Not long ago, as I walked past the Peace Corps work station, I saw a volunteer standing outside. There aren’t that many ex-pats in our town, so they stick out. I thought I would stop and talk with her, but as I came nearer I saw that she was busy talking to a motorcycle taxi driver. As I passed them, she looked at me and gave a slight nod in my direction, and I smiled and nodded back. She hadn’t said a word, and yet I completely understood what she meant: “Hi! I would like to talk to you, but I’m busy right now. Sorry about that. Have a nice day anyway.” All in body language.

It immediately struck me how comfortable it was to be able to understand someone with no words exchanged. When interacting with local people, I often wonder whether I am understanding their cultural cues. Am I laughing at appropriate times? Do I look interested in them in a way they understand? How do I come across to them? My prayer is that, despite potential misunderstandings, Christ’s love for them will shine out through me.

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