Hope and hospitality.

"I understand hospitality as the practice of God’s welcome, embodied in our actions as we reach across difference to participate with God in bringing justice and healing to our world in crisis." Letty M Russel, in her book - Just Hospitality

I would change this definition of hospitality only slightly and add "hope" to what we bring to our world as we practice hospitality.

Two bright themes threaded throughout our African journey, perhaps not surprisingly, have indeed been hope and hospitality. Our time with the Gimbas in Mozambique, was no exception.

Istifanus and Esther Gimba fetched us at the Lilongwe airport. Soon we were on a trek toward their home in Tete. We cannot say enough about their welcome and embrace and the excellent food we enjoyed. Yet, "a world in crisis" was also a theme that could not be ignored.

Some of you know that the Gimbas are Nigerian. While we were with them in Mozambique terrible atrocities were acted out in Nigeria and they were receiving frequent messages from home requesting fervent prayer for their families and nation. We prayed together often and were moved by the prayers of their daughter, Hannah, for not only the victims but also the perpetrators of these violent acts. It made us cognizant that there in lies our only hope. Our hope is in the God who hears our prayers, no matter our age, location, or ability to understand the world's sometimes horrible complexities. Our hope is in the God who has not left us to our murderous, selfish, sinful selves but has come to us in Christ and invites us to follow Christ's way of shalom.

Traveling in Africa is a reminder of the tremendous differences among the people of our world. In each country we've visited there are many languages spoken. Currently we are in South Africa which has eleven official languages and countless other non-official languages spoken. Yet, living hospitality, demonstrating the loving embrace of God, means recognizing something greater and deeper than our obvious differences. It calls for constantly looking for ways to include and empower those who, like me, are created in the image of God, created to flourish and to be a part of God's New Creation already breaking into this world. It's exciting and encouraging to see this happening in places like Tete, Mozambique, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, as well as on the corner of Neland and Watkins, Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is an incredible privilege to join with Christians in another part of the world in praying for God's Kingdom to come and will be done, in ALL the earth as it is heaven.

Pictures
1. Esther and Hannah Gimba. Wonderful cooks! Beautifully hospitable!
2. Corn storage is often a challenge. This is a common storage crib.
3. Walking through the village toward the farms.
4. A thankful farmer.
5. Examining some of the new farming techniques.
6. Women sifting the corn in preparation for grinding it. The porridge-like food the corn eventually becomes is mainstay of the diet.
7. Greg couldn't help but fix a few things around the Gimba's home.