Mr. Haji

“To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, NASB Updated.

Dealing with culture is part of cross cultural work. While that statement seems obvious, it’s not uncommon for culture to sneak up on you, as it were, and before you know it, pow, you’re having a cultural moment! Such a time happened to me at the post office.

I had met one of the postal workers the day before. As we talked, he indicated that he had traveled to Mecca for the Hajj. In Muslim culture, if a man goes on the Hajj, he is given the title Haji. So when I saw him again, I greeted him by his title “Mr. Haji” and he replied politely. But I was completely unprepared for what happened next.

He stood up and grabbed my hand. He did not shake my hand; he grabbed it and would not let go. In fact, he was holding my hand. Every ounce of American testosterone in my body wanted to pull away, but in Mr. Haji’s culture when a man grabs another man’s hand it indicates that he values that other person’s friendship. If I had pulled away, I would be telling him the wrong thing. So I didn’t.

After collecting my package, I went straight to the car to tell my wife. Did she offer me sympathy? No, she just laughed in my face! I do have to admit it was a little bit funny. During times like this, I realize how different our life is in the Pacific Rim from life in the United States. What a privilege we have to share Jesus with people like Mr. Haji. When I think of it that way, holding hands with a guy is not too big a sacrifice to make!

Pray that:

Pacific Rim workers will have abundant grace to handle those “cultural” moments that sneak up on them.

Mr. Haji will be drawn to Jesus through his new Western friend.

The Gospel will be broadly sown in Mr. Haji’s city, and that a spiritual harvest will come soon.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.