Peace Corps for God

As I mentioned in my last post, I have recently been reading through papers sent to me by my mom, which contain old sermons delivered by my late grandfather in the 1960s.  They have been a source of continual enjoyment and reflection as they, in a way, make me feel that my grandfather is still with me and in conversation with me.  Such a feeling was further reinforced when I opened up one of the sermons to read the title of “Peace Corps for God”, delivered on August 4, 1963.

Before going over the main content of the message, I just want to say how fascinating it is to read books and writings published in another time period, as they provide incredible insight into history, and how we are shaped by the time we live in.  So often we assume ourselves to be quite independent thinkers, until events force us to realize that we are very much a product of the ideas of our family, friends, age, and time period.  It is quite interesting to see how some of our analyses as well as prognostications can be spot on while others are almost laughable in hindsight. 

Going over the words of my grandfather in 1963 is both a lesson in history and of how much has changed.  He mentions that “Communism seems to be breaking up before our eyes”.  At that time he had no idea that it would persist for another 3 decades before finally falling.

He also scolds churches for not using modern technology like mass media broadcasting and publishing to reach new populations, while simultaneously admitting that churches have become “big business” with massive amounts of funds and administration.  Compare that to now where pastors command megachurch congregations in the tens of thousands, budgets in the tens of millions, services broadcast to every corner of the earth (I can always watch Joel Osteen and T.D. Jakes, regardless of where I am in South Africa), and pastor-written books that spend weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists.

One final interesting anecdote from the sermon: my grandfather speaks of his admiration for the Mormon method of sending most of their young people on two year missions.  I don’t think it would surprise him at all to see how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has become one of the key religious organizations in the United States with a burgeoning global population which includes the Republican candidate for President.

Returning to the main content of my grandfather’s message and also the topic of this post, the sermon given so long ago was entitled “Peace Corps for God.”  My grandfather spoke of the failing of modern-day Christian churches to effectively evangelize and was of the opinion that the Peace Corps actually mimics the form of evangelism practiced in the New Testament in which Christians went to work and live among foreign-people, trying to improve their lives here on Earth, as much as trying to save their lives in the hereafter.  My grandfather says:

Now in the last two or three years we have seen the enormous success of the Peace Corps.  I have been told that this is the most successful thing that this present administration has done.  This has done a great deal too to change the image of America, which is much misunderstood in the foreign nations of the world.  In this we have young people, not only young people but the older ones too, American citizens who give two years of their life in a foreign country, working and living amongst the people, to try and teach them our know-how, and try to help them to help themselves.  This, of course, was copied from the New Testament practice, because this is how the New Testament church did it….

It would do many of us good and open up our eyes to spend two years in a foreign land for the sake of the gospel, perhaps as a teacher, as a doctor, as a businessman in the various areas where these countries are opening up.  It might give us the richest experience as well as give us an opportunity to bring the gospel to these places where they do not know it.

Dr. Jauncey goes on to say:

Increasingly the new countries who are finding their independence are impatient of missionaries who go out simply as missionaries or as evangelists.  We have had case after case of missionaries whose visas have been turned down or cancelled because that is all they know.  These countries welcome people who can help them in the struggle for a higher standard of living, possibly by teaching, practicing medicine or carrying out a trade.  These are the areas where we can work, and astonishingly enough this is not something that is new, this is something that goes back to the message of the New Testament.

Looking back 50 years later, it is amazing how wise and forward-thinking my grandfather was, and how his words still ring true today.  I may not be proclaiming the good news of Christ, but I am working to spread my own gospel of equality, improvement, and yes, as ridiculous as it sounds, a gospel of America (which I think itself is a message of equality and improvement).  Shouting the Declaration of Independence or throwing the U.S. Constitution at someone is not going to convince people of the many positives that our nation has to offer.  It is only by my example, by choosing to live and work for change amongst the people, especially when many others do not and will not – that I will truly be able to “convert” people to view Americans as friends and the United States as a force for good.  I believe such “missionary” work will have more impact than any Voice of America production.

