By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
When it comes to stepping foot in a new country and a different culture, 2013 Wynford graduate Ryan Fortner is comfortable in being uncomfortable. So when he lands on Germany’s soil at the end of this month, he is confident in his ability to handle whatever comes his way, no matter how much that may differ from the fields of Crawford County.
Fortner, a senior majoring in intercultural studies at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, signed up for a 12-person, two-week trip over spring break to Germany where they will be serving alongside non-traditional ministries to reach people in Frankfurt, Mainz, Darmstadt, and Wiesbaden.
“This trip came along and it was right down my alley. I kind of thought it was exactly what I could be doing and what I wanted to learn more about, doing it first hand,” Fortner said. “That type of alternative, nontraditional ministry that we’re going to be doing is kind of exactly what I could be plugging in to.”
Fortner and his group will be involved in coffee shop ministries, mobile kindergartens, and refugee ministry. Much of Fortner’s interaction will take place with Germans, but he laughingly said he is still trying to get a handle on some basic German phrases. Luckily, the trip leaders know some of the language and the leaders of the organization are German.
“I’ve spent almost four years now learning about this type of stuff and just kind of seeing it in books, hearing how it could work,” Fortner said. “It’s an opportunity to really see how, I guess, nontraditional ministries can work and how you can just meet people where they are instead of expecting people to come to you.”
Intercultural studies combine anthropology and ministry work with the opportunity to travel abroad. In Fortner’s eyes, it offers a tangible and intimate way to interact with people in their setting.
“You’re not just serving the needs physically, but you’re serving the needs emotionally and just being there and being a face of love and caring for people,” Fortner explained. “Just doing that in a way that’s easier for them because you’re going to them and you’re going to meet people where they are at, instead of just waiting for them to come to you.”
That train of thought led Fortner to spending three months in Costa Rica last year. Though both trips are beneficial to his studies, Fortner said the Costa Rica trip differed slightly in that it was an opportunity to immerse himself in the culture. He assisted in daycare work and helped missionary families with projects, but it mostly helped him learn how to adapt to and interact with a different culture.
“We’re never going to be truly a part of the culture – you’re always going to stand out a little,” Fortner explained. “But learning how to really immerse ourselves enough that you can be accepted in that culture as just kind of one of their own.”
Fortner is taking the skills he learned in Costa Rica and the studies he has learned over the past four years to Germany.
“This will be a much more practical way in how we can engage in that culture – not just be a part of it, but actually give back to the community we’re becoming a part of and just really move past that surface level engagement to a really deeper level of being a part of a new community and a new culture,” Fortner said.
Being part of an intercultural studies program does mean that Fortner has to deal with whatever is thrown at him, even if it makes him feel confused or lost. He is not too worried about that, however.
“I’m confident in my ability to be uncomfortable because I know I’m going to get there and things are going to happen that I didn’t even consider. I’m going to just see things that I wouldn’t have even thought about – it’s just all going to be different,” Fortner said. “But I think I feel pretty well prepared to deal with that and learn from that, not just let it shock my system.”
He plans on running with whatever life throws at him and enjoy being uncomfortable in a new culture.
Fortner is trying to raise funds for the trip. Though it costs $2,600, he has obtained a scholarship through his university and support letters to offset some of the cost. He also set up a GoFundMe page or checks can be made out to Mount Vernon Nazarene University with his name and Germany in the memo line. The funds will cover the flight, food, and housing.