Written 08/06/2010
I had never felt so welcome in all my life.
Tuesday afternoon, we were about two-thirds of the way up a
hill and wondering when we would reach the house we were visiting when joyful shouts
of “Hallelujah” reached our ears.
hill and wondering when we would reach the house we were visiting when joyful shouts
of “Hallelujah” reached our ears.
I looked up to see a woman in a maroon dress running down
towards us with hands extended so high in the air she might have been touching
the sky.
towards us with hands extended so high in the air she might have been touching
the sky.
By the time the “Aye-aye-aye” shouts started, she was
hugging us enthusiastically.
hugging us enthusiastically.
I didn’t understand it, but TIA (this is Africa)
so I went with it.
so I went with it.
As she disappeared up the hill, Perez (a member of our
entourage) explained – her name is Jennifer, and today was her 50th
birthday.
entourage) explained – her name is Jennifer, and today was her 50th
birthday.
I wouldn’t have pegged her for a day over 35.
So we trudged the rest of the way up the hill to her house,
where we took tea, Megan shared a word, and we had lunch with Jennifer, her
family, and most of the neighborhood (or so it seemed).
where we took tea, Megan shared a word, and we had lunch with Jennifer, her
family, and most of the neighborhood (or so it seemed).
While that was going on, the wheels in my brain were
spinning.
spinning.
Jennifer didn’t even know us, yet we were the guests of
honor on her special day.
honor on her special day.
It was mind boggling.
Later on, as we sat in our team meeting and talked about the
good things about our day, I went back to that moment where we met Jennifer on
the road.
good things about our day, I went back to that moment where we met Jennifer on
the road.
Her excitement came from the thought of meeting brothers and
sisters from another country.
sisters from another country.
It didn’t matter that she had yet to meet us – we are
family, and family is always welcome.
family, and family is always welcome.
That concept isn’t new.
I’ve read about it in Acts, in Paul’s letters – the
hospitality of brothers and sisters, and the enthusiasm and excitement with
which they welcomed family into their homes.
hospitality of brothers and sisters, and the enthusiasm and excitement with
which they welcomed family into their homes.
What feels incredibly sad, in retrospect, is that until
Tuesday, I had never ever seen it beyond the pages of my Bible.
Tuesday, I had never ever seen it beyond the pages of my Bible.
It was wonderful to be so welcomed, and I hope it will be one
of the first moments I remember when I think of Uganda,
of the first moments I remember when I think of Uganda,
My sadness comes from knowing that when I return to America,
most people will not be so welcoming when I meet them for the first time.
most people will not be so welcoming when I meet them for the first time.
Even my own brothers and sisters in Christ.
I could sit in that sadness when I get home, but I trust God
to not allow me to.
to not allow me to.
I expect to take something away from this month (and
Jennifer) in being more eager to welcome a brother or sister in Christ when I
meet them.
Jennifer) in being more eager to welcome a brother or sister in Christ when I
meet them.
They’re family, after all.
It’s time to start treating them like it.
