3. What should we do when we are confronted with other cultures?

 "Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it everyday." (Anonymous). The rooted quandary that lingers through everybody is diversity. Although we deny it, we are all hypocritical and we have all done wrong. When we are confronted with new cultures or different people we instinctively try to be the judge and decide whether they belong in society. If not, they are rejected and are labeled as the outcast. People do not realize the importance of diversity in the world, instead, they view it as unnecessary, inauspicious, and inconsequential; therefore, diversity is rebuffed and unaccepted. People are so sucked into the "standard" and set image of what people are supposed to be like or what people are supposed to act like.

In truth, people are simply afraid of acculturating to new things. People fear being rejected themselves so they target others and get others to agree that they don't belong. This is the cruel reality of society. We want to say that we aren't hypocritical and that everyone is unique in their own way but on the inside we have all judged others for being different. The media says that everybody is different and special in their own way but at the same time, they try to twist people's minds into thinking that there is only one specific figure and look that is defined as pretty. If a native Indian girl moves to the United States and attends an American high school this girl will feel pressured and insecure from the moment she steps into the campus. Why? The reason is because there are so many other people who are different from her and she doesn't know how to behave so that she can fit in easily and so that she will find a friend and not feel like an outcast. If the Indian girl comes into the school, even the American students will look at her and immediately think that she is different from. Both sides show how people shut down when confronted with new cultures and therefore it is difficult for people to open up to each other.

SO WHAT SHOULD WE DO WHEN WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH DIFFERENT CULTURES?

We accept. We must accept new things and different cultures because that is reality and that is the only way it will be. All people are unique and discrepant and no one can do anything to change that fact. Therefore, we must accept and let in variety and uncommon aspects. We must understand that our cultures are not the only ones that exist and that no matter how different another culture might seem, everyone is equal and no one has the right to judge anything or anybody else. One culture is no better than another culture so why would anyone think that they can make another person a loner or outsider. When we are confronted with different cultures, instead of rejecting it wholly and without second thought, we need to learn it, understand it, and accept it. 

1. How do I relate to faith? How did Don Richardson relate to faith? How do the Sawi relate to faith?

Faith is all about being able to believe and put forth all one's trust to God. Faith is being able to give up everything and know that it will be okay. Faith is being able to have a deep and everlasting relationship with God. Faith is loving God and devoting our whole life to Him with absolute trust even without any evidence to prove that He exists. 

As a Christian I have been brought up to live a good and faithful life. Throughout my life keeping my faith strong has been hard and I have stumbled through rocky paths spiritually. Living as "a good and faithful servant" is not as easy as it may seem. Faith is believing in God and keeping it strong and consistent. I believe that faith is one of the most important aspects of Christianity because faith is belief that is not based on proof or any sort of evidence. God is an unbelievable, undefinable, unstoppable king of all the universe. However, we cannot see our Lord and king. This can make it hard for average human beings to maintain faithful to God. Being able to have absolute trust and faith in God amidst all the obstacles and the works of the devil may be extremely difficult, but it is not impossible. As a Christian, that may be my biggest struggle but it is also my number one goal in life.


In the novel "The Peace Child," by Don Richardson, there is an extraordinary story about how Don Richardson related the Sawi culture to faith in order to reach out to the Sawi people. When Don Richardson first went to the Sawi village, he realized that their whole purpose in life was to gain the title of "most treacherous" among all the tribes. As he saw the treachery and lies and terror taking place in the Sawi tribe he tried to figure out a way to get the message across that Jesus is their everlasting Savior and that they shouldn't murder other people. He was trying to tell them that treachery is wrong and that it should be the opposite. Don Richardson wanted to show the Sawi that they did not have to live as cannibals and that although they have been at war and are sinners, there is still hope because Jesus died on the cross so that they may be able to repent and still live everlasting lives with God. When Don Richardson was finally able to get the Sawi people to end war, he was able to see the ritual that had to take place in order to maintain peace between the two tribes. 



