Cultural Differences

Here's something pretty exciting! This week we got a boyfriend! :D hahaha Well, maybe that's a little bit of an exaggeration, but not by too much. We met these two guys named Phani (pronounced Funny) and his best friend Kiran. They were very interested to meet us (Because we're white. Who DOESN'T want to talk to white people here?? haha ^_^ ), so they invited us over to their homes. At first, they just wanted to watch movies and play games and eat food with us (just be buddies with us), so we had to carefully explain to them that we are here to teach about Jesus Christ, not to hang out. Kiran seemed just fine with that, and we see him potentially progressing very well. However, Phani didn't seem too interested in learning about Jesus, but he loves us just the same! 

Actually, an a side note, we have a LOT of guys flirt with us here! It's not uncommon for guys to want to hold my hand, and I have had quite a few men tell me I'm cute, beautiful, and other such flirtatious comments... haha weird! Fortunately (well, fortunately because I'm a missionary), there are big cultural pressures for girls not be flirtatious, so they don't clammer all over us. In India though, being white is the semi-equivalent to a guy being able to bench press 300 pounds in America; it doesn't AUTOMATICALLY make you attractive, but it sure doesn't hurt either! he! :) 

Here's another random-ish thing about Indian culture/being a missionary here. In India, there is much, much, MUCH less "political correctness". Unlike in the USA, where people get offended at the littlest things, you can say pretty much whatever you want here. This makes for a lot of good laughs at times, and it also makes being a bold missionary much easier, because you know they won't get offended! woo woo! 

But on the flip side, they also don't always take what you say... seriously enough? I'm not sure what it is.

Here's how a lesson might go.

"The Church of Jesus Christ is Christ's church on the Earth today. It is His ONLY true church. Do you believe that?"

"Yes brother, yes brother! Most definitely!"

"Great! So, will you come to Jesus Christ's true church this Sunday?"

"Oh brother, I wish I could, but I can't..."

"Why not??"

"Well, your church timings are the same as MY church timings! And I can't skip going to my church."

.......... FACE PALM ...........

Haha even when you are as bold and direct as you possibly can, sometimes people just don't get it! :P

But, I always give them the benefit of the doubt, that maybe it's just language problems are causing a mis-communication. Like this past week we had one 18 year old investigator tell us that he is very fast. In fact, he said he ran a 5K race is five minutes and 36 seconds. 

Really? You sure? 5:36 for a 5K race?

Yes! Yes, he says he is sure!

Try not to be too jealous, but I now know the fastest man alive! ;)