Act Tomorrow on a Hospitality Opportunity

Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this
have entertained angels without realizing it!    –Hebrews 13:2

Are you one of five families from Christ Community who are about to be in a very enviable position? Hosting a Chinese elementary student can be a great service to the child and a very enriching experience for the host family. Last summer, several Christ Community families welcomed Chinese students into their homes for two weeks. Here a few words about their experience:

We enjoyed hosting both of our students from China. They were incredibly polite and thoughtful guests. We learned a lot from the experience and from the girls. It was fun to watch them learn new things and increase in their confidence.

♦

I have been on 5+ mission trips and can honestly say that the 15 days of having a sweet Chinese girl stay at our home was the best discussion of Christianity I have had with someone from another country.  I was such a neat experience for us as we got to know her and her mother very well (through regular email).  She did everything with us:  ate, played, attended local events, church, participated in Bible study in our home.   She asked questions about everything we did and we just loved having her.   Our girls were a bit nervous about having another child they did not know stay in our home for that long of a time and when we asked if they wanted to do it again this year they said “absolutely!”

♦

I went on quite a few foreign missions as a campus minister.  Hosting a Chinese student was by far the most effective one – and I never had to leave Gainesville!

While in Gainesville, the students are participate in an English Language Study Program coordinated by Education First (a non profit dedicated to encouraging international awareness).  The students are coming here to improve their English language skills while experiencing American life and culture.  Staying with volunteer host families who open their hearts and homes for a few weeks to these excited youths is a vital aspect of this program.

The students are occupied Monday thru Friday with English classes in the mornings and fun activities in the afternoons.
We ask our host families to provide:

–a bed for their student (it’s not necessary that they have their own room),
–an extra plate at the table, and a warm loving environment.

Host a young Chinese student (10-13 years old) for 16 days this summer, from July 16-August 1.If you are interested, want more details, or have any questions, please stop by the porch tomorrow, or contact:

 Nehemiah (352) 328-4216 and Deborah Gomes (352) 870-1241, or ef.gomesnd@gmail.com