A. I will assume that 'these people' talked about in this question are the Sawi people of New Guinea. From what I know by reading Peace Child and the article written by Don Richardson, the mission organizations seem to be doing many positive things for the Sawi people, or at least meaning and trying to, to the best of their abilities.
From the book and also from the article, we know that the mission organizations come into the Sawi people with what we would call 'modern' medical help. The people around the world have discovered, developed and shared cures to diseases while the Sawi people have remained isolated with only their own traditional herbal cures to diseases.
The mission organizations also bring in new and different or more developed technologies than those of the Sawi people’s time. By being open to each other’s discoveries, the rest of the world have been able to share and enjoy many nations’ achievements in the scientific field while the Sawi people haven’t. Airplanes, metal tools, different style of clothing, and radio transmitters are just a few examples.
The third thing which the mission organizations are doing for these people is subjective. Also, this varies on each of the different mission organizations in number, speed, and extent. But as an organization with a ‘mission’ as the name would suggest, the mission organizations are bringing in the message of Truth, Life, Love and a new hope and beginning. To a people who have turned their backs away from God, lost, wondering and searching for their Father in things which only sinks them in and pulls them even further away from what they’re looking for, the mission organizations are sharing news that has reached billions of people around the world and have changed millions of people’s lives, opening their eyes to see the real, living and one true God, His perfect loving plan for His children and the love which He lavishes down to those who will simply open their arms, lives and hearts to it. (wow that was a run-on sentence… I hope that wasn’t too confusing;)
In my opinion, these are the things which the mission organizations are doing for these people. There must be a lot more things, but there were too many that I had to summarize, condense and group into these three things-sharing medical, technological, and spiritual help.
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2 comments:
I would like to hear more on your opinion based on this question you've answered. From what I've read it sounds like what missionaries are doing in the Sawi culture is a good thing. Is it? Before they brought in the technology, they were fine (because they did not know what was out there or some tribes just rejected it). So the English built wells in Africa; after they abandoned their colonies, the wells were too high-tech for them and since they forgot how their ancestors used to get water, they had no way to get water. This pushed them back to even before where their ancestors had left them. WE want advanced technology, WE want new medicines and cures; so to us it's good, but do they really want what we want? Just a thought. :)
Minji - yes mission organizations do a great deal of good. I think that people who advocate leaving the Sawi in their ignorance are apathetic and lack empathy. It irritates me that people only criticize the mission orgs. because they are anti - Christianity. So your post was refreshing! Mrs.Mc.
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