One
of the first things I learned when I got here was how I would be mistaken by
the local people for a Caucasian due to my fairer skin tone. Being of Chinese
descent, I was a little annoyed and have set out to educate my colleagues on
the difference, but sadly, to no avail (I was told, "you look the same!").
Another
was to get accustomed to the shocked look on their faces when I inform them
that yes, I am single, and yes, I don't have any children. And thank you very
much, I don't have a problem with that (and generally don't have a problem,
period)! It was similar to the experience I had when I served with YWAM in Papua New Guinea mid 2012;
women my age would be on to their third or fourth child and any deviation from
the norm was seen to be an aberration to be avoided at all costs!
One
of the biggest difficulties for me, however, was in how the local culture dictates
that women should always wear skirts or dresses. Back home, I practically lived
in shorts, jeans or pants with the occasional foray into foreign territory for
special occasions. I half-expected that from my aforementioned trip to PNG
(over there, women in jeans were seen as prostitutes!). What I wasn't expecting
was to have to don the same apparel at work in the hospital; nope, no
exemptions for docs! Although part of that could be explained by how there
seems to be no female doctors in the country. The pastor and I had a good laugh
when she related how the kids from the orphanage came up to her on Sunday
(after I was introduced to the church congregation) and asked how I could be a
doctor when I wasn't a man! Anyway, that explains the pic above. Reluctantly, I
can now be found in a scrub skirt (which I didn't even know existed) at the
hospital.
As
the wife of the (other) Aussie missionary doctor quipped, "if wearing a
skirt means I can do missions better and not offend the local people, then I'll
wear a skirt!". The Apostle Paul also eloquently elaborated on the same
theme in his epistle to the Roman church:
Romans 14:15-21 "Yet if your brother is
grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy
with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be
spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in
these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue
the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are
pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to
eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is
offended or is made weak."
Indeed,
the kingdom of God is not food and drink (regardless of what most Malaysians
may think!) - or for that matter, clothes, a nice house, a good salary with a
tidy sum for retirement, etc. An upside to all this? I've to say it's probably
more comfortable than pants in the heat!
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