March 2006 Newsletter by Adrian Julian

Reflections from Our Newest Mission Volunteer

Adrian Julian, III, in Indonesia

Some questions: What is the purpose of a missionary? Who is my neighbor? As Christians should we seek to change other people?

And some reflections: As a 'mission volunteer' in Indonesia I am being paid a little over fifty dollars a week. This is more than the weekly income of the multilingual (3 is the minimum number of languages they know), experienced, educated (several have MA degrees), and talented lecturers with whom I work. Wealth is certainly relative.

There is a beautiful and strange mixture of tradition and technology here. A becak (bechak = pedi-cab) driver might have a cell phone for conducting business. Anyway, here is what I have to say:

I think everyone should remember that how we humans relate to the world is by comparing ourselves to the world around us. Our perceptions of ourselves come from how we see the world and how the world, our friends and family see us. The tree farmer might want a pair of Carhart jeans for the same reason a high school student wants a blouse from Abercrombie. I am not saying that this is bad, but that it is something to be aware of. People in Indonesia buy skin whitening creams; people in the United States go to the tanning bed. Just remember that there is no reason to feel inadequate and no reason to judge someone else as being so either.

For me, what makes Jesus so amazing is that he seems to have really been able to love unconditionally and without judgment. Sharing love is what I believe Jesus showed us, taught us, and asks us to do. When we fall short, as we all do, we are already forgiven. With mission work, you might just get more out of it than you put in; no matter how hard you try.

Peace in Christ,

Adrian Julian III