MOHINGALAND

REFLECTIONS FROM PIONEERS SERVING HERE

What is something you want everyone to know about your host country / culture?

Despite being a people of rich culture and inner beauty, they simply have had very limited exposure to the Gospel message. Even the very limited few who have been exposed to the Good News, have not witnessed a sufficient body of believers who could display the transformed lifestyle Jesus brings and provide them the much needed fellowship and support a disciple needs to sustain new life in the midst of a Christ-less environment. 

What food do I absolutely need to try if I visit your host country?

You’ve got to try Mohinga. It is the Nationals main choice for breakfast. While it initially sounds odd, having a fish-based broth, it is actually very mild in taste – until one adds the accompanying chillies. The ingredients include: boiled noodles, broth, boiled egg pieces, assorted veggies along with fried noodles, bitter root pieces as a toppings. It is a great comfort food for sure. 

In your experience, what is the biggest obstacle to locals embracing the Good News?

I believe the biggest obstacle would be the centuries old indoctrination of Buddhism in which most grew up in. It is not so much a belief system as it is a way of life. To reject Buddhism would be to reject your current family along with your cherished long family heritage. Along with this deep seated family tradition, the Buddhist doctrine does not contain many basic tenets of understanding, such as the void of a creator or a creation story, as most other world religions do. There are few similar points of common beliefs to draw from or apply.

How could someone best prepare to serve cross-culturally in your part of the world?

Be prepared and committed to lay aside your own culture in order to understand and relate to those you seek to live among. Be willing to personally adapt to your new host culture. Become acquainted with their strong cultural beliefs and practices. Better yet, spend some considerable time immersed into the local culture and observe the culture first hand. Earnestly seek out and embrace a biblical understanding of suffering and it plays a role in the expressing the message of Christ and personally thriving in a difficult environment. Understand that learning the local language and embracing their culture are inseparable.