When I worked in the corporate world, I noticed a somewhat universal perspective between head office and people in the field. We both think the others are idiots. In the office would lament, “those people can’t follow the simplest instructions; my six year old could do better” and they would moan, “those people have no idea what it’s like out here; they think we have time to fill out their silly reports?”

Unfortunately, the same dynamic exists as westerners try to help the developing world. We create a standard around the things we’re good at, and then measure others by it.

Years ago I was in a small room in an Indian village, meeting with our new partner. On his laptop was an old plan he’d made to build a hospital. I was curious what he was capable of, so I asked to see it. He said he’d email it to me. Later. After he’d fixed it up a bit. I said I don’t need it fixed up, because we’re not building a hospital, I just want to see it. This went on for days. I was begging him “just click send”. “Just click!” It seemed so easy. Weeks later we continued via email. Until finally his computer got a virus and he lost the file. How could that have been so hard?

Back at home, I overheard someone at church coming in with a recurring headache. She was informed of prayer after the service, a healing conference coming in April and a good book on persevering through suffering. My friends in India would not understand what we were doing. They would have prayed for healing on the spot. I can hear them say “Just pray!” We have faith for things we see happen regularly, like plans coming together. They have faith for things they see happen regularly, like God answering prayer with supernatural power.

When we work together, we’re the same in our humanness before God, but we’re completely different in our gifts and abilities. We need to lead in areas where we have faith, and be led in areas where we feel weak.