Let's Sit by the Fire...

"Let's sit by the fire while we wait for the sun". This recent expression is going to do me well in my cross cultural setting. It's always a sticky situation when I'm visiting a community, or in a meeting with an official of some sort to find the proper response to a request. I'm often asked about what our organization can continue to do in a community. These requests can come from a community members, staff members, government officials, essentially anywhere. To say, "Let's wait and see", or to try and mumble out something that implies, "I heard what you said, but I can't do anything for you at this moment", always comes out awkward and ineffective.

So this past week, while I was visiting our sub-office in Foya, I learned this valuable expression from our Base Manager. He told me that he has used it many times and it has done him well. As I was sitting in a meeting with the district commissioner, after much back and forth banter, and many words of appreciation, the time for the request came. He politely said that he loves what our organization has done but hopes that we might find a way to put concrete bridges in place instead of wooden bridges. This comes just after we completed over 29 bridges in the area and more recently rehabilitated a bridge that connected a village to Foya town after 20 years of not having a vehicle being able to pass. (Roads and bridges are critical for people right now, because growing crops is one thing, but being able to bring them to market is another).

As I sat there patiently listening to the request, I figured that I should toss out the saying. I said, "You know what? I just learned this excellent expression the other day", and I proceeded to say, "You know, let's sit by the fire while we wait for the sun". Sure enough, this huge smile spread across the man's face and he let out a soft chuckle. I was able to transition quickly to another topic while he was still in his jovial mood.