As we have been learning Genesis through our many Bible studies, I am constantly being reminded that God sets the world up as a hospitable environment before He places His kids in it. For five days God creates a beautiful and productive world so that humans have an environment to live in that is suitable for them to thrive. Finally, on the sixth day, God creates man, the vessel of His breath, and takes joy in watching them enjoy His creative expressions.
As I have been listening to our Genesis Bible studies, I have been taught that taking care of the earth through sustainable work and creating welcoming environments is joining God in His work. Creating welcome spaces is doing God’s work, creates spaces for people to feel welcome, seen, loved, and chosen.
With all this in mind, I had been looking for a place where I could use my skills in organization and welcoming people during internship, but I had already committed to other assignments that were not in hospitality. Yet, as I looked at our lodging spaces and service projects, I could not help but remember that God had given me a gift in hospitality and that He delights in hospitality work. But alas, I was doing my best in the assignments I was given and finding a lot of joy in it.
One of the first days in El Salvador I was approached by the head of hospitality who told me that she would be mentoring me in hospitality so that I could learn to take her place later on in the summer. Immediately I remembered Genesis; God is a hospital Being who delights when His people dwell in welcoming, ordered, and aesthetic environments. I was eager to learn how I could work in hospitality, especially when some of my leaders were confident that I had foundational skills for the assignment.
On Monday, June 23rd, we welcomed almost 50 Salvadorian youth to the GOD campus where they would get to experience a SLAM youth conference, many for the first time. As I welcomed them to the property, I reflected on the chaotic environments and systems they are caught in. Suddenly, I felt the responsibility I had to create a space of light for them where they would be able to experience the goodness of the Lord in a way many of them had never felt before.
Throughout the next few days I had many opportunities to set up spaces for people to eat, worship, serve, and enjoy the God’s presence together. As I passed out meals and lots of coffee, I got to interact with each individual, regardless of the language barrier. I would watch as they would eat meals together and converse with one another and experience the light of God’s presence with them. As I stepped into the hospitality role, I felt as though I was stepping into one of God’s roles to make His kids feel seen, loved, and heard and it was one of the most special experiences of my life.
I am so eager to see how my skills in hospitality will grow over the summer as I get to serve God’s kids in the way I set up environments for them to thrive in and learn His word.