Seeking an Encounter

So I began writing this reflection some time ago, but I'd still like to share it. With Christmas coming up, there are several activities to organize and participate in, so hopefully I can share a little bit about that shortly.

There are several things that have/are/will be happening that I can perhaps just list quickly:

1) A good friend (Carl) from the U.S. that's been here volunteering and discerning just recently returned to the states.
2) Another good friend from the states (Ian), doing the same, has also returned to the U.S.
3) Greg, recently an aspirant from Australia, has discerned for marriage and has returned to Australia.
4) David (aspirant I live with) returned from a month's "community experience", which meant divided chores again :) But, he will be entering formation in San Bartolo this coming year. As will the two aspirants from the Philippines.

The aspirants at Greg's going away party.

The group that came to Carl's going away party. It was a very warm good-bye. 

Explaining to Carl how I meant to get him a going away gift but.. 

If you haven't caught onto the pattern, the majority of the people I normally speak in English with have or will shortly be leaving. I have been blessed to have them around, as they have helped a ton in my adjustment to Perú. At the same time, the change is probably providential, because it will be a time to really be immersed in the culture (lest I become comfortable with the adjustments I have made I guess). I'm actually quite excited about this, though I know it will probably come with many difficult times.

To speak about the idea of "immersion" in another culture in general is worth reflecting on, so I'll share what I've gathered through conversations and experiences here. First a few basic things:

• Culture is generated by human beings
• Human beings are made for the encounter 

Me having a cultural
experience

Thus, when we immerse ourselves, when we openly encounter another culture, we become more human. Perhaps it sounds a bit theoretical, and I must admit even to me it still sounds theoretical. But, I'm excited to incarnate this in my life. It will be something good to come back to as my experience matures. 

It seems simple, but perhaps it's not so, or at the very least its not easy. It definitely doesn't happen automatically, which I think is the beauty of it all. A plane ticket to Perú does not mean I will "become more human" through a cultural encounter, or going on a mission trip anywhere, or even going to school or work in another city. I have this tendency to think that I'm obviously giving it a shot, I mean here I am in Perú. While its an amazing opportunity, it can also be a justification to others and even to myself to be content about myself or what I've done. But, what I've found necessary, is continually, actively, intentionally opening myself to the encounter. Letting who I am really affect the immediate culture around me, as well as allowing the culture to enter me. 

I have found this balance quite difficult actually, and I think in general we tend to fall into 2 extremes, though I am far from being a sociologist. 

1. We are closed to the encounter altogether. We cling to what we know, and we reject anything foreign. Values, traditions, etc. Perhaps we are afraid of the unknown, afraid of our values being challenge, etc. I think you could call this the "ultra-conservative" approach. 
2. We feel like we need to forget who we are, simply not claim to be anyone or claim to be of another culture, and perhaps even conform to the culture around us. Further, we must celebrate everyones culture without being critical. I've been told several times that even if i wanted to be Peruvian (which I shouldn't want to be), I never will be. The encounter where you cannot be critical (or "judge") the values or traditions of another culture. 

Quite obviously an "encounter" implies an exchange between myself and an other. The first extreme is closed off to the "other" and thus blocks an encounter with (or discovering) one's self, while the second in some way forgets about "myself" and thus cannot have an authentic experience of the other. I think I usually fall more into the 2nd. 

Certainly there exists a reconciled approach, but the cross is always necessary in reconciliation and thus a seemingly good incentive not to go there, easier to simply jump to one of the extremes. The cross is perfect because it stretches horizontally for a human encounter, but also vertically for the necessary encounter with God. The two are not opposed. 

Speaking of encounters... 

La Colecta (the collection) 

To raise money for our Christmas campaigns (celebrating Christmas in the developing areas of Lima), all the pastoral centers of the Christian Life Movement send out a team into the streets with a can, some stickers, a T-shirt, and some water. Our pastoral center sent out 600 people (mostly youth). 

The presence that we had in Lima was very cool. The campaign name is simple: "Navidad es Jesús", or "Christmas is Jesus". We all had T-shirts, and were thus easily recognizable, and the enthusiasm of the youth has to be impressive to anyone. We also gave a sticker to anyone after they donated, so after a while everyone you walked by had a sticker saying "Navidad es Jesús". 

The campaign was also very effective, as we made about $16,000 net profit. This was collected from people's pocket change. I was quite impressed by this experience, as about every other person I asked would give something. 

However, being critical, part of the experience was unnecessarily tedious. Six of us spent from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. counting our collection (remember this is all pocket change). On one hand, I couldn't imagine collecting money in this manner in the U.S., but on the other hand, I'm quite sure we could have just dropped it off at the bank and they would have dumped it into a machine to count it. On a positive note,  not only to I not have an attraction to money now, but I actually get a bad taste in my mouth thinking about it. 

So during the collection, I found a good corner and stayed there for a while. There was also a shoe-polisher trying to get some business. After a while of observing me, he asked if i was a Gringo, I said yes, and he told me to come over. I didn't really want some Gringo treatment, so I declined. After another half hour of observing, he came over and dropped a coin in my can. I was pretty startled, and I felt like I had misjudged him, so I went over and talked with him for a while. It was a pretty legit "the poor widow gave everything she had"(Mk 12: 44) moment. I'm sorry to say I can't remember his name (it was something I hadn't heard before), but I found out he is from San Juan de Miraflores, which is a developing area that I have been working in, and one of our Christmas Campaigns will definitely be there.

It wasn't a magical conversation or anything. For one, we had to work with what Spanish I know. Also, I was trying to explain to him why I didn't have a girl friend. But I knew it was an encounter God was calling me to. I mean, I had the obvious task of collecting money, but its important to not get too "busy" with our tasks and forget to be attentive to encountering Christ, even in unexpected places (He promised to always be with us, if only we pay attention). After we were done talking and I went back to work, I was trying to explain to some people what the Christmas campaign is all about and I was having a little difficulty with the Spanish. My recently-made friend noticed, and he came over and explained the whole thing and how it was a good cause, and the people made a donation. It was very cool. 

Our "exam" in Spanish Class. RJ dosing off in the background, Greg already fast
asleep, me working diligently, and David taking advantage of me working diligently.
This is why our Spanish is so good :)