No More Strangers

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

—Ephesians 2:19

One of the great blessings from being on our trip thus far has been the fellowship we've had with the members of the Church along our way.  Of the six Sundays we've been here, we've been to four different wards or branches, and every one has been welcoming and excited for our family.  At times, we've doubled or tripled the size of the local Primary, yet teachers have welcomed us with open arms.  Members have invited us to join their branch lunches and participate in Primary programs, and even helped arrange Jonathan's baptism.  We've been welcomed with open arms.

Members of the Church certainly don't have a monopoly on kindness, but the ones we've encountered have been universally welcoming and friendly.  It gives me pause, as I realize I can go a long way towards welcoming others in my community, both in and out of the Church.

I look forward to Sundays, even in strange and far away places, because I know that we'll find a home with people who share the same testimonies and knowledge that we do.  Because of our shared faith in Christ, even far from the familiar, we don't have to be strangers or foreigners.