The Ministry of Hospitality, Part Two

They almost didn't come.

In fact the day before we were scheduled to meet, *Emma whisked me aside for a private chat and said quite seriously, "My husband is telling me we shouldn't go. He really wants to know why you would want to have us over. Why do you want us to come??"

Later I would share this conversation with my neighbor and she would chuckle and say, "It's because people don't know what to think of you. They think you may be fanatic evangelicals and who knows what you might do them if they do come over!"

Thankfully *Emma and *Marcos (names changed for privacy) did come, along with their two sons, to our house this past Friday night. And although I found it hard to believe at first, over the course of conversation both adults reiterated what Emma had told me previously: In eleven years of marriage, they had never accepted an invitation to someone's house before.

While initially it was obvious that Marcos felt somewhat ill at ease, two and half hours and a few dozen chocolate chip cookies later we had shared stories of everything from soccer to the flaws of society to our family backgrounds and even similar stories of infertility. By the time they left, Marcos was addressing Pedro as "my friend" and invitations were extended to get together at their place for a meal and for the husbands to play soccer and for the wives to share cooking tips.

Most importantly, woven through the conversation we shared that night were their questions about faith and our stories about God's faithfulness. No, we didn't pull out the Romans Road or the Four Spiritual Laws. To be perfectly honest, on this occasion we didn't even pray over our food (gasp!) But what we did do, hopefully, was demonstrate that we were a fairly normal family who has found purpose and peace and satisfaction in something - specifically, Someone - greater than what this world can offer.

We are so thankful to have had this opportunity. We are also very excited about continuing to build this friendship and relationship with Emma and Marcos. Please pray that we can be of great encouragement to them personally and spiritually, and that they too will one day find satisfaction in Jesus Christ.

Meanwhile I will remember, as my husband wisely wrote: Never [to] underestimate the ministry of hospitality.