Furthermore, I know that even if I fail in my efforts to improve lives and create positive feelings between South Africans and Americans, my time of service will give me, as Dr. Jauncey terms it, the “richest experience” I could perhaps have.  I am not even a year into my service, yet I have already learned a good deal and have made memories to last a lifetime.

All of this makes me wonder whether my grandfather, when delivering this sermon, ever considered the possibility that he would have a grandson who would join the Peace Corps and would find inspiration in his words, 50 years later.  I don’t know.  I can only hope that if he were here today, he would be proud of my work and see me in some way as fulfilling the call, even if in a secular fashion, which he made so many years ago to his congregation.

Note: If anyone is interested in reading the full text of the sermon, I have typed it up and made it available in Microsoft Word format at the link below:

4 August 1963 - Peace Corps for God

South African English Word of the Day

till – cash register

This lane is closed, but she can help you at the next till.

Speaking with the ancestors

One of the more peculiar things I have found during my time here in South Africa has been the belief of many Black South Africans that they can communicate with ancestors who have passed away.  People who will insist that they are devout Catholic, Methodist, Baptist or a number of other Christian sects seem to see no contradiction in what sociologists call syncretism i.e. the combination of Christianity with traditional African religion.  Many Black South Africans, especially in the rural areas, are absolutely certain that the ancestors play a very large role in the lives of the living such that the deceased can cause sickness, misfortune, and sometimes even death.  This belief is one of the reasons why such huge expenditure is made on funerals and tombstones, often by people of very limited means, because it is held that if you do not show the proper respect to the dead, they will be displeased and inflict suffering on you and your family as a result.  Furthermore, I have on more than one occasion at my school, witnessed a student go into a type of seizure, in which they are foaming at the mouth, with their eyes rolled back into their head and body spasming violently.  When I suggested that we should call an ambulance or take the child to the hospital, I was told that this was unnecessary as the young woman was simply being touched by the ancestors and that it would pass in due time (which it did).

I mention this because even though most Americans may not give credence to spiritual beliefs such as those described above, I think there is a yearning in every society to connect with those who have gone before.  This is one reason why people make pilgrimages to see places from which antecedents immigrated, why we hold heritage festivals, why we do genealogical research, and why we insist on making certain kinds of recipes from the “Motherland” that otherwise would seem out of place among our hot dogs and hamburgers.  Having grown up as a regular patron of Huntsville Public Library (which I understand has now opened with all of its expansion and upgrades), I always witnessed with some confusion the activities of the Walker Country Genealogical Society.  Being a young buck, to me it seemed like just a bunch of boring, old people doing boring, old work because they didn’t have anything better to do.  I wondered why they wanted to spend so much time and energy on the past instead of living in the present.

Now, though, I think I am beginning to understand.  Heritage festivals and the like are obviously an attempt to preserve a part of our identity which we consider important and that makes us distinctive.  But just as equally powerful a reason, is that it is our own way of “speaking with the ancestors”.  By finding out about and mimicking the culture and custom of those higher on our family tree, we in some way feel that we are in communion with them.

The source of all of these musings was a package I recently received from my mom that contained several sermons that my grandfather on my mom’s side preached back in the 1960s.  Dr. Jauncey was a scholar, scientist, world traveler, best-selling author, self-made man, minister, and perhaps the smartest person I have ever met in my life.  If I ever list role models, he is at the top of my list.  He passed away in 2008, and I miss being able to chat with him about all the things he did during his incredible life.

Reading through his sermons, though, in typewriter print on 50-year old paper which has been yellowed by age, I get the strange and wonderful sensation that he is right here with me – that he is talking to me, just as if I were sitting in his church back so many years ago when the message was originally delivered.  Even though he is not here, I can hear his voice, and see his face, as I read his words line by line.  I realize that in a way, he IS communicating with me, even if not in the African fashion.

