Translation Doesn't Always Work

Hard as one tries, it's nearly impossible to understand and work with a culture and place as different as the US and the Congo without little mistakes.   Some things just don't "translate."  Here's a good example.  The most common seating in African chapels  is wooden benches, sometimes padded, sometimes not. They're made locally and, although not comfortable enough to let you get a good nap in church, they work just fine.

 

The other common option is the comfortable plastic  chair.  I liked the white ones in Burundi the best but they come in all colors and sizes.  

They stack well and are easy to transport.

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Sometimes well-meaning folks try to do things for Africa in the American way. If folding chairs are the order of the day in the US, they should work well in Africa and we should import them. Right!  People do their best to make things here just like they are in the church buildings in the US. It doesn't always work just right, although the intentions and expectations are pure, the things of one world just don't "translate" into the culture and life style of another world. This is an example of the results.

It's a great blessing that, although the "one-size-fits all" rule doesn't apply to chairs, the Gospel of Jesus Christ does apply to all people in all places.  The doctrines, principles and saving ordinances are applicable to all of God's children.  Our hearts are the same. Our love of the Lord and our family is the same.  Our desire to help and serve each other is the same.  Our willingness to change our lives to live in harmony with the will of God is the same. 

In the end, things like chairs give us a good laugh but don't really matter much at all!