Welcoming The Stranger

Welcoming the Stranger

He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.

It was a cold winter day the first time we met our new-to-the-country friends, recently arrived from Somalia. We’d connected with them through a mutual friend and had several mattresses to deliver to their small apartment. When we walked in, we quickly realized they had very little. Rugs on the living room floor and a few dishes in their kitchen were all we could see. Even so, the family graciously welcomed us as we brought the beds in and asked where they’d like them to be set up.

Communication was challenging as they did not speak English very well, so we did most of it through hand motions and facial expressions. As we completed our task and put our shoes back on to leave, we asked if we could return to visit again. The family wholeheartedly told us to come back, and the next week we did just that.

We sat on their living room floor while the daughter made us smoothies to drink. Even though they did not have much, they were adamant that they wanted to share what they had with us. I felt humbled as I received their gift, knowing it came out of the little they had.

Over time, we have grown our friendship by inviting the family into our home, making them American foods while they’ve made us traditional Somali foods. We’ve shared about our cultures, families, and history. My husband, Kyle, has even been teaching the mother how to drive! It has been a rich relationship that is different from many of our friendships.

God reminds us that we are to show love to the foreigner living among us, meeting their needs. Kyle and I have realized that we’ve received from our new-to-the-country friends so much more than we’ve given. They’ve shown us what true friendship and hospitality look like by sharing what they have with us and always inviting us into their lives wholeheartedly.

— Kendra

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Extend friendship to someone new to your community, church, or workplace.