Pam Vossen, one of our Hope Angels, and a strong advocate for Hope Haven Rwanda, recently used this phrase to describe one of our Rwandan team members following her visit: “warm and welcoming.”
We couldn’t have a higher accolade! Our organization loves hospitality. Susan, our Founder and President, is often surrounded by friends in her home in Sedalia. In fact, she welcomes around 400 of them to her barn every year for an incredible gala—that’s extreme hospitality!
Kimberly and I have hosted guests from dozens of countries around the globe in our home. Our family vision even includes a focus on hospitality (let me know if you want a copy of our guiding document).
These days, it seems rare to be warmly welcomed into someone’s home, even though it is a Scriptural mandate in Hebrews 13:1-2a: “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers.”
Intern Emma Williams comes from a family known for their hospitality. I have been welcomed into their home on two occasions. On my first visit, I was happy to learn they intentionally designed their outdoor space to welcome others. Their front door faces one of the most well-traveled streets in Boulder, Colorado, and they created a large open space, and a sizeable table, to engage with their community.
Their daughter Emma reflected on the incredible hospitality team we have in our guest kitchen in Rwanda. Here were a few of Emma’s observations:
“Who is responsible for cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner for every single volunteer at Hope Haven? The guest hospitality team.
Whatever time of the day, you can always depend on a hearty meal. Starting off your day with breakfast, your mid-morning pickup, a rejuvenating lunch, or dinner after a productive day at Hope Haven equals a delicious experience. After speaking with one of the staff members, I discovered her favorite aspect of working in the kitchen is the group dynamic. She loves working alongside her friends and creating food that brings people together.
Food is often a centerpiece of community interaction. The Bible has countless stories of Jesus and his disciples gathering in fellowship around meals. Food is also symbolic of things far deeper than just physical fuel. In the Gospels, through the teachings of Jesus, people were able to learn spiritual principles through God’s provision of food.
Hope Haven is thankful to have a team that specializes in food and hospitality so powerfully. It is clear to guests that the hospitality team loves what they do. Their food is made with love that you can taste. They have the blessing of being responsible for the fellowship and gathering of God’s children around their food. They are true servants in the Kingdom and may never know the gratitude of everyone who has experienced their hospitality.”
Who can you invite into your space this week, as you demonstrate the love of Christ?