The Monkey Factor

This type of monkey is fairly common on Sumatra. This particular monkey was chained up in front of a shop-house. Many people here keep monkeys as pets. Some people train monkeys to perform and do animal shows for children and parties. We have a monkey handler who comes to our neighborhood regularly. He will put on a short performance for about 2 or 3 dollars.

You have to be careful with monkeys. They are more likely to bite or become aggressive than a dog or cat. Part of the problem is misunderstandings of cultural-cues. For example, when a monkey looks like it’s smiling it’s actually saying, “Back off, you’re scaring me.” Such communication problems are not uncommon when you are bridging into another culture. There are many things that are being said loud and clear within the culture that are completely lost on the person coming in from the outside.

Pray that the Holy Spirit will help cross-cultural workers to clue into the cultural communication that is going on around them.

Pray that near culture believers will be brave to share with far-culture workers about cultural clues that they might be missing.

Pray cross-cultural workers on Sumatra will remain humble and teachable before the Lord and their national brothers and sisters.