Today we continue with our Capacity on the Field Series. There will be a new post every M, W, F this month, exploring what factors into your capacity on the field. You can find the previously published posts in this series here.

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Anyone who has lived and worked outside of their home culture knows the intensity of surprises and confusion that come up almost daily in your first months and years in that new place. Things that every kindergartner knows perfectly how to do in the new place are baffling to the adult newcomer! Everything from mealtimes to greetings to crossing the street are probably not done “there” like you did them at “home.”

So how do you adjust? For your own comfort and even more for the sake of presenting God’s truths well. . . . how do you adjust?

There are two key components to this idea of building capacity for cultural adjustment. Today I want to mention the big picture and give a big picture view of those two key components.

The first simple, big idea: You build capacity by seeing yourself as a Learner of Culture. Always. Well, most of the time.

You don’t go to buy groceries. You go to be a learner of how to navigate the market or grocery store. Oh yes, and by the way, pick up the groceries you need!

You don’t just “go to church.” You go to learn how your new neighbors worship God and interact with one another. Oh yes, and you give your own heart-felt worship to God at the same time.

You don’t just travel to another city in your host country. You take long field trips to learn how people act from one region to another. . . . and of course, you also accomplish the purpose of the trip.

There are all kinds of tools that help you to be a learner in the new culture. Attitudes like humility, empathy and curiosity help. Skills like observation, note taking, asking good questions, and awareness of relationship patterns are useful. Knowledge about some of the most common ways that cultures differ allow you to watch for those parts of life. (And the wisdom to know when to extend grace to yourself and simply go to the grocery store. This kind of wisdom fosters a capacity rooted in sanity!)

CultureBound, the organization I work with, published a book called Culture Learning that gives more detail about the attitudes, skills, and knowledge that help people learn the patterns of another culture. That learner’s attitude and developing those skills, attitudes, and knowledge is one way to enlarge cultural capacity.

The second simple big idea for building capacity as a culture learner is to keep your eyes on your own walk with the Lord. He opens hearts to His message (Acts 16:14) and He opens minds to His truths (Luke 24). His promise to never leave us nor forsake us is absolutely solid (Matthew 28:20). One of the passages that I have seen Him use over and over again in my own life is the simple instruction found in 2 Peter 3:18 “Grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

As you build capacity by being a culture learner, also build capacity by your own growth in the Lord. He will be with you to open your eyes to the customs and patterns of your culture; and He will open hearts and minds to the message of His kingdom that you are carrying into what may be for you an unfamiliar language and culture. Be encouraged – your current culture isn’t unfamiliar to Him!