard to find? "
Melody P.


BTW, of the 40+ islands in Chuuk only one island, Weno, has electricity and other modern commodities. That's roughly 2 out of 10 percent of the population in Chuuk.

Howard Merrell Responded

Happiness,
Thanks.
I posted some thoughts that are related to culture on my blog a couple of weeks ago, http://howardmerrell.blogspot.com/. Scroll down to "Ministering Inter-culturally" and "Becoming Who We Are."
At the risk of becoming culturally insensitive and defensive of my own culture let me pick at a couple things in your post, hopefully resulting in greater clarity of thought and sensitivity for both of us--and others.
You state: "There's no "8 O'clock go here, by 9 go there..." mentality. I have the comfort and freedom to change my schedule, and my life won't be affected by it. Too many people are running their lives based on time. They do it for the sake of their job, and goals. Good for them. I am at a better advantage living a more care-free and leisurely life. This is truly a blessing. In this day and age, time is running the show too much. At least in these islands, I am running my own time."
Your statement seems to indicate that how one views time is a purely personal matter. You speak of your cultural view of time using the pronouns "I" "my" and "my own." You imply that those who manage their time more by the clock do it to further their own goals.
I would suggest that as is the case with many cultural matters when we defend our way, because it makes us more comfortable we are wrong. In the USA it is culturally inappropriate for me to make someone wait for an appointment. I might be costing them money. They might have another appointment. Perhaps I am even depriving someone else of my service, ministry, loving presence, etc. later in the day, because I have not managed my schedule well at this point. None of that has to do with me. I need to serve others by appropriately managing my time. It is not necessarily self-oriented.
In the same way, when I am in your culture, I ought not to become upset at someone for being late to an appointment. Unless I know otherwise I need to assume that my late friend is behaving appropriately. If his/her lateness is matter of selfishness that is a matter for her/him to take up with the Lord. I am not the Holy Spirit.

Just one other observation. maybe it wasn't intentional, but you link the "more care-free and leisurely life." with subsitence living, which you say is "pretty low." During my brief visits to Micronesia I have noticed people using outboard motors, attached to fiberglass boats. Many of the houses have electricity. People who live near roads often use cars or trucks. Some Micronesians are reading this on a computer in an internet cafe or library at a sophisticated college or such institution. Perhaps there is a way to have both the more laid-back attitude toward time and these products of industrialized culture. If so, I am not aware of it. Industry is very time-conscious.
As the interface of my time-conscious culture and your event-oriented society grows greater, what solutions do you offer? Can you benefit from the technological advances of a culture that values promptness, and works 9 to 5, and still maintain a lifestyle in which being two hours late (I realize that even speaking of being late is to bring my culture into a description of yours)is perfectly acceptable?
I have to end this comment. I'm late. : )

6:36 PM

The things I like about Micronesia

First of all, we are people-oriented. There is so much warmth and friendliness around here that it is just infectious. I cannot count how many times in the states that I don't get the same welcoming reception that I get here in the islands. It is something that I am proud of, and blessed to identify myself as an islander. The level of warmth and friendship found here has no equal anywhere else in the world. It is a humble but uplifiting reminder at the same time that eventhough the subsistent living around here is pretty low, we value friendship and people. And to me, that is enough. What more can I ask for?

Secondly, we are event-oriented, not time-oriented. I am truly thankful that in the islands, time is not the one dictating my life. There's no "8 O'clock go here, by 9 go there..." mentality. I have the comfort and freedom to change my schedule, and my life won't be affected by it. Too many people are running their lives based on time. They do it for the sake of their job, and goals. Good for them. I am at a better advantage living a more care-free and leisurely life. This is truly a blessing. In this day and age, time is running the show too much. At least in these islands, I am running my own time.

Thirdly, we as a people have a low success driven ambition. We are satisfied easily. And we don't fret and hassle over hot water and dish washers. We strive for better lives, but we do it modestly. We are not over-eager to get the highest paying job possible, but we get the job for the job, not the money that comes with it. For example, former governors can have almost any job he/she desires at the political arena: all top paying jobs; or they can retire peacefully. In the islands one became a DYA (Department of Youth Affairs) consultant working with troubled youths. Another became a college professor.

Truly I am blessed to live in an environment such as the one here. But sometimes I take for granted the things I enjoy forgetting that people do not have this kind of freedom. I am blessed and I thank God for it.

A sermon in the making

So the lamb that was slain in Revelation 5 is because of Phil. 2. Submissive obedience to the will of the Father makes Him worthy to open the seal. If that's the case then there's a lot of implication to this. First of all, the Lamb refers to His first coming, as the sacrifice to provide propitiation of our sins. Then the Lion refers to His Second coming, as the conquering King. But all the while the two are still intertwine with each other. We see that in Jesus' ministry on earth. He was able to do miracles. The Lion within the lamb. We also see it when He washed His disciples feet, the Lamb within the Lion. Secondly, the implication is that we ought to be this way too. As followers of Him we are to model His life. So my question is, do the Lion and the Lamb refers specifically to Jesus or can they be in a way be descriptive of Christians too?

A sermon in the making.

I have been developing a sermon in my head for the past few weeks. It has to do with the idea of being a ServantLeader in the example of Jesus Christ. This came as an inspiration from a devotional book I was reading: Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, by John Piper.
In his book, he uses the analogy of Jesus as a lionlike lamb or lamblike lion, exactly the characteristics of a ServantLeader. The text that I chose for this, is Revelation 5. Opinions are very much appreciated. Make it no later than this friday, this side of the globe- timewise.

Finally!

I know I know I know........being a blogger requires a big responsibility. Here's to make up for my promise:



Highlights of what we did during the break. plus some.