It’s a little crazy that we can now count on 10 fingers the weeks that we have left here in South Africa. In these final two months, with so much still to wrap up before we can begin to feel closure, it’s tempting to kick into high gear and do, do, do in order to get it all done. Our calendars and task lists these days are a little overwhelming…

Given this, I’ve been thinking a lot recently about an important concept that Allan and Annie stressed at our team orientation back in August: the concept of “people over task.” Not task over people. This notion challenges how I was used to operating in the U.S. I love checking things off a To Do List and feeling that sense of satisfaction. But in adjusting to life in Africa, I feel like I’ve learned a healthy appreciation for being relational over being task-oriented. Sure, I’m always going to be task-oriented to a certain degree given my personality, but here, my pace has slowed down; and while before, I would have become impatient with people being late or church lasting hours on end or a short drop-in visit turning into an whole afternoon at someone’s house, now I’m used to it and these things don’t trigger that same sense of impatience within me. This adjustment hasn’t always been easy and certainly didn’t happen overnight, but I’m thankful for the chance to have experienced it this year in the context of a different culture.

We’ve had Will’s friends Tim and Julian with us this week, eagerly joining us in much of the work we do in the township. Tim remarked to me and Nate the other day something along the lines of “how do you guys handle the deal with time here?,” meaning how do we handle what we like to refer to as “Africa time.” This is an expression we use to refer to the fact that things here usually start 15 minutes late, that plans are usually changed last-minute and that, to operate without being constantly frustrated, one has to continuously roll with it, whatever “it” is, with a positive attitude. Much of “Africa time” is centered around relationships, especially in the township where being relational is everything. You simply won’t get anything done unless you slow down and get to know people and develop flexibility as a lifestyle. It’s simply a matter of priorities, too: intentionally placing relationships over projects or goals.

While here, we’ve made friends with so many wonderful people at the Powerhouse. It’s amazing the community that we feel so at home with here; and as I ponder how that has happened so naturally over the last year, I know it not only has to do with the fact that we are brothers and sisters in Christ and so share a bond that spans nationality and race, but with the fact that we have allowed the “people over task” concept to begin to affect the way we live.

As I contemplate heading home soon and feel tinges of nervousness about getting sucked back into bad habits and old ruts, I pray that this new way of living will not be threatened by the felt-need to be, or to appear to be, busy all the time. Why we Americans feel this, I don’t know. And while I’ll admittedly always glean that feeling from satisfaction of “getting ‘er done” and checking off the check list, I want to continue to place people and relationships ahead of tasks needing to be accomplished, with God’s help. To our friends back home: you’re welcome to help us on this, too!

We welcome any thoughts, comments or ideas you may have about how to navigate this topic.

“Learn from the people. They will feel valued, and your presence will be a positive experience for them. Whatever else you accomplish will be a bonus.”—Duane Elmer, Cross-Cultural Servanthood

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Filed under: General by Rebecca on April 24th, 2009, Africa time, Duane Elmer, patience, people over task, relationships, To Do List