After 10 months of living abroad and basically relying on others when it comes to our living place, finding food, transportation, etc. I have come to learn a lot about hospitality. I have met hosts and friends in each country that have gone above and beyond and in the process have taught me about self-sacrifice and servanthood. The people I have met along the way have made a huge impact on my life and in a lot of ways served me more than I could ever have served them.
I’ll never forget showing up to our first country, Uganda. I was greeted by my host with a hug that felt like it was from my own Dad anxiously awaiting my arrival. Our host, Enoch, drove 8 hours to greet us at the airport after a long travel day for us. In order to get us to comfy beds and our home for the month, he turned around and drove 8 hours back through the night. On our trip we were joined by two of his friends, one was the sheriff of the town who came along just to ensure our safety.
In Rwanda, we lived with Pastor Fred, his wife Mary and 6 of their kids in a small 5 bedroom home. Rather than have us tent in their yard, which we were perfectly capable of and would have been happy with, they gave up two of their bedrooms and beds for us to have for the month. The kids all happily squeezed into two bedrooms and told us they were thrilled to give up their rooms and beds and would enjoy a month of sleepovers. Then to top it off, Mary made us delicious home-cooked meals every day and we ate them as one big family.
In Ethiopia, Masre, our host, was a full time college student that spent every moment outside of class escorting us to ministry, translating for us, and serving alongside of us. He even insisted on using his off-days to show us around to new places and make sure we were ‘all good’. His heart for serving not just us, but those in his country has forever left a mark on me. He has made a full time job out of volunteering and helping those in need within his hometown. He taught me that you don’t always need to ‘go’ to serve and make disciples of this world, you can do it right where you live.
In Cambodia, we lived with the mother of our host. We didn’t see her at the house often and we couldn’t speak to each other due to the language barrier and yet her selfless hospitality spoke all the words. ‘Grandma’ and those living with her gave up their only two air conditioned rooms in the house for us. We tried to insist that they have the air conditioned rooms, but they wouldn’t take them back. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable that month of sleeping must have been for them. Yet they so willingly gave and in the process made our experience in their home comfortable and welcoming.
In Thailand, my team went almost the whole month without purchasing a lunch for ourselves. The schools we served at blessed us with free lunch meals. It was something that seemed so little, but it meant a lot to us to not need to figure out how we could make or buy a lunch every day.
In Malaysia, our host lived in another city two hours away. We were sort of on our own when we showed up to our new home in Kuala Lipis, so we thought. The people of the church in town took us in with open arms. When they found out we were without water they picked us up and took us to the church to shower. One church member and his family all month went out of their way to welcome us. They dropped off donuts as a treat one day, drove us around to give us a tour of town, took us for breakfast and helped us order food in Chinatown, and so much more!
The hospitality each month hasn’t just ended with our host. In Malaysia, we have met many people who take us in and get excited to have the opportunity to serve us and show us their country. This month in Honduras, we met a lady at the bus station our first day and since she has had us over for two meals, taken us to a family birthday party and taught us how to make pupusas, one of my new favorite foods here.
They always say when you go to serve abroad it is your life that is touched by the people, and time and time again that statement has proven true. After a year of continuously being shown hospitality and being welcomed to new homes and countries, I only hope I’m given the opportunity to do the same for someone in the States someday.
Having the need to be hosted for a year has placed hospitality and how I can make other peoples experiences better on the for-front of my mind. Whatever it may be, I like to think that because of the people I have met this year, I will be able to better serve those in my life. Is there anyone you know that you could show hospitality to or serve in a better way?
