The following is a sharing by a good friend of mine who does alot of work with the internationals.  Through her sharing, I was reminded once again of the importance of our ISM and Praxis-VSM (Visting Scholars Ministry).  Let’s continue to pray for these ministries to be effective in reaching out to the world that is coming to us so that we can engage in foreign missions right here at home.

Seeing with New Eyes

Several springs ago, I stood at the podium in a well-respected Asian university. Before me were 35 foreign language majors, about to head overseas for graduate programs. Their professor had invited me to give them an “orientation” to what they might expect in their new cultures. Their present circumstances couldn’t have been more different from the West. The classroom was bleak. Naked lights hung from high ceilings, making the room feel even colder than it was. The students huddled at wooden desks, sipping tea from Thermos bottles. The plaster walls needed paint. Outside the tall windows, it was gray everywhere. As I began to speak, I felt new eyes silently examining me, perhaps wondering what it would soon be like to live in my world.

“Where are you going this fall?” Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada and the U.S. They all looked so innocent. Yet each had distinguished himself by mastering a foreign language, and proven his worth with high scores on TOEFL and GREs. Every eager face, framed in black hair, was the pride of a family and of a region, some from humble homes in the country, others from cities of millions that Americans have never heard of. Now, with only their visas left to secure, they had joined the academic elite. When they told me their majors (from biomedical engineering to philosophy), I remembered what is so often said, “The treasures of this country, and of the world, are in our American cities and universities.”

Nevertheless, soon they’d be “aliens” standing in an airport immigration line.  As I surveyed their youthful frames, bundled up in warm coats and colorful scarves, they reminded me of the foreign students who inhabit so many of the marginal housing areas near our universities. Walking or bicycling to nearby stores, often reluctant to speak, they arrive self-conscious of their oral language abilities, more comfortable reading English than speaking it. I have spotted them in Richmond, New Haven, Boston, and other university towns.

I remembered international exchange students coming to American high schools, whom I often had to encourage to reach out, even though they were guests here. “Be friendly. Take the initiative to speak. Try talking with Americans; use your language in conversation. Enjoy free things – sightseeing, lectures, sports, concerts, public libraries and church.” So that day in the Asian classroom I added, “When you go overseas, look for a church to visit. You don’t have to be a member or even believe in God to attend. It’s a good place to find friendly people who love your country. Many will be glad to meet you and willing to help you.” As I said this, I breathed a prayer that God’s people would, indeed, be ready for them in their university destinations – waiting at the airport, ready to help them find housing and furnishings, navigate a supermarket or the local bank. “God, wake up your people at home! Give them your eyes and ears to welcome these ‘strangers’ who are coming!”

I hope those students have done as well as “Kevin.” Within days of his arrival here at an American church, he started looking for a language partner. When he found one on Craigslist, the new Ph.D. student quickly responded! After the two young men began meeting to speak English, the savvy volunteer invited him home to meet his family, then to attend his church – even to share Thanksgiving dinner. As a new follower of Jesus, Kevin introduced himself to [hist pastor], informing him that it was the first time he’d been inside an American church.

Almost every nation of the world is represented in our community. One day recently, I noticed that a young man from Eritrea had waited on me in the mall, an Afghan welcomed me to Wal-Mart, and a Nepali cashiered where I shop. Other internationals work in our grocery stores, tailor our clothes, landscape our yards, and attend school with our children. How might international relations be improved by our small acts of friendship and hospitality to them? Welcoming a stranger may begin with a simple question as to where one is from, or an inquiry about an unusual name on store nametag. If warmth and friendliness occur, that might lead to an invitation for a cup of coffee, or even better, home for a cup of tea. Ask an international guest how he or she came to be here, then give them the rare and precious gift of listening. Practice individual acts of hospitality and kindness. This is what it means to live “as aliens and sojourners (as Peter calls us),” even as majority people in our own city. Follow the instructions Jesus gave us. Who knows where that may lead?