All of this traveling has made us keenly aware of how much we appreciate hospitality. Every Sunday we visit a different church - every week it's new places and faces. While this is challenging and exciting, it can be draining not having a church family to call home on a consistent basis. Picture in your minds a traveling circus for Jesus.
In the midst of this constant movement, however, we've had many churches that have demonstrated amazing hospitality. One church gave us a gift basket that had all kinds of amazing goodies in it...including a comfy blanket! They took us out to dinner and then got us a hotel room for a good night's sleep.
We went to another church that had a surprise for us waiting in our hotel room - a gift basket with yummy late-night snacks. They had even stocked the little fridge with a few fresh veggies. Yet another church invited us to their home nearby for a home-cooked meal after service!
Obviously, we have a great deal of appreciation for awesome food and sleeping arrangements...but it's more than that. It's the attitude of making us feel as comfortable as possible while we are on this rather challenging journey.
To all the wonderful people who we've run across at various churches - THANK YOU! You possess such a remarkable gift...thanks for giving temporary people a church family for an evening. We "circus folk" truly appreciate it.