Teacups in the Jungle

As she wiped down her little table and extended her hand out for us all to sit down, Ate Miriam, in her little house in the jungle, was the picture of hospitality. We felt welcomed into her home and I was so humbled by her quiet, unassuming way of making us at ease. There was no apology for the state of her house, no presenting of her finest fares and furnishings. She had few, but she gave what she had, and she gave it for the purpose of serving the Lord.

And it wasn’t lost on me, that this particular week, we were preparing for and praying over a new venture for our our ladies meeting. This coming week we are going to invite women from all over the village as we start a new course on “Hope.” We will study the story of the promised Redeemer, from the garden to the cross. As I watched the ladies cut up the invitations, talk about and pray over the names of their families and friends and who they want to invite, it was so humbling to think that God allows us to have this role. He uses us in all our weakness, our limitations, our cramped spaces, our stumbling words and through the gift of the Holy Spirit, he draws others to Himself. Inviting is so powerful, when Jesus is our Hope.

The Lord has been bringing the word, “hospitality,” to my attention a lot lately. At first, I thought this was strange, for I have no intentions of throwing a dinner party, out here in the jungle, any time soon. But, the more I delved a little deeper, the more I realized how far we can drift from what the Bible encourages us and commands us to do. If you are anything like me, then for many of us, when we think of the word “hospitality,” it is almost synonymous with putting on an event, presenting our houses at their best, trying to be creative with our decor, cooking up our best recipes and putting a lot of effort into entertaining guests. It is often only practiced as a special occasion, and is nearly always prearranged. How many of us would invite over the entire ladies Bible study group at a moment’s notice? We put so much pressure on ourselves to perform “hospitality” so well that we are a flustered mess; frantically cleaning, rearranging our furniture, puffing the pillows and muttering promises to ourselves that we will never do this again. It is too much work! We have let the world taint our thinking as we burden ourselves with presenting the best version of us, inside our put-together homes, instead of celebrating the wonderful gift and opportunity we have been given to be able to present our dear Lord Jesus, and His everyday Grace. He gives us countless opportunities to be shining lights for Him to a lost and lonely world, through the cracks and weaknesses of our homes and our lives.

As I watched Ate Miriam move around her little home, I praised God for the reminder that hospitality is never about our house, but it is always about our heart. Ate Miriam’s house is not to showcase her earthly belongings. It is a home, with a door that is always open. I love how, here in the village, when someone is coming to our house they will shout out “tao po.” It is an announcement of their arrival since, there is no doorbell to ring, and nobody calls ahead to say they are coming. “Tao po” literally means, “person” or more loosely translated, “person/people here”. I am often thankful for this vocal  reminder, as I make my way to answer a call, that people are outside my door. People for whom the Lord loves and the reason for which He died; so men and women, boys and girls, could be called the Sons of God. The people that arrive on our doorsteps, the neighbors who drop off our mail, acquaintances who call us at work, teenagers who visit our home; they are not to be seen as interruptions or disturbances in our schedules. No, they are people with needs, calling out to be invited into our lives, to be seen and to be heard. As I thought of Ate Miriam’s example, on a random Wednesday afternoon, I realized that instead of inviting people in so we can impress them, it is so much more freeing to welcome them in, humbly and prayerfully, so we may be allowed the wonderful opportunity to impress upon others the news of the gospel. Jesus saves.

Hospitality is gift, given to us, to share with others. To share our lives, in love, to the world around us and to take no thought of ourselves. We are not to seek glory as an acclaimed hostess, but instead, to be honored to be called a servant of the Lord. And friends, it can happen so simply; I know, for I experienced it so gracefully, in a little house in the jungle while sitting on a cement floor, drinking half a cup of coffee.

Ate Miriam, thank you for being a gracious servant of the Lord. Many may look at your house, your worldly possessions and think you do not have much to your name. I have sat in your home, watched you live, and I say thank you for making much of the Name of Jesus. I hope to invest in my home as wisely as you do in yours.

Love, Philippa.

xx