Our surroundings were surreal. Mountains upon mountains rolled for miles all around us. Any picture I tried to take in the previous day and a half just couldn’t capture the beauty in front of me.
I stood in awe as I actually processed the moment I was in, standing in a circle of Americans and Panamanians. Our feet were planted on flattened dirt that was prepared for a new worship building to spring up sometime in the future.
We were praying in our native languages, unable to understand each other. To be honest, I was actually pretty distracted when we started. I didn’t know what was being said, so my mind kept wandering.
Our host, Debbie, eventually walked through the middle of the circle to our side. She whispered that she would translate their prayers for us.
Their prayers were beautiful. They prayed for the simplest things and the complex things: for the sun shining, for a new day, for soil to put a building on, for plans and people to come do the Lord’s work in that building.
After lots of intercession over the new building to come, a native named Miguel shared some things that came to mind while we prayed. He basically spent a few minutes encouraging and thanking us for coming to their village.
I wish I would have written down all the things he said to us. It’s crazy how easily my thoughts and memory can become mushy. I just know that I felt uplifted and encouraged after he spoke to us. The hospitality that they carried was sweet, and convicting.
Hospitality is not something I naturally carry. I would prefer to keep to myself initially, because I genuinely dislike the first interactions it takes to get to know someone. Small talk isn’t a skill of mine. The conversation eventually comes to a lull and I’m at a loss for what to ask next. So, I tend to avoid it all together.
We left the the mountains and got to our actual location a couple days ago. We settled in and got started with ministry the next day [yesterday]. We planned a skit for a boys school we were going to, and then we found out they cancelled on us. Pretty normal occurrence on the Race, so it didn’t phase us.
The team prayed about what the afternoon should look like. Kristi felt like we should do a prayer walk through the neighborhood, praying for the community and the people living around the YWAM [Youth With a Mission] base.
We walked for less than five minutes and noted a beautiful home just right up the road. We slightly paused to admire it, and started to walk again. Just as we did, though, a man walked out and asked a pointed question.
“Are you a World Race team?”
We all laughed and told him we were, asking him what gave us away. Him and his wife used to be on staff at the YWAM base and are good friends with our host. She told them we would be coming.
While we were talking, their dog was hanging at our feet wanting all sorts of attention. Someone asked him about the dog, and he told us that they actually had 2 week old puppies. Of course, the girls all gasped and awed at the thought.
“You want to come in and see them?”
“YES!”
We followed him inside to find his wife in the kitchen slicing some French bread. We continued to the next room to find a bed full of the cutest puppies. We played with them for a bit and talked to Scott and Vicki. Scott eventually excused himself because he had to wash their van outside.
Vicki came in and told us we could wash our hands and grab a piece of bread, and that there was butter sitting there if we wanted it. We all looked at each other in shock. These people are so incredibly kind.
We stood in the kitchen and ate bread, chatting with Vicki about their house and how they always have teams coming from the States to do mission work. They built it to have dorm rooms on the bottom to host teams. They had just moved upstairs to their bedroom that’s now finished.
As she was trying to explain it when we asked her questions, she offered to let us see it. So, we walked upstairs and got to see the room and balcony. It was beautiful. We stood on the balcony for a bit and continued to chat with Vicki.
We eventually walked back down the stairs to leave. We prayed over their family and thanked them for being so willing to just invite us in on a whim. Then, we continued on our prayer walk, refresh and filled up by their hospitality [and bread].
I left there asking a question over and over. “What just happened?”
I don’t think I’ll ever not be shocked when someone is that welcoming and inviting when they weren’t technically even prepared for it. It truly is so encouraging and convicting.
I wondered if the Bible specifically talked about hospitality. Not just the concept, but literally the term. Sure enough, it does.
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” – 1 Peter 4:8-11 ESV
I love this verse. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards. Whether it’s speaking or serving, glorify God through Jesus Christ.
Let me just ask you this. Who are you showing hospitality to?
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