My experience with the in home visits was one of the most interesting things I have done on the trip this year. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to experience a new culture that we rarely get to see in Arkansas. At the in-home visits, as a sign of respect, we took our shoes off before entering our Arabic friend’s home.. Once we had entered, we were treated with a kind of hospitality that I have never witnessed before being served both food and drink. The fist house we went to, our host had been expecting us and had prepared an entire feast of traditional Arabic food, which was delicious!
At another house we went to, one of the children handed me his video game controller and turned on the TV to play Minecraft. Whether through food or playing games, the Arabic culture is a hugely hospitable people. Besides the remarkable hospitality, our hosts were very social and got a chance to practice their English skills. Through these visits, we were able to help build relationships with families in the hopes that they will see the way we live our lives, as Christians, and be open to hear the gospel.
Some of the people we went to see are those who attended our English class last year. We had already gotten to know some of them, and their stories, and it was encouraging to get to go to their homes this year and share the gospel with them in class. I hope I will get to see them again next year and continue to minister to them in such an incredible way. Over all, I enjoyed getting to talk to, laugh with, and hear the stories of some of the families we went to go see and hope to see some fruit in the upcoming years.
Written by Ethan Whiteley
UBC Missions 