Day One in Marrakech: We checked into our riad[2]<\/a> and dove in, wandering the serpentine streets and alleyways of the medina. The riad manager offered to provide us a guide to walk with us, which we declined, nicely (but, in our hearts, arrogantly). We\u2019ve been around the world and know how to navigate unfamiliar contexts, we told ourselves. But after an hour, we were completely lost, and it was painfully obvious to locals who saw us standing on the corner with map in hand. A young man appeared and offered to show us to the main square, so naively, we followed him. He took us down several alleys (short-cuts, he called them), and soon we were alone and then trapped and surrounded by five young men who demanded money \u201cfor helping guide us to the square\u201d. I didn\u2019t have small change, and ended up parting with a 100 dirham note, worth about $10. We walked away quickly, and were still lost, though we eventually found our way back. On Day Two, we took our riad manager\u2019s advice, and went out with our guide, Mohammed, who became a friend.<\/p>\n Reflecting on this incident, I see how our Western values \u2013 autonomy, self-sufficiency, inquisitiveness \u2013 conflict with the Arabic culture\u2019s emphasis on hospitality and networks of relationships. The riad manager had an obligation to protect and care for us as the host, but we refused his offer of a guide, which made us vulnerable. Our sense that we can do this ourselves contravened the cultural norms and we stuck out like a sore thumb, waiting to be exploited.<\/p>\n Several days later, outside our hotel in Essaouira, I noticed a small sign, \u201cEglise\u201d, with an arrow pointing down the small street. Morocco has only 20,000\u201440,000 believers in the entire country of 33 million.[3]<\/a> It\u2019s astonishing when you remember that North Africa was once the centre of the Christian world, birthing Origen and Augustine, and recalling our first book by Thomas Oden: How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind<\/em>. I had to see this church (see photo). The gate was open, so I crossed the threshold, the dim light illuminating a few wooden pews and musty icons. P\u00e8re Jean-Claude greeted me, a wizened but lively 82-year old French priest. While it was midweek, he was repainting the sacristy to be ready for Sunday mass. He had been here, a missionary priest, for 39 years. Same small church, with few conversions, if any, since it\u2019s officially illegal. Pointing at the tabernacle with flickering red flame indicating the presence of the Living Body of Christ, he gave a gallic shrug and explained, \u201cI\u2019m here just to be with Him.\u201d He left me to pray in the semi-darkness.<\/p>\n As I exited the church, I was drawn to a table with the latest diocesan bulletin (reproduced here). The news of Pope Francis\u2019 first and upcoming visit to Morocco headlined the piece. \u201cWe are very few in number, but for the universal Church our [Christian] presence among our Muslim brothers and sisters makes sense\u2026 We have joy that the visit of Pope Francis to Morocco coincides with the 800th<\/sup> anniversary of the meeting between Saint Francis and the Sultan of Egypt during the Fifth Crusade in 1219. Now, today, another Francis will come to meet another King (i.e., King Mohammed VI) in his home.\u201d[4]<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019m inspired by the Pope\u2019s decision to come to this country. Morocco is probably in the bottom ten percent of worldwide nations for the Church, but he\u2019s doing it to enhance interreligious dialogue and friendship, particularly between Christians and Muslims. He\u2019s not coming unilaterally to impose his way, but by invitation of the king who, as his host, will offer him warmth and hospitality. By respecting local culture, he is welcomed and bears witness to a different way.<\/p>\n While my capitalist culture strives to achieve results and seeks competitive advantage, and where even faith becomes infected with rationalization, we see a different kind of culture mapping occurring, one that is informed by a living faith at the margins. The Moroccan church has learned to be patient, they have learned that small is not bad, they have learned to befriend their neighbour who is unlike them. \u201cI\u2019m here just to be with Him\u201d, says the priest. As the West abandons its Christian essence to secularism, just like North Africa once did to Islam, how will faithful Christians respond? I would argue we need to learn from these small lessons on the margins. I repeat our cohort mantra again: as per Hunter, we must be a \u201cfaithful presence\u201d.<\/p>\n ______________________________<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Erin Meyer. The Culture Map: Breaking through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business<\/em> (New York: PublicAffairs, 2014), 252.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Home converted into an inn, with usually just a few rooms for guests.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG_3795-e1548509848698-225x300.jpg\")
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