Entering the Latrine: The Barrier of Otherness

Behind the scenes of "How to Use the African Pit Latrine", Kampala

"First, you must enter the latrine." -- Wilbur Sargunaraj

Isn't that always the way forward? First thing is to get in there. To abandon all that holds you back and the voices which insist that this isn't the place for you.
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I felt awkward when Pamela handed me a menstrual pad.  She had made it herself along with what seemed like thousands more.  She explained that they were made from all-natural materials, were eco-friendly, could be washed and reused for up to a year, were leak-proof, and life-changing. "You should take some home for you wife as a gift," she added without a tinge of satire.

I fumbled the OPAD, as the product was named, in my hand nervously and asked her how these pads were impacting the lives of girls in Uganda.  Pamela explained that girls from poor families and communities couldn't afford to buy disposable pads and suffered from teasing at school due to the inadequacy of traditional menstrual rags which leaked.  As a result, girls tended to miss an average of 5 school days per month (best-case scenario) and many would drop out of school altogether.  The OPAD was a simple solution -- cheap, durable, hi-quality, reusable, transformational -- and Pamela's little operation was beginning to lift up a generation of young women. [Special Note: I'm please to announce that Trinity will be adding OPADS as a new partner.]

Transforming mission looks like this.  It may be simple.  It will be uncomfortable.  It will involve stepping across the threshold to enter a place that a normal person -- even a normal you -- would not ordinarily want to enter.  It's not the kind of thing for which respectable folks line up and it probably doesn't resemble the mission trip that First Baptist Whatever goes on every year.  It's the best kind of "cutting edge" -- the uncool kind.
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I've been trouncing around Kampala these last few days with my friend, Wilbur, and my sister, Gloria, shooting footage of African latrines, dancing boda-boda drivers and rapping baristas.  My companions have (and not only on this trip) modeled well for me what it means to break barriers and to enter the world of the "other".  Actually, I am finding it difficult to get this idea out of my head.  Could it be that the most serious problem we have as humans or specifically as the Church on mission is the ancient barrier of otherness -- to cross that most uncomfortable threshold (Acts 10:25, 28)?

But if I can do that-- if I can enter the world of those who are different than I, then I have the chance to truly understand them.  Inside, I can hear their stories, appreciate their gifts, and become familiar with their struggles.  Inside, I can discover how to bring the Kingdom to bear in their unique contexts and how I can fight alongside them in their particular battles against a broken and fragmented world.  Outside, I'm not sure what I can do.

Anyway, I am still pondering.  I invite you to do the same.  I also invite you to start breaking some barriers and to experiment with entering the world of the "other".  You might be very surprised with what you find.
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Now for some Pit Latrine action! I had a blast holding the camera for the latest "Supercall Solution" with Wilbur Sargunaraj.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Christ Bhakti: Narayan Vaman Tilak

I have just recently finished H.L. Richard's Christ Bhakti: Narayan Vaman Tilak & Christian Work among Hindus (available in updated edition with new title) and wanted to briefly mention it here.  H.L.'s work is a biographical, though not strictly narrative, account of Tilak (1861-1919) who was a rather controversial figure in Indian Church history.  Himself an Indian Brahmin, Tilak's life journey is one of finding Christ as Lord, Savior and Guru and then of finding his way back into the Hindu context as a fully devoted follower of Christ.  In the book, H.L. highlights successes and analyzes flaws in a way that makes the text quite valuable to anyone pursuing an incarnational Christ-life among Hindus.

As my regular readers know, I'm not much for writing elaborate book reviews.  Instead, I will highlight below a few things that especially stood out to me.  Perhaps it will whet your appetite for more:

Tilak on Missions and Missionaries

"I am really tired of Missions and Missionaries. These with their agents form an institution which is day by day degenerating.  They are guided by selfish motives, they are slaves to self sufficiency, pride and the world.  Excepting those who join the flock and live in and for worldly motives, no other person can do anything for their country as long as they depend on these petty lords and their satellites.  There is no end to their underhand dealings, there is no end to their dependence on their flatterers.  I am educating my wife so that I may one day be free of this missionary-Christianity, missionary-injustice, and serve my country and try to lead her to Jesus just as He guides me.  Missionaries and mission-agents can never do more than what money can do." (Sept. 23, 1903)


Hard-hitting? Absolutely. A century has passed since Tilak penned these difficult lines. We who continue to labor as missionaries would do well to examine ourselves regularly in light of his words.  Are we slaves to self sufficiency? Do we basically do only what money can do?

