Of Soles and Dollars

Experts in languages say that between American English and Latin American Spanish there is only one sound in common. Other sounds can be approximated by speakers of the other language (especially with training), but it is only the sound of the letter “f” that we share together.

Beyond sounds, common facial expressions have different meanings. A smile in Portland, Oregon does not necessarily mean the same thing as a smile in Lima, Peru. Both cultures like to share a laugh, but the meaning behind the laugh and the appropriate time for the laugh are different.

The illustrations go even deeper into the heart of our two cultures: Americans value education because we love to improve ourselves and each other. Peruvians value education because it brings hope for a better tomorrow.

My point? If we differ at the level of the sounds we consider normal, why would we assume that we understand the deeper things of life the same way? The differences between how Peruvians and Americans view life are vast, complicated, and wonderfully alluring. I am privileged with the joy of learning to love what is of good report in both cultures – different though they are from each other!

Those deep cultural differences have been visible this week in terms of finances. Money, costs, prices, funding, income, expense. . . . all of the words and ideas that we use to describe the role of exchanging goods and services between people within a culture.

Some of the differences can be measured. For instance, the 2008 Purchasing Power Parity index says that a Peruvian has an annual purchasing power of $3990/person. Compare that to the purchasing power of a US citizen: $47,580. It is not hard to realize that one will have more money available than the other.

Look beyond the numbers and the message comes into even sharper focus. A preference for the well being of the group over the rights of the individual and a focus on nurturing each other are predominant in Peru; the US values individual initiative, and resources are more likely to be used to build infrastructure than for social nurture. At the core of the two peoples, there is a difference in what we feel and consider to be important, beautiful, and right. And those differences, of course, show up when we speak the language of money.

I have pondered this question long and hard this week. There is a financial side to providing the Creating Understanding training. Yet that financial side is not easily reduced to a spread sheet of income and expense. The differences go so much deeper.

Why, exactly, am I concerned with this problem today? In order for the World Link Grad Center to operate in Peru, we need funds. The operating budget of $4100 for this Seminar is subsidized greatly by the fact that many of our staff (both in Lima and Portland) are supported by different missionary agencies. It is a very low figure indeed. . . from American perspectives. Each student has been asked to cover $1000 of the costs of these two months. That includes about $290 per person that will be paid to IICC (to cover that $4100), with the rest going to our host ministry for food and lodging.

$1000, it turns out, is an astronomical figure. It is just about 25% of the average annual spending ability of a Peruvian. Imagine how many Americans would find it difficult to pay $12,000 for tuition, food and lodging for a 2 month seminar. That is an approximate proportional equivalent from that purchase power parity index.

The price tag of class work for the MA program comes to $5600 US ($700 for each of 8 learning units). As one woman said, “we buy houses for that much money, and then we live in them for a life time.”

I don’t write this blog with answers in mind, but I rejoice that the questions are taking on clarity. We are asking the God of all wisdom to help us construct a financial plan that is “third culture.” We want a plan that is not totally American, but is acceptable (at the deep levels of the word) to Americans. We want a plan that is not totally Peruvian, but is deeply acceptable to our Peruvian brothers. Most of all, we seek a plan that is God-cultured – that is led and formed under His direction. We are asking Him to build a bridge between the language of money as spoken in Peru and the language of money that is spoken in America.

Simply finding money is not the answer – mission history over the last century shows too many places where just sending money brought about division, dependency, and weakening. The answer is in mutual understanding that allows God’s people to fully join forces to accomplish what God has called us together to do. I ask you to please pray for both the Peruvian and the American servants who are seeking that level of understanding so that the vision before us can take root across the globe, even when spoken in the language of money.