In the Sawi village, when there is a war and one of the tribes want to initiate peace between the two villages, they propose to offer a 'peace child.' Although they may be cannibals whose main purpose in life is to gain the title of 'most treacherous' by fattening the victim with friendship and then viscously murdering them once they gain the victim's full trust. This a very cruel life that the Sawi people and all the other tribes lived. This was their idea of how the world was and how the world will always be: viscous, cruel, unforgiving, merciless, and treacherous. But when it comes to creating a sort of 'peace treaty' between two tribes it may be the most beautiful thing in the world. The peace ritual is basically a mirror of God's sacrifice to the world. God sacrificed His son, Jesus Christ, to us so that we may live and maintain peace just as the Sawi leader sacrificed his son to the enemy tribe so that he could save his people and maintain peace between the two tribes. The novel "Peace Child" truly exemplifies the fact that we are all sinners and flawed people who are in war with the world but God sacrificed His son so that we may all live and be forgiven for all our sins. The Sawi people put their faith in the other tribe that they shall keep the peace and not kill the peace child.

Our faith is what will save us in the end.

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

This is a quote taken from my bookmark. 

I hope that this has as much of an impact on you as it does on me... :)

One night a man had a dream. 

He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it: "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me." The Lord replied: "My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you only see one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

I AM...A FLOWER QUICKLY FADING

What factors of your native culture have informed your religious world view? Explain the impact of these factors.


Who am I? My name is Christina Yoo and I am a 16 year old Korean girl. I was born in Bellevue, Washington and lived in WA for about 7 years. I moved to South Korea and I have been attending Taejon Christian International School since 2nd grade. I was brought up in a family with two loving parents and one older sister and one younger sister. I am the middle child of the family. 


I have always called myself a Christian since I was old enough to say that I was a Christian. Although I viewed myself as a Christian, as a child, I didn't really know what that meant and even to this day, I cannot say that I fully understand the aspect of being a Christian.


Although this is my 10th year of attending TCIS, I do feel that even Christians are persecuted and not completely comfortable with exposing their religious beliefs. At our school, Christians may not be physically persecuted; however, I do believe that in one way or another, Christians are not the top of the hierarchy or the most popular or the most attractive. Therefore, this fact tends to end up with Christians within the school, not being comfortable opening and sharing their own religions and beliefs to peers. 


Apart from my dad, my family does not seem very willing or open to discussing beliefs and have insightful conversations about Christianity and God. Therefore, I was also very hesitant to sharing my opinion and belief with anybody. The way I was brought up and what I learned from as a child has really impacted my religious worldly views.

I was brought up as a middle child and I could say that I am a very quiet person. My parents always told me that I was the most behaved and calm baby out of the three. Even now, I do not have much to say. Instead, I do a lot of thinking. The thoughts roaming through my head just doesn't come out well in words. There were always things that would enlighten me and make me excited for the Lord. For example, Vida was an amazing experience for me to catch up with God and to really learn and understand more about what He has to offer me. From Vida, I was able to reconfirm my beliefs and wash away all doubts about my Father. Shameful doubts had always lingered around me and I was never able to push them away. I had been waiting and waiting for the moment when I could just 'LET GO AND LET GOD.'  As a Christian, attending a very small school where rumors spread like viruses, I could not find myself just letting God into my life and being a faithful follower of Christ. I would always find a puerile excuse to cover up why I was doubting God and why I wasn't keeping up with Him, and why I was not being faithful to Him.


As a middle child attending a Christian school which is filled with none Christians also, I grew up to become the opposite of what I wanted to be: unfaithful, surface-level, two-faced, hypocritical, fake, filled with doubt, and lacking the qualification of a child of God. Finally understanding this, I was able to change and try to be righteous and faithful to God. It really opened up my eyes to see the reality of myself compared to how great our Lord is. This is just the beginning of an endless relationship and journey with God.


"Who Am I" by Casting Crowns, is one of my favorite worship songs of all time. The moment I listened to that song, I felt my heart melting because the lyrics immediately spoke to me and related to me about how I was truly unworthy of God's everlasting mercy and love. I thought, 'To forgive a sinner like me, He must be one forgiving and caring Father.'

So WHO AM I...?

"I am a flower quickly fading,

Here today and gone tomorrow,

A wave tossed in the ocean,

A vapor in the wind.

Still you hear me when I'm calling,

Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,

And you've told me who I am.

I am yours.

I am yours."

I AM YOURS.