It Takes a Village

Being raised in the home of a Pastor,
hospitality is second nature.  It is never odd for our home to be full
of overnight guest, our doorbell to ring before breakfast, our back door to
swing open without a knock, or to add a cup of water to the soup just
anticipating visitors. 

I was so excited when I found out
our contact this month would be a pastor. 
At first sight of the name we thought we’d be serving a woman pastor but
learned the name was Elisha not Alicia. 
I call Pastor Elisha, Baba and his wife, Mama Emmy for they immediately
took us in as their children. 

In our time here we have been overtly blessed by members of
Deliverance Church.  Before
knowing us, Mama Terry offered her van for all of our transportation
services.  The pastor’s son, Paul,
organized it so that all the young adults from the church would prepare our
lunches and dinners.  Fred, another
young adult from the church, set up programs for us to preach (share the gospel
of Jesus Christ) in the high schools. 

In our stay here we have learned
that the more you give you receive.  We’ve never gone without food and we
even had members of the church surprise us with a gift of tailored made
dresses.

One of our neighbors, Finch,
recently admitted to me, “It’s true what you said.  Your food spreads. 
Before coming here I always used to eat three times as much food.  Your food looks like it won’t be enough
for everyone, but I never leave hungry.”