Just Go

It was a lazy Thursday morning, and my wife and I were gradually getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner at a friend’s house. Then we turned on the T.V. to watch the news. BBC news reported on terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Suddenly I wasn’t in the mood for turkey.

We both had a sick feeling in the pits of our stomachs. We both had the same first thought, that of comparison to a certain day in September. But I believe our reasons weren’t the same as those of many others. This was before we knew anything about Westerners being hostages. All we knew was India was under attack, and that was enough. We felt for India as we would for a friend.

Last year, we had the opportunity to visit a ministry in the Southwestern part of India. During that time we developed friendships that we hope will continue. We also hope to return this year, as there is more work that can continue. I won’t describe it in detail for reasons I’ll explain later. The main point is, going to India altered and expanded our perspective more than somewhat. Though we were just there a week, that was all the time it took to expand our view of family. We were connected.

If I were called upon to give a sermon, it would be two words. Just go. Many in Christian circles read Acts 1:8 and related passages in the Gospels with the intention of dissecting the entire command. This is necessary as well, but let’s not miss the power in that first word alone. There is power in going.

I missed that power on my first missions trip. I went to England for a week with teachers and fellow juniors and seniors in our small Christian school. We went from jet lag to literature distribution in a matter of hours. The rest of the week consisted of presentations, one after the other. I can’t remember a single conversation. I also don’t remember much about England, except which words they apparently consider vulgar.

My second short term trip came several years after college. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, so I came to Korea to try teaching English as a Second Language and the Bible to college students. I taught and learned simultaneously, and my point of view began to expand. Until then I was unaware of the possibility to be a Christian and dislike President Bush. Wasn’t God a Republican?

Perhaps the language barrier required much more listening, but whatever the case, it began a journey that continues to challenge. And then there was India.

I can’t remember what we taught when we visited India, but maybe if I were pressed I’d remember. That wasn’t our primary reason for going. We went to see.

I remember learning how much diversity can be in one country, by seeing people with different languages and cultures from different Indian states work alongside us. A seminary professor asked for us to bring a group back the following year because he wanted to see more diversity. As an expatriate in Korea, diversity wasn’t something I saw or heard about every day.

I also learned I wasn’t the only one with something to say. When I was handed a microphone for our assembly following Vacation Bible School I passed it to students asking what they learned. We put our common language and lessons to good use.

There were many other lessons I learned about poverty and wealth, how rich we really are, and the blessing a common language can be. I didn’t learn by holding on to the microphone; I had to hand it over.

When I contrast India and Korea with England, I remember the microphone and I can spot the difference. When we went to England, we had a common language, but we were trained to talk. We had a message to share, and we had to spew it out in as many ways possible. Our eyes and ears weren’t shut, but it was pretty close.

In Korea and India, I still had a purpose and a message to share. But I had to watch and listen before I could teach. My human nature wanted to hang on to the microphone, because I had to say something, but I never would have learned that way. And only by learning can we truly hope to teach.

Back to the two word sermon. Just going means I have to be silent first, only using my voice to ask questions. In going there is learning, and from learning we can truly teach and share. I hope more of us decide to go, with service in our hearts. We are there to help, but also to listen and learn. And when it’s our turn to hold the microphone, we’ll know what to do.

—-

Matt Miles is currently living in South Korea. He teaches English as a second language to elementary students, and leads visits to local orphanages and nursing homes. He also encourages reading world news with an international focus. He enjoys traveling when he can.