“Come in, come in!”, the older man ushered us into the apartment as his wife took our shoes and gave us a wet towel to wipe our hands with. “It is an honor to have guests under our roof!”, he said. I looked around. The walls of the apartment were cold and bare; gray cement that was falling apart in places. The room itself held no furniture besides thin sleeping mats that were tucked into a corner. A large tablecloth covered most of the floor, and small “piala” tea bowls indicated the spots where we would sit. We sat down and, with the help of a translator, started talking to the Tajik family of four. As the conversation went on, the mother and her two girls started bringing out plate after plate of everything they owned. A huge home-baked tortilla bread, dough balls filled with pumpkin and carrots, and tea. I watched as the mother sent the girls to the cellar to bring out the small amount of sugar cubes they had. “You’re their guests, so they’re putting everything they have on the table for you,” the translator whispered to us.

I was nervous as I stretched out my hands to get some tortilla bread. Yet I knew that this poor Muslim family had peaceably opened up their home and were carefully watching to make sure that we ate something. They listened respectfully as my husband asked the blessing on the food, and asked questions about our way of life as we shared a different approach to both worldly and heavenly things.

It was interesting, really. Right there on the floor, sitting cross-legged around the tablecloth, a Muslim family’s hospitality opened the door to sharing the gospel. I looked into their eyes and saw sincere care. I listened to their story and was touched by their simplicity. And as I took it all in, I realized that this family just showed us Hebrews 13:2 in practice. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares…” 

No, we weren’t angels who came to break the news that a childless family would conceive; but we did come to share the news of what a miraculous birth did for mankind. This family kindly took us in as strangers; and, not having much, they offered us all they had. The kindness they showed and the sincere way they served us left us all speechless.

We left that house with stomachs full; but more importantly, with a deep understanding of what God can do when we simply open our doors. 

Because in the end, He gave me so much more than I can ever give away.