In 2005, a Filipino pastor told my father that all the white missionaries he encountered were racist. When my father asked pastor George why he thought this, he told my father that when he tried to hold their hands, they snatched them away.

In that area of the Philippines, hand-holding was a sign of great friendship. By not understanding the culture, these missionaries unknowingly offended the very people they were trying to reach and hindered their ability to minister effectively. My father, on the other hand, did not make the same mistake. Experience taught him to not react when he encountered a custom that was contrary to his western culture normal. He also learned that it was important to listen to his guides and interpreters.