Guatemala and Cross-Cultural Meetings

I’m in Antigua, Guatemala, for some meetings with Camino Global leadership from around the world. So far we’ve been doing a lot of singing and praying. We’ll be here until Monday when I actually go home. 🙂

Once again, I wasn’t thinking about it, and wasn’t expecting it. My main thought before coming was that I should keep quiet and try to learn something while I was here. 🙂

So I have been listening carefully, and once again I’m struck by something.

Although we have people here from various cultures, the dominant culture is still American (USA). And I’m struck again by just how differently people from other cultures (such as the USA) think.

I will go through an entire session, and think I know what we’re talking about, and then realize that it’s something just a little different (or maybe even a lot different).

I do have the company of Keith and Ruth Ann from Canada – and several others who are not from the USA. But of course I’m enjoying the time with everyone – and trying to be quiet and learn something from any American – or Colombian – or Guatemalan – or whatever. And what better place than in Guatemala – a land of so many different cultures?

I think one reason why the Church is made up of so many different cultures is so that we can learn to see things a different way, get out of our ruts, and ultimately see more of the character of God – that we would not see otherwise.

But let’s face it – I still have a lot to learn about – and from – my friends – brothers and sisters – from the USA.