Colombian Hospitality

One of the things that struck me most about the people I met in Colombia (and I know that Joel had the exact same experience) , was their amazing hospitality for strangers.

Hospitality is a virtue that I have really tried to develop over the past 8 years. When Joel and I first got married, one of the biggest challenges for me was the way he loved to have people over a lot, and with no prior notice. I am a planner. These moments where he would invite people over, and then let me know, were very stressful on our marriage. Joel and I came to a compromise early on...he would check with me first and I would try to be open to the idea of having people over on the spur of the moment (without having a clean house perhaps). I think that I've come pretty far on this one...I love to host get-togethers, and we've invited people over for a meal only hours before it was to be served on many occasions. I've come to really enjoy hosting people.

Compared to the people I met in Colombia though, I think I definitely fall short. Nearly every person we met was so honoured to meet us and would bless us with every material blessing that they could. A visit with them would ALWAYS end in some spanish prayers for us. The intense love that they had for us-strangers- just blew me away. Trevor talked a little about this and said that these people believed that having foreigners visit really affirms what they are doing and how they see it as such a blessing. Meanwhile, I know that my team consistenly felt that we were blessed beyond anything that we could have done to bless them.

Above is a picture of my sweet hostess Elsa. She didn't speak more than 5 words of English (and I could tell she was too shy to use them). The first night that I met her (after travelling by vans, and airplanes for 23 hours) she welcomed me with kisses on my cheeks and a big hug. She asked me if I wanted anything to eat and drink and then sent me off to bed. It was wonderful. Kinda like having my mom there...it was just what I needed.

The picture below is Ilyanna. She cooked many a meal for us, and she and Julien allowed us into their home and life with arms wide open. It was a beautiful thing to behold. I wondered whether I would be as willing to open my home and life to strangers that I couldn't even communicate with. I pray that I would be, especially after experiencing this kind of Christian love. It has challenged me to be willing to welcome people beyond my comfort zone. It's easy enough to have good friends over, but what about those who have been 'left behind'?

The last night in Bogota we met a woman from the United States who had been in Bogota for a week. She asked us if we would be willing to welcome her if she makes her planned visit to Canada next spring. She was a lovely woman, who LOVED to talk! I found myself thinking about other things as she shared her testimony at the church that night and I started to think "Gee, would I really be willing to have her in my home for an undetermined amount of time?".

While in Colombia a lot of things within myself were stretched. I often used the metaphor that I was a rubber band being stretched. Sometimes these stretches nearly broke me, other times they were manageable. What a wonderful experience, to be stretched beyond my little comfort zone (in physical and emotional ways). From not having toilet seats and having to count out toilet paper outside the stall (physical stretches) to sharing a room at the retreat centre with the maid and her daughter that didn't speak a word of English (emotional stretches). It was a week of growth for me.

I know that my experience of Colombia was quite different from Joel's. In a way I wish I would have had more opportunity to meet with more of the people in Colombia in their homes (instead of staying at the seminary and retreat centre and spending our majority of time with the same couples). I know that's what God had in mind for me, and I'm so grateful I had the opportunity. I know that I didn't get as 'realistic' of a look at the poverty there like Joel did. I did learn that the Colombian people share God's heart for others. It's something I'm striving to do as well.

Melanie