I like to think pretend that as we walk around South Africa our family is giving off this vibe that says, “Wow, look at that peaceful, gentle, holy family full of kindness and the Holy Spirit. They must be followers of Christ and I must talk with them immediately to learn more!” I would love to be seen as different for these reasons and these reasons alone. Unfortunately, most of the time our family unintentionally says, “Wow, look at that odd family! They’re not from around here.”

Michele, the kids, and I first noticed this when we were in London. There were a lot of differences between us and the people in our host city, but one of the biggest that stood out was the colour choices of our clothing. It did not take long for us to discover that London’s fashion style is quite monochromatic. The only things that actually seemed to have colour in it were us, other tourists who clearly did not get the message either, and the red double-decker busses. Our brightly coloured jackets and shirts stood out amidst a sea of blacks and greys, drawing the curious and puzzled stares of the locals.

In South Africa, we are probably standing out just as much, but it is not as obvious…to us at least. I imagine we are probably walking through Stellenbosch most likely making people think, “Wow, look at that very loud family with fussy kids and irritable parents snapping at their youngins (note, I do not think they use the term ‘youngins’ in South Africa) who cannot understand my clearly spoken English because of their inability to hear through differing accents. Plus that family really loves their peanut butter (of which, apparently the U.S. has an unhealthy obsession with). They are definitely not South African!”

Instead of chameleons of the missionary world, we are more like Marcus Brody in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Despite these facts, Michele, the kids, and I continue to learn, change and more fully rely on the Holy Spirit to work in and through us in our weaknesses and glaring differences. Please pray that we continue grow in our dependence on God in our work of reaching the nations.