We’ve been here almost 2 weeks now. We’ve slowly gotten settled in and have started building routines. We’ve walked through our neighborhoods and tried to introduce ourselves. We’ve been to church. We’ve been to 2 community meetings. However, it’s been a little difficult to find people who are willing to have a relationship with us. Josh and Debbie have invited quite a few people to our Saturday community and even though some people have said that they were going to come, no one has. It makes us feel very frustrated and unwanted. In fact it’s made me feel anxious some this week. Until during my quiet time I read this:
“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:32-36
So basically Jesus is telling us to love even those people who don’t love us back. Even though the people here continue to not want us and continue to decline our invitations to dinner, we’re still going to keep on trying because we want to show them that we love them.
So after reading that, I felt better about what we were doing and the very next day, Josh and Debbie met the mom of a couple of the kids in the after school program we volunteer at. She and her three kids have given us a definite yes for dinner tomorrow! We’re praying really hard that they show up!
(also check out my new meals page)