"I was a stranger and you welcomed me." —Jesus
Some of the first words of greeting I heard after landing at the Kinshasa airport were "welcome home." These words were spoken to me by a leading female pastor in the Congo. I didn't know if the context of her words were a greeting sometimes spoken to African Americans when they visit Africa, or if her words simply meant that as a newly welcomed stranger, her home was now home to me too. Either way, I felt like I had come home.
About 30 pastors from throughout the Congo surrounded our delegation in greeting at the airport. In addition, a large choir sang joyfully as we entered the parking lot. Both then — as well as today and this evening when our delegation was greeted heartedly by pastors, laypeople and children in several sites around Kinshasa — I was amazed by the gifts of hospitality and welcome. We have been welcomed and greeted with open arms, even though our hosts have little idea of who we really are and what we do.
It occurs to me — how different this welcome has been from the welcome we extend to visitors at the Mission Center in Valley Forge. I cannot remember ever having a choir perform or children dance, or Mission Center staff gather to ring bells, blow horns or shout with joy in celebration. My experience here in Congo encourages me to do better and encourage my colleagues to do the same. I somehow suspect that the Congolese do believe that when they welcome a stranger, they are in fact really welcoming Jesus Christ.
Some of the first words of greeting I heard after landing at the Kinshasa airport were "welcome home." These words were spoken to me by a leading female pastor in the Congo. I didn't know if the context of her words were a greeting sometimes spoken to African Americans when they visit Africa, or if her words simply meant that as a newly welcomed stranger, her home was now home to me too. Either way, I felt like I had come home.
About 30 pastors from throughout the Congo surrounded our delegation in greeting at the airport. In addition, a large choir sang joyfully as we entered the parking lot. Both then — as well as today and this evening when our delegation was greeted heartedly by pastors, laypeople and children in several sites around Kinshasa — I was amazed by the gifts of hospitality and welcome. We have been welcomed and greeted with open arms, even though our hosts have little idea of who we really are and what we do.
It occurs to me — how different this welcome has been from the welcome we extend to visitors at the Mission Center in Valley Forge. I cannot remember ever having a choir perform or children dance, or Mission Center staff gather to ring bells, blow horns or shout with joy in celebration. My experience here in Congo encourages me to do better and encourage my colleagues to do the same. I somehow suspect that the Congolese do believe that when they welcome a stranger, they are in fact really welcoming Jesus Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment