Resonate Edition 27 | Page 5

So, what is the purpose of mindfulness? How do you practise mindfulness? I soon realise that mindful living helps these cross-cultural workers to forgo distractions so that they can cultivate more authentic relationships with others and in turn, be more productive in their respective roles. Before Scott and his family in Mozambique can build communities of faith in the local villages, they must stop trying to ‘do’ and first listen, observe and learn. He says, ‘we’re here to build relationships with people on a deep level. You can’t do that without being attentive to the moment and what’s going on for those people’. This quiet revelation stuns me… it’s only when we stop looking at the ‘task’ that we truly begin to see the need. Creating time and finding a physical space to contemplate is a surefire way to a mindful day for these workers. Scott never found a place to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life before he became a cross-cultural worker. Now he regularly retreats to the mountains near his home in Mozambique. ‘That’s my mindfulness place. It’s my time to sit with God, to read the Word, to play some worship music and really just listen to H [K