Waumini Waikumbuka Hotuba Niliyotoa Lands Lutheran Church

Niliwahi kuandika katika blogu hii kuhusu hotuba niliyotoa tarehe 11 Aprili, 2015, katika mkutano wa waumini wa Sinodi ya Minnesota ya Kusini Mashariki ya Kanisa la ki-Luteri la Marekani. Nimeona ripoti fupi ya hotuba katika jarida la kanisa la First Lutheran la mjini Red Wing, Minnesota, The Spire (July/August 2015) uk. 4. Ninaiweka hapa kwa kumbukumbu yangu.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CANNON RIVER CONFERENCE REPORT

In April some representatives from First Lutheran, United Lutheran, and St. Paul’s Lutheran attended the women’s Cannon River Conference in Zumbrota. There was a very thorough explanation of the history of the beginnings of the Lutheran church in this area of the country, so there was less time for the main speaker, Joseph Mbele, a St. Olaf professor.

Besides teaching, Professor Mbele works with groups in the area to mediate cultural conflicts. He asked us to look at the positive and the potential in all people; do not rush to judgment. What is natural in one culture may not be correct in another, and what is an issue in one culture might not be an issue in another. 

For example, in Faribault the storekeepers were upset because the Somali men stood in front of the stores or nearby and talked. The storekeepers felt this was loitering and bad for business. In Africa this was the custom to talk together outside stores and it was considered impolite to make a quick purchase and leave. Americans are very concerned about being on time. In Africa it is considered rude to rush by people and not talk to them, and in small villages many are related. On the way to a meeting an African might stop and talk to a number of people, and probably will arrive late to a meeting.

Other examples: In Brooklyn Park other residents were complaining about loud music. In Africa everyone in the small town is invited to a wedding and no invitations are sent out. Child raising views are quite different too; Africans take the phrase, “It takes a village” quite literally. Everyone is supposed to help watch the kids while Americans believe they should only watch their own children and don’t want any help from other people. 

Professor Mbele wrote a book about some of these differences, Africans and Americans: Embracing Cultural Differences, which we purchased for the church library.

The next meeting of the Cannon River Conference will be held in April 2016 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Red Wing with United and First assisting.

Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Thorson, FLCW President

Mhadhara Ujao, Lands Lutheran Church

Siku zimekwenda kasi. Wiki kadhaa zimepita tangu nilipopata mwaliko wa kwenda kutoa mhadhara katika mkutano wa Sinodi ya Kusini Mashariki ya Minnesota. Mkutano ulipangwa kufanyika mjini Zumbrota, kwenye Kanisa la Lands Lutheran, tarehe 11 Aprili.

Mama aliyenialika, kwa niaba ya kamati ya maandalizi, alisema kuwa wangependa niongelee masuala ambayo yameanza kujitokeza katika sharika mbali mbali za sinodi kutokana na kuingia kwa watu kutoka tamaduni mbali mbali. Aliniambia kuwa aliwahi kunisikiliza miaka kadhaa iliyopita katika kanisa lake la First English Lutheran Church, mjini Farbault, nikiongelea masuala hayo, akanunua kitabu changu cha Africans and Americans: Embracing Cultural Differences.

Wiki zilizofuata, mama huyu nami tuliwasiliana ili kupanga mada ya mhadhara wangu. Nilitoa mapendekezo, naye aliyawasilisha kwenye kamati yao. Pendekezo walilolichagua ni "The Dilemma of Cultural Differences: Challenges and Opportunities."

Niliandika taarifa ya mwaliko katika blogu yangu ya ki-Ingereza. Sasa siku imekarbia, nami nangojea kwa hamu kwenda kujumuika na waumini hao kutoka makanisa mbali mbali, na kuwapa mawazo na mawaidha yangu kuhusu hali wanayoikabili ya kujikuta wana watu wa tamaduni mbali mbali. Azma yao ya kutaka kujua nini cha kufanya ni mfano wa kuigwa.

Kadiri dunia inavyoendelea kubadilika kutokana na utandawazi wa leo, jamii zote zitalazimika kutafuta njia za kuishi pamoja na watu wa tamaduni tofauti. Hili ni suala ambalo nimelitafiti, kulitafakari, na kuliongelea kwa miaka mingi.

Kama ilivyo kawaida hapa Marekani, niliulizwa malipo yangu ni kiasi gani. Nilijibu kama nilivyozoea, kwamba waamue wenyewe, kufuatana na uwezo wao. Nasukumwa na dhamiri yangu, kutumia vipaji alivyonipa Mungu kwa manufaa ya wanadamu. Pesa si msingi.

Ningekuwa na uchu wa pesa, kama fisadi, ningesema ngoja niwakamue. Lakini mtu unayemtegemea Mungu unajiuliza: Je, tunabarikiwa kwa kutanguliza pesa mbele badala ya ubinadamu? Ninashukuru ninavyofanikiwa kuwagusa wanadamu.