P.S.

I also am now beginning to see the value in keeping old letters, antiques, and other relics from another age, since I imagine that many people have a similar sensation when in contact with things from passed-on relatives.  It also makes me wonder whether the electronic communication which forms the majority of most of our contact today will be able to provide the same experience for those who come after me.  I am skeptical.  For that reason, I see the continuing importance of handwritten letters, as the personal nature of someone’s individual script on paper will never be rivaled by an email in your Gmail inbox.

South African English Word of the Day

babalas – hangover

By the looks of his babalas, I’d say he had one too many drinks last night.

The kingdom of heaven belongs to these

Anyone who has served in the Peace Corps will tell you that it is a roller coaster of emotions and that you have to focus on the highs in order to help you get through the lows.  What I have noticed is that for me, the high moments inevitably seem to involve children.  Whenever people ask me how I enjoy my work, I always respond that I get frustrated working with the adults but absolutely LOVE working with the kids.  Whenever I feel myself getting to my breaking point as a result of the laziness, incompetence, apathy, and selfishness that I unfortunately see displayed in so many grown-ups in my area, it always takes only about 10 minutes of working with my students to correct my cynical view of the world. 

I have come to the realization that adults most times are so set in their ways that they are not willing to change (especially when the attempted change is coming from a younger, White American).  With the kids, though, it seems I still have a chance to change attitudes, mindsets, and behaviors, and thus, outcomes.  For that reason, I have pretty much stopped trying to work with teachers, and instead am now focusing most of my time and energy on my learners.  It reminded me of the story in Matthew where small children were brought to Jesus to be blessed, yet the disciples tried to turn them away – presumably because they were too insignificant for a man of such stature.  Yet the response from the Prince of Peace was:

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

Based on my experiences here in South Africa, I think the big guy was on to something.

I bring all of this up because I recently had one of those experiences that makes you think that maybe there IS hope for this world amidst all of its problems and pain.  Upon collecting my mail from the school last week, I noticed a small envelope, addressed in somewhat haphazard writing (though still better than my own) from a little girl in my hometown of Huntsville, Texas.  Upon opening it, and reading the enclosed letter, I could not help but break out in a smile from ear to ear and offer thanks for the innocence and simplicity of a child that we sometimes lose in our adult lives.  I have included the unedited letter in its entirety below.  I hope that Sarah does not mind:

Dear Josh,

First let me tell you that I am left handed, so that is why my writing (and spelling!) is so bad.  Any way, I am 10 and I live in Huntsville Texas.  Shannon Louvin (from what she said) your cousin, emailed me and told or asked me to write you a letter.  So I am writing this letter.  She told me that you teach in South Africa.  She also said that you are a very smart and athletic kid.  I was wondering if you could be my pen pal.  If you had time, energy, and if you wanted to.  I have never had a pen pal before and I thought it would be fun.  But just saying, you don’t have to if you don’t want to.  I am not tryin to force you.  You would be my first pen pal, and you know that kids always remeber their first everything.  There fist teacher, first real best friend, and first pet.  I would remember you as my first pen pal.

(P.S. Lessie is my dog.  I Love, Love her very much. (Less-e).)

Woof!

Sarah & Lessie

 

How you can possibly be down on the world after receiving something like that?  To top it all off, on the back of the letter, Sarah had drawn a picture of Lessie so I could know what she looks like.  Like I said above, it is moments like these, that make it possible to endure all of the hardships and misfortunes that I necessarily encounter in the line of work I am in.

Well, let me just say, Sarah, I would be happy to be your pen pal, as, truth be told, I also have never had a pen pal.  And even though I am no longer really a kid, I will still remember YOU as my first pen pal.

And Sarah, even if you do not read this, do not worry.  You will be receiving a handwritten letter of your own from me shortly.

Your pen pal,

Josh

South African English Word of the Day

branding – advertising, promotional signs

Josh, could you help us put up the branding at the field on Saturday morning?