I used to think that
having a big family was a huge disadvantage in travel- in doing “mission work” in a
third world country. The costs, risks
and excuses increase and so does the opposition- I mean, it’s okay if WE want
to go overseas and do this thing, but if it’s not something the KIDS want to
do, then surely we should consider their desires and dreams and accommodate
them. I guess this has become a part of
New Zealand culture for sure, where the children’s needs and wants are at the
forefront of a parents priorities. But
are children able to make decisions based on unseen future consequences? No. Are their friends and family who want to
see them grow up, develop and love them, also able to think about the best for
these kids? I don’t believe so.
“How can we have reverse culture shock, when we didn’t get
culture shock in the first place?” says Jamal (15) as he eats his Red Rooster
chicken like it’s on a plate of injera with his fingers. This is his first trip back to the Western
land of Australia after almost a year in Ethiopia. His four brothers and sisters have neither
been shocked so far in the past two days since we left “home” (that is,
Ethiopia.) He is right in some
ways. They really DIDN’T have much
cultural shock when we arrived into Ethiopia nor in the months that
followed. They adjusted so so so much
better than we could have hoped for.
They have managed to conquer their fears, their friendly natures and
social abilities really worked to their advantage as they adjusted to the many
differences that Ethiopia brought.
What I must conclude and encourage is that doing mission
work with many children can only be a good thing. The environment is consistent as it is full
of familiar people, language and the culture that a family develops over the years. Not only this, but it requires a new level of
companionship as a family that can only benefit your children. Our family, though still far from perfect, is
so much closer than when we were preparing to leave New Zealand a year
ago.
Then, my daughters would hardly give me kisses or cuddles
any more- especially in front of their friends-not to mention their 14 year old
brother. Now they do- unashamedly. This is one part of the Ethiopian culture
that I love- their sense of physical affection and ability to give it without
embarrassment-especially within the context of the family. It puts us families to shame. They also have times of prayer and fellowhips
around coffee, which to some extent we have adopted but not nearly as much as
the average Ethiopian families that we know and love. They also put us to shame.
But for ten months, we didn’t have a TV or playstation. We had and enjoyed many family times, playing
games, reading, having family devotions and prayers and getting out and playing
games with others. We have eaten in
restaurants as a family as we can afford to do so in Ethiopia. We have seen and experienced so much more
which has only been beneficial to our children- even in the tough times where
we have had to deal with certain challenges like being picked on or finding out
our friends have HIV-the discussions and problem solving conversations that
have come as a result will only have helped our kids to deal with bigger
problems in the future.
It doesn’t take rocket science to figure out, that what we
did, in taking our kids out of their naturaly environment in New Zealand and
risking all, despite the opposition we faced from friends and family and those
who don’t even know us, was worth it. On
the way out of Ethiopia, the lovely lady who served us in the airport, inempt
with capacity to handle this group booking, said frustratedly to her colleague,
in front of my children, that I had way too many kids. Oh, what a false belief she holds. How little does she know how much better then
world is because my children exist. How
much joy they have brought not only to us, but to those we work with and love
in Debre Zeiit and how much more they will bring into the lives of those they
will touch throughout their lives because of this experience. I love my kids so much. They are the joy that has held me together
many times throughout my adulthood.
Psa 127:3-5 Behold,
children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like
arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the
man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks
with his enemies in the gate.
