“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2 NIV
One of the things that I have been learning continually with IFI is to show hospitality to strangers, and the best way to learn it is to feel the power of hospitality by receiving the hospitality by others.
Dora, Elaine, Smita and I had a chance to share our testimonies and a presentation about our own culture – Honor and Shame at a mission conference at the Federated Church in Pennsylvania with pastor Rich. An international student L, who has been seeking God in Rich’s bible study group, came with us alongside. We had a fruitful time there. Elaine and I were hosted by a family, whom we had a great discussion with during the night, about cultural differences. I asked them questions about American culture, like how they raise children (they have four kids!), and shared about how I and most millennials in China are raised as the only child in our family. Our conversations were so helpful for me to understand my own culture and American culture that I am exposed in. Our international friend L told me that the best part of the trip was the time he spent with his host family. He also shared how he thought that following Christ is a way to change the world with people in Federated Church. I was amazed by the fact that he felt comfortable to share how his life is changing, even though he is not a believer yet, in the church. I believed that the hospitality and kindness he received allows him to understand God’s love a bit more.
(Pastor Rich, ISEEDers, and Le at Federated Chruch)
During spring break, I went to IFI DC Trip with other 30 international students. We were welcomed by McLean Bible Church, with an abundant meal prepared by church members in potluck style, when we first arrived in DC on Saturday night. I think that was a great meal enacted as Jesus’s love and joy to welcome strangers. Besides teaching God’s word, healing the sick, Jesus also did his ministry through eating and drinking with people.
I was also thankful that the host family I stayed with from Mc Church invited my friend Chloe, who is pursuing her degree in Georgetown, to stay with them during my time at D.C. Chloe and I had a wonderful time in sharing our current life, and I was able to share my faith with her. We also watched the movie God’s not Dead together. With the kindness and hospitality that she received from the host family, she could not only hear Christians’ faith in words but also experience Christians’ faith in actions.
(Chloe and I played games with the host family. Photo shooted by the host Mum.)
Hospitality is such a principal element in living out our faith in Jesus. Every kindness and hospitality I received is a reminder of Jesus’s sacrificial love to us, and a reminder to me of how I should live out my faith in Jesus every day.