cultures and the nations

International Potluck happened last night. It was a night set apart at CAM to celebrate the many cultures represented at the school. This year there are 19 countries represented among students and teachers. This is impressive considering there are only around 60 students that attend CAM. 

The night consisted of outfits, foods, trivia, and even dances done from different countries. The costumes were very diverse and representative of the different countries ranging from India to the Philippines to Nigeria to Brazil to Russia to Canada to Holland. There were even tables with foods from each country represented. That was probably my favorite part. Overall the turnout was great! In honor of Halloween I even shared some treats and candy corn with my students!

I'm so grateful to be able to be living and teaching in Mozambique. Something that I love about my job is getting to be in a setting that does have so many cultures present. One of the challenges has been trying to teach my high school US history class. In the class there are only two Americans, neither of which have spent very many years actually living in the U.S. I must say that I have had to think of creative ways and gain new perspectives on the United States while teaching it here. The amount of languages that the students are able to speak amazes me. It has been wonderful to be able to be in such a culturally rich environment. 

Learning about culture is a huge part of moving halfway across the world. Often times I wonder about why things are done a certain way, then I think why does that seem so strange to me? Then I think why do I do certain things the way that I do? It has really changed my perspective on culture in general. Things that I never even realized are such a part of American culture that it is hard to even identify unless it is confronted. 

I am grateful for the gospel. The fact that it transcends culture. The fact that regardless of how we "do" things or what we are normally "comfortable" with we are all still people that left to ourselves are caught up in our sin. Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Regardless of our culture, or even preferences, we are still dead in our sin and the only hope is Christ. And regardless of the culture or language, because of His great love, in His mercy he came so we could have life and come back into community with the Father. That's beautiful, and it's a beautiful thing to see a variety of cultures gathered together in unity because we've been washed by the blood.

Oh sing to the LORD a new song,

   for he has done marvelous things!

His right hand and his holy arm

   have worked salvation for him.

The LORD has made known his salvation;

   he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

psalm 98.1-2