Adela and her daughter after speaking with members of our team for, oh, five minutes at church invited us to their home. Well, you NEVER turn down an invitation for a home visit on the World Race so Ash, Sam, Rebecca and I met Adela at the mall at the designated time with flowers in hand.
Adela excitedly chatted with us, in exceptional English, the 7 or so city blocks to the three room flat she and her family of six call home. Upon arrival, her children joined us in the sitting room while she disappeared to "prepare." Many laughs and reminiscent moments later (they had three or four books dedicated to travel in the US so we enjoyed soaking up the familiarities and fielding their questions about "America") Adela reappeared and invited us into the kitchen.
The ten of us filled every ounce of available space and enjoyed a wonderful traditional meal of soup, two types of chicken, potatoes, pickled veggies, bread, etc. It was delicious! I was busting at the seams but thank goodness I was created with a second stomach. Like a cow but not (or I hope not). I have a dessert stomach and it's a good thing too: chocolate cake, fruit preserves and Jellie Bellies appeared; seriously, Jellie Bellies in Romania!!
The night flew by and it is possible that with how quickly our time went I was rolled from the kitchen to the couch and the couch to the car because I just don't remember HOW ON EARTH I moved my full self!
Riding home I remember thinking, before I slipped into a food induced coma, how spoiled I felt and how true 3 John 5 and 8 are, "Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you….We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth."
Sweet Adela and her family love Jesus and by their hospitality they actively joined us in spreading Truth. How cool is that!?! So it isn't just a away to describe how I felt that evening — there really is something called Holy Hospitality!
