Hospitality

“Turn to a stranger, take his hand, maybe then you’ll understand” –Jones Street Station

Hospitality, or philoxenia in the Greek (love to strangers), has been a common theme in my life lately. I have never paid much attention to it in the past, but have often been blessed by its appearance in others.   Hospitality seems to be a prominent command appearing throughout scripture; from the qualities that one must look for in church leadership (1 Timothy), to how people were to treat sojourners in a foreign land, as well as helping the poor and needy.  It has often included providing food, lodging, clothing, protection and excess. We see the command in Hebrews “…do not be forgetful to entertain strangers...” It also seems to be the pitfall of Sodom that they “did not consider those in need”.  Christ often commands us to watch out for the widows, orphans and those in need, and those are often whom we see his heart go out to.  Ultimately we see it is all summed up in His great command to love one another. 

Over our journey of fundraising and preparation, I have experienced and been overwhelmed by the hospitality of people in a variety of ways.  Friends, families, and churches have come alongside us financially and in prayer. We have received support from families taking us in while we have been traveling, helping us move, feeding us, listening to us vent, and hearing our concerns.  Individuals have taken time out of their schedule to give us advice and counsel and have put us in contact with people that can enhance our ministry, taught us the language and farming methods, even including how to milk a goat and make cheese.  They have made us prayer quilts, sent us Maasai Bibles, language tools from Kenya, and far exceeded any command to love and show hospitality that I can comprehend.  I have been overwhelmed and surrounded in Christ’s love through them and you. Thank you.

In light of this, hospitality has been ever present on my mind and the topic recently presented itself to me again when I was talking with a good friend and mentor who has worked with the Maasai for many years.  I asked what advice he may have for our ministry over the next couple years and what important things he thought I ought to know about working missions in Kenya. (Some background: I have recently been struggling with how to adapt my culture to better present the gospel and work alongside the Maasai, such as finding a cheap car vs. something that may last longer or what appliances our house may need). He replied, that in his mind, it is important not to live extravagantly and to live contextually.  However, within reason, the little expense we try to save in buying or building is not helpful if it inhibits our ministry.  All the Maasai really notice is “have and have not”.  The mere fact that we have a car or a different house sets us apart and even within their own culture there are many different economic and social levels of Maasai people who have an array of possessions.  He continued to say he did not feel that stressing over these small details was an important part of our ministry or that it ultimately made a large impact in the grand scheme of things. Rather, the most important part of our ministry and the way we could be most effective would be learning the language well and being hospitable to the people we serve.  What kind of neighbors would we be to the Maasai?  Essentially the message was that our hospitality and our love for the people would ultimately cover and overshadow many of the faults and mistakes we will make in our ministry along the way.  The Maasai do not expect us to become Maasai, and often enjoy us for our differences.   Our love defines our ministry. 

This point was later driven home again when I was emailing some missionaries in Kenya about opportunities to work alongside others there.  She wrote this in regards to her journey to assimilate in language and culture, “…I really pushed myself to be uncomfortable and to let go of my culture and my sense of self.  Then God told me He did not expect me to become Maasai.  Christ incarnated himself, and He did it completely.  I don't need to duplicate it.  I am to be who he made me.  That has really blessed me and helped my ministry.  So don't make decisions from a sense of obligation, but really look at what will give you the most long term stability and joy.”

These things have been a blessing in the last couple of weeks in Audrey and my apprehensions about making choices to live a culturally contextual lifestyle with the Maasai in Kenya.  It’s not to say that we shouldn’t live to some degree on a similar standard, but that at the same time we are not expected to become Maasai.  In the book, “This Our Exile” the author speaks of a man who has “gone native”, having the cornrows, garb, weapons, and shoes of the Maasai.  The man asks one of his friends what they thought of this man “going native” and he replied, “Ridiculous…do they (these Americans trying to be Africans) forget who they are?”  I am reminded of this and how no matter how hard I try or uncomfortable I make myself I will never become Maasai. For one, our skin tones contrast greatly and we stick out like an elephant on an escalator.  When we try to completely assimilate, we in some ways deny our culture, which to the Maasai looks and seems ridiculous. We should not become something we are not, and cannot become.  While we should try to be contextually appropriate in our teaching and some ways in our living, we should not deny who we are for this only leads to frustration and exhaustion.  As we try not to westernize others, we should not try to fully Africanize ourselves.  We should embrace the culture of each, growing together in this bicultural community, celebrating the work of Christ which transcends all culture but is expressed through each person uniquely. 

This means daily and intentionally trying to love others and trying to be the good neighbor, as hard as that may be in our individualistic culture.  This means that I will be a part of a whole that is different from myself, but uniquely shaped and reflecting pieces of His glory.  I need to be welcoming, warm, friendly and giving, plus I need to be a prayerful companion, a silent learner, and an embracer. I want to help all who are in need and searching, not always by giving them what they ask for, but by showing them love, His love, in part.  I have been greatly blessed by others and by your hospitality, so I thank you, and thank Him for you and I hope to pass that love on as we make every effort to abide in His love.