Julius and Mr. Dhlamini

(The Blessing of Providing a Place for Christian Workers)

“Think of your home as a behind the lines supply depot, a resting place away from the heat of the battle…”
Karen Maines

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I really want to practice hospitality—and I will too—just as soon as our children are older…” Have you ever considered that God might want to use your family now—not in spite of your children, but because of your children?

Consider Julius and Mr. Dhlamini.

“I was a very bad shepherd.”

Across the table, I could almost read my children’s minds through their wide-eyed expressions… “Wow! A real, live shepherd—from Africa—at our very own table!” The girls, quite young at the time, hung on Julius’ every word. He explained that as a young boy he had become distracted while watching the family’s flock and, more than once, lost track of the animals. As a resulting “punishment”, his father had taken away the privilege of shepherding and—horrors—sent him to school! At school he heard the gospel and became one of the very first of his tribe to come to Christ. By the time we met Julius, he had completed college in Nairobi, as well as Bible College and Seminary in North America and was a fruitful church planter. Despite his advanced degrees, and the many doors open to him in East Africa as a result, Julius had returned to the bush where he trained itinerant pastors who, in turn, carried the gospel to the “least of the least” in remote enclaves rarely if ever visited. Every few years, he came to the States to raise awareness for his people and garner support. Through our church, we became Julius’ “home away from home” one of the times when he traveled through our area.

We soon learned that Julius’ children were the light of his life, and he missed them sorely—and not only did he not mind our little children asking questions—he seemed to love it! Just by being little children, our girls met a deep need in this loving father’s heart.

Over the years as our children became teenagers, they continued to look forward to any visits from Julius and kept up with his ministry. They learned, firsthand through him, the devastating effects of drought and famine, of disease and abandonment, but also the transforming power of the gospel on a resistant, animistic, and forgotten tribe. They have sent their beanie babies and sold candy bars to raise money for a well rig or the orphanage. And we have collected mementos as well…burned out gourds decorated with beads used to carry goat’s milk, the sitting/sleeping stool (a prized possession of every bushman), and sandals made from old tires each a tangible reminder of Julius and the people he loves.

And then there was Mr Dhlamini, a pastor from South Africa who was studying for some time in the States. We only met him that once when he stayed with us, but two things stand out in my mind from that visit…

The first has to do with sweet potatoes. I was running late, you see, and rushed into Bi-Lo to pick up something for dinner. There in the deli were these tubs of mashed sweet potatoes. Now I will have to tell you that never before, and never since, have I purchased mashed sweet potatoes, but they looked nice and hot, so I popped them in my cart and was on my way… Well, I’ll never forget Mr. Dhlamini’s face that night at dinner.

“How did you know?” he asked, staring at the mashed potatoes. “This food was a staple in my home and my mother used to prepare it for me.” Of course, I hadn’t known…but God had…and I was humbled to realize how God can even use us unknowingly to bless one of his servants with a favorite dish from home.

The other thing I remember is that, like Julius, Mr. Dhlamini had left little children at home and was missing them terribly. I have a beautiful memory of him telling us about his children and then sitting quietly, holding our one year old Laina, his lean charcoal cheek snuggled up against her pudgy baby face.

As a mom, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the spilled milk and the less-than-perfect manners and the discipline issues that invariably arise during the course of a day; but then I am reminded that Christ, Himself, used a little child in teaching on the kingdom of heaven. Our children have been greatly blessed to grow up with “company”. Don’t wait until everything is “perfect”…go ahead and include your children in hospitality today. I was greatly encouraged in this when my children were young and Julius, upon leaving, wrote, “I could have stayed with you forever…” Forever? Despite all the messes and mayhem?

Or perhaps…because of them.

Romans 12:13
Practice!