challenge Archives - Tentmaking Today

Thank you to everyone who responded to the first issue of Tentmaker Challenges Series last month.

Here are some of your comments:

“we have been tentmakers for over a decade and can identify with all these challenges”

“Can’t wait for you to deal with our biggest challenge, which is also number one on your list – the expat trap”

“as hard as it may be to admit it, we do struggle with number 2 – materialism”

In this issue we will deal with number 6. Who would think instant communication channels would be a problem?

This does not mean you should shut down these communication channels totally, butyou should intentionally work on finding balance.

If there are children in your family, it is vital for them to connect with grandparents and relatives back home (or wherever they are). Staying connected with your home church and staff is equally important.

It is, however, alarming to learn that some couples returns home from their jobs, both of them go online immediately after dinner to chat with people back home – and stay online until bedtime.

This is worrisome on two levels.

One, they should be spending quality time as a couple to make room for their relationship to grow, and to focus on the ministry opportunities that are all around them.

Two, they are removing themselves from interaction with the very same local people to whom they have come to serve.

It is important to have a system in place so that you can keep track of the time you spend communicating with family and friends back home.

It is equally important to keep track of interactions with the local people. It is way too easy to lose focus on the real reason you are there. A good question to ask yourself is, when was the last time we visited with local people or had them in our home?

As with all things electronic, a balance will not happen by accident; it requires a thoughtful plan and follow-through. How do you maintain this balance?

Stay tuned for the next challenge in a future issue of Tentmaking Briefs.

We have been listening to returning tentmakers since 1998 and trying to learn from their experiences on how to prepare new tentmakers better. Based on their feedback we continually update the challenges of today’s tentmakers list and our course content.

Often, a returning tentmaker looks at this list with tears as they realize they were not the only ones facing these issues. It can be helpful to simply read the list as they begin the process of return culture shock. Not everyone faces all these challenges a much depends on the culture and region where they are or have been working.

Some are more equipped for challenges than others. What might seem an insignificant mole hill to one, is the proverbial mountain to the other. There are no right and wrong experiences, we are all learning as we go along.

I will be dealing with some of the challenges listed in upcoming issues of Tentmaking Briefs. Challenge number 5 below.

5. Locals with agendas

Want to practice English
Try to convert me
Help with migration
Sell you something
Debate politics or ideology

Speak English?

Some tentmakers report that people come up to them daily or more, who simply want to practice their English language skills. Over time this becomes frustrating and they start dreading these interactions. They feel that they are being taken advantage of and as a result there is a shift in their attitude toward locals. When this goes on long enough, avoidance becomes commonplace.

The converter

Then there are the locals who are trying to convert the expats to their own religion or philosophy. Some locals can be quite aggressive but if you hear them out and ask good questions, they will usually tone it down and perhaps even give you a chance to talk about what you believe.

Why are you here?

The big question locals have is why have you come to their country when everyone in their country wants to move to a better place. For them you represent the best chance at getting help in migrating to your country, if not for themselves, then a family member. Of course you are well aware that you can’t actually help them with this at all, so it is a futile discussion to be having in the first place, the result being yet another avoidance.

Business propositions

Everyone wants to improve their lot in life, so you can be seen as a potential business partner as locals try to sell you something that you can then export to your native country. Sometimes, it may even work out well, but the vast majority of the time, there is no hope for this to actually happen.

The debaters

Lastly, there are self described intellectuals who want to debate with you about the superiority of their political or religious system with facts and figures provided and also to point to flaws in your ideology. Most people find these kinds of talks a waste of time and try to avoid them.

You have read about five irritations or annoyances of tentmakers which lead to avoidance and maybe even dislike of locals. Fair enough. The big picture here is that locals (who have enough command of the English language to communicate with you) are coming to you to spend time with you and perhaps to learn from you. What a fantastic opportunity! When does this happen in your home country?

It is the fervent suggestion of this writer that you learn to look at these interactions as divine appointments instead of divine annoyances.

Stay tuned for further issues on the Tentmaker Challenges series.