Three years and three months ago we took a big giant step of faith and transplanted our family to a completely foreign place. It was uncomfortable and exciting, it was heartbreaking and hopeful, and it was emotionally overwhelming, both in bad and good ways.
In this new place we were welcomed with open arms. The warmth that was extended to my family by those who had gone before us in uprooting and moving their families to a new place is still vivid to me. Our flight was delayed and we ended up landing past midnight. We were picked up at the airport by a kind-hearted man whose servant-heart shone through even in those first few minutes of meeting him. The refrigerator in our apartment had been stocked with food and our place tidied and bed readied for our arrival. This had been done by a lady whom we had only previously met and communicated with by e-mail. Nevertheless, her thoughtfulness and willingness to serve made an impression on me. Over the next few weeks we were hosted and fed and welcomed.
I am grateful that I can look back to those hard days, weeks, and months of transition and remember this: the kindness and compassion shown us by several people who warmly welcomed us to this new place we now call home. May we always extend kindness and hospitality to the foreigner in our midst.
In this new place we were welcomed with open arms. The warmth that was extended to my family by those who had gone before us in uprooting and moving their families to a new place is still vivid to me. Our flight was delayed and we ended up landing past midnight. We were picked up at the airport by a kind-hearted man whose servant-heart shone through even in those first few minutes of meeting him. The refrigerator in our apartment had been stocked with food and our place tidied and bed readied for our arrival. This had been done by a lady whom we had only previously met and communicated with by e-mail. Nevertheless, her thoughtfulness and willingness to serve made an impression on me. Over the next few weeks we were hosted and fed and welcomed.
I am grateful that I can look back to those hard days, weeks, and months of transition and remember this: the kindness and compassion shown us by several people who warmly welcomed us to this new place we now call home. May we always extend kindness and hospitality to the foreigner in our midst.