The weather here reminds me of Seattle. You walk out to
the market in sunshine, and then get stuck in a rainstorm for the trek back
home. But that’s about all that reminds me of life in the states…with the
exception of the bowling alley we found for Leize Marie’s birthday.
We’re living in a village up in
the hills.
We get hot water on Friday and
Saturday.
We boil our drinking water.
The cold running water is
rationed every day (although they’re shutting it off for a week starting
tomorrow).
We use space heaters (and are so
thankful for them!)
We rarely flush the toilet.
Is this all prepping us for Africa in a couple weeks? It
really isn’t that bad. I just wanted to give you an idea of our current living
situation as I know some of you enjoy those kinds of details.
Walking around the village, almost everyone asks where
we’re from, and they respond with a friendly “Welcome!”
The kids see us coming and shout “Hello!” about 10 times
because that’s the only English they know.
The church we’re here to serve has invited us (that’s 7
of us girls) over for dinner and then a pajama party with their teenage
daughter.
Our “grandma” next door gave us coffee, tea, cookies, and
then fed us lunch just because we spent a couple hours cleaning her house.
These are just examples in Israel, but everywhere on the
Race I have been humbled by people’s hospitality. I thought I had the “gift” of
hospitality, but people around the world have shown me a whole other level.
The Bible calls us to practice hospitality and to do so
without grumbling. In Luke 14, Jesus says, “When
you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or
relatives, or your rich neighbors. If you do, they may invite you back and so
you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled,
the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you,
you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
It makes me think about who will be at my Thanksgiving or
Christmas dinner table in the future. I love having friends over for dinner,
but we should also look beyond our comfort zone or bubble of people and invite
those in that cannot repay us.
