I’ve seen it many times. A smiling Westerner who embraces and hugs a Mozambican with emotion. But with one hand. Because in the other one he holds a phone and is taking a selfie. I’ve seen it more than once. A Mozambican who can’t say “no” because he’s just been given a gift. So it’s appropriate to keep quiet and agree to everything. The Westerner was really moved. The Mozambican really felt uncomfortable. Overlooked.
In my opinion, there has to be some kind of bond. For this type of photo, in my opinion, you need a relationship. And so comebacks. And repetitions. A remembered name. Or at least a shared memory. A smile of recognition. Especially in such circumstances, with an unequal distribution of power – the one in lack and the one in abundance, who meet in the same place and time for mutual benefit. And yet, on both sides there have to be boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed. Or even, the crossing of which is un-love.
Give, yes. But be attentive to the one who receives. Because the very situation of lack and need and their fulfillment by someone from the outside is most often embarrassing. Remembering it in a photo and very often sharing it with a wide audience via social media reduces a person to the object of help. A good deed. Compassion and sacrifice. But after all, it is not the one who receives who shines, but the one who gave.
I ask more and more often: are we still able to help without trumpeting it to the world? Are we still able to be on a mission trip without a phone? Can we still preach Christ without taking pictures? I open my eyes wide more and more often when I see some and I feel very uncomfortable when I look at the faces of those who receive help. Confused. As if I should never have seen it. As if no one should.
I know. Often you have to explain yourself. To those who support us. To those who sponsor help. But you can do it with tact. You can not show the face. You can show the face, but explain why the photo is to be used and where and ask for consent. And do not make help dependent on the answer. You can also be an empathetic person and sense how a person feels about the photo. Don’t snap evidence at the cost of the human. Don’t hype up the photos for greater reach and more money. Because after all… why are we doing this? Why are we helping? Why are we sharing the Gospel? Isn’t it about that one person?
Because what can a photo do? Objectify. Invalidate. Take away the right to self-determination. Sadden. Hurt. So maybe we’re not helping at all? It’s worth thinking about this before we excitedly take photos of local people in a distant country we’ve just visited for a while.
I don’t want to write about all of Africa or every poor country. But I do want to write about my experience in contact with many (though not all!) Mozambicans. The relationship between a Westerner and a Mozambican is complicated. A Westerner may initially overlook this complexity because they’ve been taught equality from an early age (at least for the most part). But a Mozambican often feels inferior. He may deny it. He may not name it. But at work he will not oppose his Western boss. When he has a problem and knows a foreigner, he will turn to him for help. Not because he trusts him. Because in his opinion, the foreigner has everything. A child passing by will always indicate to a Westerner with a hand gesture that he is hungry, even if he is not (and maybe he will get something). Usually, a Mozambican will remain silent when asked for his opinion in the presence of a Westerner. Of course, the more educated he is, the more aware he is of who he is. But the poorest, often uneducated, often illiterate, among whom we serve, do not know that there is no difference between us. As people, we are equal. Above all, in the eyes of the Father – worth the blood of Christ. Loved insanely by God, who did not hesitate in love.
But a Mozambican often feels inferior to a white or black Westerner. He may deny it. He may not name it. But he will not refuse a photo even when he feels that his boundaries have been crossed.
If any of you ever come to serve with us in Mozambique, you won’t take pictures during evangelism or ministry. You won’t prove your hard work that way. Why? Because you’ll leave your phone in your room. But you’ll have a chance to be present. Sensitive to people and to the Spirit. You’ll be able to love without obstacles and only remember that. And then talk about it. For God’s glory.
Let only Christ be visible.
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