October 2021 - LPNI

Main menu:

October 2021

LPNI Devotion – October 2021

Strangers, Angels and Friends

I grew up in a very small town with no motel or hotel within 20 miles. Home was a large house built by the founder of our little town. We had extra bedrooms, so when there were weddings, funerals, and other events when residents had visits from out-of-town relatives and friends, we were often asked to house these “strangers”. Our little town also had no apartments but homes with extra rooms that were available for single teachers who taught at the public school or at the Lutheran grade school. After I left home, leaving my room empty, my widowed mother had four different female parochial school teachers stay with her over a 12-year period. These young women were helpful, fun, and definitely “angels unawares”! My brother and I were so thankful for “Mom’s teachers”.

Having had this pattern as a positive past experience and small town way of life, my late husband and I had no qualms entertaining and hosting “strangers”. For the past eight years, Frank and I, and now just I, host Kansas State University students who are part of the Helping International Students (HIS) program. The responsibility is to meet them at the airport, and bring them home to stay until they can get into the university dorms. The students our church group hosts are from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. I’ve hosted only male students, mostly graduate computer majors, and these guys really have been angels! After Frank died in November 2017, the two we were hosting asked if I would continue to host students. I said “Absolutely!” since I would even more need good computer help and extra “reach power” from tall young men! They both said in concert, “Yes, you do”!

The two students I’m hosting this fall have been exceptionally helpful with getting me settled into my new home. They’re tall enough to help hang pictures, and put things on top shelves that I don’t need to reach regularly. As well. they prepare interesting and tasty Czech meals! I generally ask them if they have a good relationship with their grandmothers, since I’m roughly that age. Thankfully they’ve all said yes. Some are closer to their maternal or paternal grandmother, but they have good relationships with them. I breathe a sigh of relief since I often become their American grandmother! I hear from some regularly, and I hear from most at Christmas. Some are Christian and some not, but they don’t hesitate to come to church with me.

Some of my friends ask me why do I do this, and why am I not afraid of hosting and inviting “strangers” into my home? These fellows are my protectors, helpers, entertainment, teachers, and truly angels in many ways. Last year we did not have any international students through the HIS program because of the pandemic, and I really missed them! Life was grey enough, but without their color in my life, it was even greyer than it needed to be. Those of us who host were thrilled when we knew we’d be getting new students this fall!

While many of you may not have had this particular experience, you’ve probably had patients and/or their family members, fellow staff members, neighbors, service providers, and others who as strangers were angels in your life. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 (WEB)

Jamie Spikes, Parish Nurse

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church

Manhattan, KS USA