The word ‘becoming’ has come up a lot for our team recently. In many ways, our ministry right now looks like a lot of becoming—certainly becoming more like Christ as God shapes us into who He wants us to be in our lives here. But it is also a lot of becoming like the Inuit. Becoming like them in the way they do life; becoming like them in the way they communicate; becoming like them in the way they work and eat and have fun.
One of the biggest ways we are doing this task daily is by learning Inuktitut. But there are also many other things that we do that are all part of learning to become like the Inuit. These activities provide opportunities to connect with people, to understand more culture and language, and to be examples of the life and hope found in Christ. It could be a long list, but here are just a few examples of fun ways we are ‘becoming’ in this community.
Sewing is a really important part of life up here. Inuit women have always made all the clothing they need to survive in the Arctic, and while there is now access to commercial clothing, many Inuit still choose to make their own winter gear. It is the best option for life up here, and we also wear many items made by locals. Recently, there have been opportunities to begin learning how to sew some of these things ourselves! This is an excellent way for the women on the team to connect with Inuit women, to become more like them.
Another way we ‘become’ is by hunting and fishing with our friends. Many Inuit hunt, and almost everyone we know prefers local fish, seal, ptarmigan and other meats to anything they can buy in the store. All along, this has been a prime way to connect with people and deepen relationships. People are often delighted that we foreigners enjoy their foods and hunt with them, and it is one more way we become like them.
People here also love community events, especially ones like the Christmas games and spring festival. They are full of laughter, silly games and prizes. They often don’t fit our home culture’s definition of what a fun event should look like, but we have gone and been involved anyways, and that has proven to be a meaningful way of ‘becoming’ like the Inuit in their sense of fun.
Why bother putting in all the effort to ‘become’?
We do it for a purpose, and we do it because of the example of Christ. He chose to come to earth as a baby and learn everything about life among the people He came to reach. He learned to speak their language, to work like them, to have fun like them, to eat like them and to do all of life like them. He ‘became’ like us so that His ministry and work could be the most effective. Please pray for us as we follow His example in becoming relatable friends, clear communicators and effective ministers.
Learn more about Gideon and Cassidy Willard at ethnos.ca/gideon-and-cassidy.