Tilak on Women

Ten schools could not be put on a par with a single educated mother.  Before an educated wife, all learning in language is cancelled out.  Before a single educated sister, all literature and music is in vain.  It is on a single educated daughter that all future policies of a nation depend. (April 1899)

Tilak on Hinduism

Since I am an Indian, it is natural that I should take pride in our Indian literature and in our Indian mahatmas. But do not suppose it is simply out of pride that I sing their praises.  Tukaram  and Dnyaneswara were once my gurus; and, even though I am not now their disciple, I give them grateful honour as my gurus of former days.  The traditional way of union with the Supreme through bhakti (devotion), which Hindu mystics have conceived and Hindu devotees experienced, may be summed up in the for words, samipata (nearness), salokata (association), sarupata (likeness), and sayujyta ('yokedness' or union); this has helped me to enter into the meaning of that series of Christ's sayings -- 'Come after Me', 'Take My Yoke upon you', 'Become like unto Me', 'Abide in Me'.  


Let me just end with a note that I haven't read the updated version that is available on Amazon right now.  I read the 1991 edition printed in India.  I imagine that H.L. has revised and somewhat expanded the work. I am sure that this only adds value to the work.  So, if you are interested in contextualization, Hinduism, biography, etc -- check it out.

God at Cape Town: What I saw and heard today

The first full day of the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa has come to a close. I am exhausted. My fatigue today was so extreme that I know it would be unwise for me to go on for very long.  Still, let me just give a few moments to reflection.

What did I see God doing today?

More than anything else, I see God gathering His Church from every corner of the earth and knitting our hearts together as one. Again, I know that I'm extremely naive.  I'm sure there is all sort of carnality going on here and there.  But I don't really care much about that right now. I'm captivated.  I saw a tweet a few moments ago from Ines Franklin that said it perfectly, "When we get to heaven we are going to want to meet every single person there. Getting a feel for it at Cape Town 2010."  Yes, that's it exactly.  I see God in His people today. In my table (which is now complete with the addition of a pastor from Germany), His Spirit is stimulating very fruitful conversation.  My ear is straining to hear His voice there -- I know He is speaking. I'll be posting insights from our table discussion on the Lausanne Global Conversation.  Not there yet.

I'm seeing God in lots of conversations here and there.  I met so many great people today.  From the famous like John Piper, Doug Birdsall and Ajith Fernando, to the awesome like Ruth. Ruth was a great blessing to me tonight.  I sat down at an empty space where several Nigerians and Ruth (a Rwandan) were eating.  Ruth had already finished, but she settled back in and started to talk with me.  She runs a ministry called Pan African Christian Women Alliance in Rwanda where she minsters to women who have been victimized in various ways by the massacre that happened in that country in the 1990s.  Widows, orphans and others are taken care of there.  She teaches them skills that empower them to earn a living.  She teaches them about forgiveness and reconciliation.  She teaches them about Christ.  In other words, she incarnates our Savior in a remarkable way.

Ruth took her time with me.  She lived right on through the unspeakable tragedies of her country.  She told me about the losses and the pain.  "But you cannot grieve for 15 years. You cannot stay in the past.  You have to hope for the future."  So mostly she told me about forgiveness and reconciliation.  "So, it's like that . . . it's like that."

This is a solemn moment in the history of God's Church.  I believe it with all my heart.  Ebenezer from Nigeria said as much to me over dinner when he spoke of God unifying His people right here, right now, before our very eyes. Praise the Lord!

What did I hear God saying?

Allow me to be simple.

I have heard God saying to me through a number of voices, "Press on in the pursuit of contextualization." This word has come now through God's people from Norway, India, the Middle East, and elsewhere.

God is also bringing a question to my mind about partnership.  He seems to be impressing on me that He has some kinds of partnerships for me here at Cape Town 2010.  So the question swelling in my heart is, "What does the partnership look like?"

I heard God say, "Truth is not a what, it is a who -- Jesus Christ."  And, that "truth must be shared relationally, contextually, and dialogically." Finally, that "discipleship must involve the utter transformation of an individuals concept of God."

And, randomly . . . 

Did you know that there are now more cell phones than toilets in India?

Okay, time for bed. Thank you for reading and praying!