Crossing Cultures in Missions

Finding Success in Crossing Cultures

For all those planning to work in a foreign culture, Craig Storti offers a rare treasure.  His book “The Art of Crossing Cultures” is a goldmine of practical advice that sheds light on areas that few travelers would realize need exposure.  Storti shares both how one can successfully bridge cultural differences, and also what to expect throughout the transition period from one’s homeland to foreign soil.  Below several valuable insights from his book will be discussed.

First, Storti draws the reader’s attention to issues that people consistently fail to recognize.  In other words, he tells his readers to expect the unexpected.  For example, when one travels to another country often the last thing one thinks about is the discomfort associated with a change in climate.  In many lands, the heat and humidity for some can be “debilitating, even demoralizing.”

Other unexpected difficulties include “doing without” luxuries that one takes for granted at home.  This area would certainly include the types of food one is used to eating as well as the instant technology and reliable transportation that are normally expected.  However, when one travels abroad not only will certain foods be absent, but at times communication will be interrupted (or drastically slowed down) and more time will have to be allowed for getting from one place to another.  As Storti observes, “part of the shock of country shock is not expecting it.”  And he does a good job helping those who “cross cultures” to stop and consider the hurdles that will naturally arise in different countries.

The second insight Storti notes is the importance of relationships with the locals.  He makes it quite clear that one’s work abroad will be successful only as he or she “interacts effectively with the people from the local culture.”  Maintaining these relationships is the focus of much of Storti’s book.  He believes the number one reason that expatriates fail in foreign relationships (and ultimately in business) is having the assumption that locals should behave the same way as themselves.  In other words, those who travel to other cultures simply assume that behavior in the culture they are entering is not much different than the practices of the country they left behind.  Consequently, when an important appointment is not kept by a local businessman, the expatriate naturally gets angry while forgetting that behaviors that seem strange or even rude need to be considered within the specific context.

The above assumption (that everyone lives by the same rules) can be very damaging to relationships in another culture.  Not only can the expatriate get angry and as a result begin to judge the locals as incompetent or even worse, but this erroneous thinking can also cause locals to become irritated with the foreigners.  Unfortunately, simply by an uneducated assumption barriers are erected in relationships and consequently, business is either ruined or at the very least greatly hindered.  Storti sums this point up well when he writes, “. . . our expectation, not their behavior, is the real sticking point.” (italics mine). 

The third insight flows directly from the second.  Once one understands the problem (wrong assumptions) then he or she can begin to find a solution.  Here Storti offers practical advice to help one overcome unnecessary barriers.  The broad bottom line is that people who do business in a strange culture must get acquainted with both the country and the culture.  Storti suggests three activities that should occupy the time of every expatriate and will help him learn the local culture.  They are:  1) Expats should take the time to observe the behaviors of local people; 2) Expats can initiate conversations with locals to inquire about different practices and customs; and 3) Expats must study the culture before traveling to it. 

Needless to say, the above suggestions all require some form of action (i.e. observing, talking, and studying).  In short, those who travel abroad must sufficiently prepare themselves not only before they go live in another culture, but they must also be ready to continue learning while they are there.  As Storti puts it, “the onus of learning how to behave in the local culture falls squarely on the guest, not on the host.”

As mentioned above, the insights from Storti’s book are essential to understand for anyone working in a strange culture.  People all over the world live within cultures where certain behaviors have become “normal” for them, and naturally they believe their actions are in some way “normal” for everyone else.  Storti categorically states that such an assumption will result in severe consequences.  He makes very clear what most people only theoretically understand, namely that people from diverse cultures neither share the same beliefs, nor practice the same behaviors.

“The Art of Crossing Cultures” invites those who go abroad to participate in life and business with both the “head” and the “heart.”  That is to say, Storti advises the use of one’s “head” in the forms of thinking about differences in culture, and studying them in great detail.  However, Storti also appeals to the “heart,” for he implies that only as one loves and accepts those of another culture will he or she be motivated to undertake such study.  Therefore, Storti’s book does an excellent job of instructing his readers that two important factors will ultimately cause one to either be a success or a failure in their work overseas.  These are:  adequate preparation and patient love. 

It’s no coincidence the Apostle Paul informs his young protégé Timothy with similar words of instruction.  He writes, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).  Moreover, Paul certainly didn’t forget what a fully trained missionary’s attitude should exemplify, for he doesn’t fail to remind Timothy that, “the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).  If both adequate preparation and patient love are practiced by those who go into “God’s business” overseas, then by His grace solid relationships will develop and those who hear the gospel will surely be transformed.