Why Send Latinos?
Oftentimes we are asked: “Why does Reflejo focus on sending Latinos to the unreached?”
The short answer is: “Because we are called to fulfill the Great Commission too.”
However, as we look closely at how Latin American missionaries have fared on the mission field, particularly in honor-shame cultures such as those in the Middle East and Asia, we can notice some natural advantages Latin missionaries have. Due to common historical roots from the Moorish influence in Spain and Portugal before those countries conquered Latin America, a lot of common underlying values create bridges between Latinos and those influenced by Arab culture and/or Islam.
We asked our team for what some of those examples are and the following stories from a specific team in Central Asia highlight several components.
5 Reasons Why Latinos Make Great Missionaries
Francisco accepts Harim’s gift graciously while Mark smiles politely “No, It’s okay, you don’t have to” he says. Harim looks puzzled, wondering why he won’t accept his gift. Mark seems content, knowing Harim needs it more than he does. Francisco feels happy, knowing he has let Harim honor him.
Francisco is an Argentinian field worker, Harim is a man from a town in Tajikistan and Mark is a Canadian missionary. They all communicate with each other in different cultural ways.
1 - A collective instead of an individualistic culture
Francisco wakes up one day startled by a phone call from his mother telling him how wonderful his cousin Antonio’s wedding was. She sends pictures of their whole family celebrating and smiling together.
That morning, Francisco feels a deep ache in his chest. Why is this so important to him? It’s because Francisco, like many Latinos, is very close to his family. Back home, on Sundays, they always get together for a BBQ at his Abuela’s (grandma’s) house. On Thursdays, he drinks coffee with his parents in their yard and on Wednesdays, he helps his cousin Antonio with his small business. Everyone is always there, rejoicing in each other’s achievements and sharing difficult times.
That same day, Harim sees a man struggling with his groceries. He hurries over and grabs some bags. “Assalom, where is your house? I’ll carry them for you” he tells the man. The man thanks him, ‘Tashakkur’, and together they walk down the dirt road in their town. Why did Harim feel compelled to help this man? It’s because just like Francisco he always helps his family and to him, his family is his community. There is nothing more important than being part of each other’s lives. This creates a shared value and focus between Francisco and Harim. They strive to be part of a collective instead of valuing individual independence.
2 - Honoring your guests
One Friday evening, Sandra invites Mark over for dinner. When Mark arrives, everyone in Sandra’s family stands up to greet him. None of them sit down until Mark does. As soon as he does, he notices he has a glass cup while everyone else has a plastic one. When Sandra serves the empanadas, she places the first ones on Mark’s plate.
As he finishes his meal and the plates are taken off the table, he is ready to say his goodbyes and leave, but everyone remains seated. Sandra offers him a second plate and when he politely declines, she tells him she has a hot pot running on the stove ready for some tea or coffee.
He declines a second time, but she offers again, thinking he must have not accepted out of politeness. Seeing that everyone is drinking something, he finally accepts a cup of coffee and Sandra sets down a plate of delicious pastries. This is typically the time when guests will speak the most and continue the conversations they had during dinner. Sandra, like any other Latino, feels pride in offering the best that she can provide to her guests. This allows her to honor them.
The following Sunday Mark is invited again but now to Harim’s house. He enters and is immediately greeted by his wife and children. They offer him the best seat and serve him the best piece of beef with rice. They hand him some bread and then start eating. As Mark finishes his plate, they immediately pick it up to serve more food and refill his cup. “Oh no, thank you. It was delicious, but I can’t eat anymore” Mark says. Harim asks again, as Sandra did, and Mark declines a second time as well.
After everyone has finished eating, a pot is placed in the middle of the table, and they hand Mark a cup. Instead of asking if he would like some tea, Harim says “Black or green tea?” holding up the pot. Mark is surprised and answers with Black. As the evening comes to an end, they say goodbye and hand him a gift. This time, Mark accepts. Just like Sandra, Harim feels honored to host dinner for Mark. It would be a dishonor to not offer what Harim would consider the best treatment. Harim and Sandra have a familiar host and guest dynamic in their respective cultures.
3 - Common socioeconomic backgrounds
On one of Francisco’s visits, he stays near a mountain with no hot water or electricity. Someone on the team asks him, “How are you able to adapt so quickly?” Francisco answers by saying that he doesn’t, he’s used to it back home along with sudden gunshots in the distance and dangerous neighborhoods, this was nothing new for him. Usually, when he knows he’ll be walking through a dangerous sector, he won’t draw attention to himself. This comes naturally to him.
Harim can relate to Francisco. Most of his family members worry about having enough money for each day and when he is asked about the government´s help, he dismisses it. He knows they aren’t the answer as they’ve never helped them before and most leaders choose what benefits them and not the country itself.
Francisco and Harim both come from countries with a struggling economy and unsafe situations being common in their communities. Francisco and Harim have lost faith in their country´s sense of stability and choose to have faith in God.
4 - Relationship-oriented instead of time-oriented
There is a team gathering at 7 pm and both Mark and Francisco are invited. Mark shows up outside at 6:50 with a casserole. Francisco shows up at 7:30 with a lasagna. Mark and Francisco greet each other and speak to other team members. At 8:15 pm Mark grabs what is left in his casserole dish and heads home. Meanwhile, Francisco continues talking to others and finally at 10 pm heads off, leaving his lasagna behind.
Mark is very punctual and has a daily routine and schedule. Francisco is very laid back and tends to any spontaneous, unplanned event that might come up. This flexibility is shared among Latinos and people in Central Asia.
One afternoon, Harim is walking down a street when he sees his friend, Farid, sitting outside. “Assalom how are you? Please, come to my house for a cup of tea.” Farid says. Harim agrees and the following Wednesday without specification he arrives at his door and calls him.
Farid invites him inside, and they spend 2 hours talking about recent events while they drink some tea. It’s not uncommon for Harim and Farid to visit each other unannounced. People are driven by daily events, and both cultures have a mutual understanding of timing.
5 - Common roots
Francisco found himself in a conversation with Harim one day and he pointed out something interesting. ‘Ojala’ A Spanish word that means ‘If God wills it’ comes from the Arabic word ‘Inshallah’. “Technically you and I have common roots,” Harim told Francisco. He was surprised to discover that the Moors occupied what is now Spain and Portugal for almost 800 years. After hearing this, he understood the link between them.
Francisco and Sandra both have a calling to Central Asia, but not everything comes as easily as the culture. They struggle with raising support. Once they do raise support, they must travel from Argentina to Europe to obtain their visa to Central Asia. This process is challenging and time-consuming, but God´s mission is worth it.
As Francisco and Sandra are committed to obeying the Great Commission regardless of the challenges they face, Reflejo considers it a privilege to be able to provide training, logistical support, mentorship, member care, and much more to them in the process.
Disclaimer: Names have been changed to protect the identity of Reflejo missionaries.