That is what I have been called, as little children try to get my attention. It has been yelled at me as I drive by in a car. That is how I will know many times they are talking about me in a conversation spoken in Swahili. I am now officially a Musungu…a white person.

I have gone from being a gringo in Nicaragua to a farang in Thailand. No matter how much dirt is caked onto my hands or feet, how strong my chaco tan becomes, or how red my sunburn is, I will always be white. Well, unless I go Michael Jackson on everyone. I remember a conversation with my mother when I was little about how I am created in God’s image, and I don’t doubt this. I believe it whole-heartedly. But for some reason He decided to relieve this side of His face in me rather than others. All right, God, I accept it but I will not accept how people treat me differently because of it.

Since I am a musungu, random people that I don’t know will want to a picture with me. Since I am a musungu, I have somehow become a teacher. I have been given some magical authority that says I have a special teaching ability in foreign countries. With this skill I am actually given time in a classroom to teach whatever Bible story, English lesson, or game comes to mind rather than the legitimate teacher teaching the course. Since I am a musungu, people (and some not even beggars) on the street will come up to me and beg. Since I am a musungu, little children will run after our car to just say hi. Since I am a musungu, people, especially children, will want to practice their English with me so I have lost count of the number of times people say, “hello, how are you?” to me as I pass by them. Since I am a musungu, people think I am rich. It is like I am holding up a money sign over my head. Since I am a musungu, people will invite us into their homes very easily, and they will more likely accept what we say about Christianity more than a local person. Since I am a musungu, it was assumed that I am related to Little Wayne, and I know Obama…personally. Since I am a musungu, I am always a guest. Since I am a musungu, I will get to skip lines at places. Since I am a musungu, I am seen as a human jungle gym so I am constantly playing with children.

I state all of these things just as they are. They are good and bad at the same time, and a lot of the time these moments become hilarious memories. When these things happen, the spirit within me doesn’t like it because of the reason behind it. People see the difference in my skin color and base all of these actions on only that fact. At the same time so many doors have been opened because I am white. People have been more open for me to pray for them. People will stop and ask me why I am somewhere, and I am given an opportunity to minister to them.

No matter how I feel at the moment when one of these interactions takes place a song that keeps ringing in my head is…

“Jesus loves the little children all the children of the world. Red, yellow, black, and white. They are all precious in His sight…”

He does. Let’s sing it to the world.