You are about to embark on a journey to a new land where you will be surrounded by a new culture. When you arrive you should expect to sometimes be confused by what is going on around you. Cultures differ in degrees of "strangeness" to you. But there are a number of steps you can take that will prepare you for this journey.

Take a trip to your closest library. If you live near a college or university, take advantage of their library. If your community library is small, check out the local high school library. At the library, do not waste time wandering about. Go directly to the Reference Librarian and explain what you need. Generally there are many resources that can be consulted. For an up-to-date bibliography contact the Institute of World Mission or e-mail the Institute at iwm@andrews.edu to request a bibliography for area studies.

Gathering Your Information

The following pages list some of the questions and items you will want to explore. As you gather the appropriate data you may want to use some logical categories to sort the information.

The Land

• I am going to the country of
• On the continent of
• The climate is
• Some natural resources are
• Its major trade is in: imports/exports/currency

Health and Living Conditions

• Major health risks in the country are
• Availability of hospitals and medical services
• Some local dietary practices
• Eating and drinking precautions
• The national holidays

The Population

• Size of population
• Demographics

  ____ % of the population is under 18 years old

  ____ % of the population are women

  ____ % of the population is urban (lives in cities)

• The national languages are
• The language of the people group I will be working with is:
• Obvious people groups are
• Hidden people groups (e.g. immigrants) are
• General education level
• For men
• For women
• Education is available to
• Barriers to education

Transportation

• Common methods of transportation within the country
• Weekly flights in and out of the country

How Is Society Organized?

• Social groups
• Castes
• Tribes
• Clubs
• Relations between sexes
• Leadership determined and recognized by

Common Customs I Should Know upon Arrival

• Forms of greetings
• Forms of farewell
• How to say "no" and "yes"
• Serious "no-no's" or taboos

Food

• What is commonly eaten? And when?
• How do people eat?
• What specific areas will I have difficulty with? Why?
• Is eating merely a utilitarian affair or a highly social matter?

History

• Where do the people come from and why?
• Their myths of origin
• Their traditional friends and enemies
• Was this country ever a colony? Of which nation?
• Date and circumstances of independence
• Membership in international, political or trade organizations
• Involvement in recent conflicts and/or their resolution

Political Developments

• Their political structure? How was it developed?
• What are the major parties? What are their differences?

Change

• How does change take place here?
• What things do not seem to change?

Religion, Religious Forms, Festivals and Symbols

• Local religions of this area are: traditional, imported, or blended
• Level of Christian missionary activity
• How do the people worship and why?
• What are the major festivals?
• How is spirituality defined or understood?

What Is the History of Christianity in This Country?

• When it was introduced and by whom?
• How it was accepted? By whom? Why?
• If it has been commonly rejected, why?
• The most successful Christian churches or groups here, and why?
• Forms of indigenous Christianity and their history

The Adventist Church in This Country

• What is the history of the Adventist Church in this country?
• When was it introduced and by whom?
• Who has generally accepted or rejected it and why?
• Ways the church has been most successful?
• How does the local Adventist church relate to the world church? Why?

(For information regarding SDA work in a specific country, do not forget to consult the valuable collections of the Adventist Heritage centers; for statistical information check this website: www.adventist.org/ast.)

Resources for Area Studies

The Internet has revolutionized how we locate information. Nevertheless any good university or college library is still a door to a world of print (books, periodicals, pamphlets), media (e.g.: videos), and electronic information. The following list will get you started on finding materials for the country or area where you are going.

Bookmarks to Internet Resources

You may also want to check out your host country's specific website.

Conventional library resources are still a great way to find a lot of information on many countries. Here are a few types of resources you should consult if you are near a good university or college library.

Going to the Local Market or Mall

To really connect with a community go to the local market or mall for about two to three hours. Spend the first hour observing, listening to conversations and mapping the area. Attempt to blend in as much as possible and not stand out. Take brief notes unobtrusively and enlarge on them later. The second and third hour ask questions continuing to listen and observe. Finally record your reflections in your field journal.

The Physical Layout

• Where is the site located in relation to the neighborhood and other businesses? Is it easy to get to by car, or by public transportation?
• How much space is devoted to parking? Why?
• How are the stores arranged? Which stores are nearest to the entrances and the exits? What stores are missing? Why?
• What are the window displays like? What age, gender and style are most prominent in the displays? What sounds make up the atmosphere?

The Social Relationships

• What are the different social groupings? How do they interact? Do they mix?
• What kind of relationship can you observe? How is this different than where you have lived?

The Value System

• What values are reflected by the things you observe? What seems to have high or low value? How is this indicated? What social values are reflected in the relationships you see?
• List all the positive and negative aspects you observed.
• What implications could these observations have for your mission? For example, are there possibilities for ministry in this site? How might kingdom values interact with the observable local values?

Observe and Reflect
Use all your senses in your observation. Listen to the voices, noises, sounds, the music, and eavesdrop on conversations. Take in the smells. Taste the foods. Then ask yourself about the meaning of the things you see, hear, smell, and touch. What specific evidences did you see of God at work here? How can you become part of God's presence in this place?

For more complete instructions on how to do an ethnographic study, check our website: worldmission.adventist.org