Earlier this month, I had the priviledge of spending two weeks with a local family. The family I stayed with had four women: a grandmother, G, her adult daughter, D, and another unrelated woman, Joy, with her 8 year old daughter, JD (names are adjusted to respect the privacy of my new friends). Joy is passionate about sharing our Father’s love with everyone around her. She committed to live with G and D to help care for both of them as they recovered from some health issues. Joy loves to cook, she is very creative and crafty, and is a diligent worker. Joy is the oldest of three sisters and she takes on the older sister responsibilities everywhere she goes. She has become my older sister and cultural insider. Our Father has intertwined our lives in this season and I do not know what He has planned long term but for now I am so thankful for each opportunity to be together. Joy has taught me to cook many local foods and she has taken me to many places to explore both the city and a few places in the countryside.
One example of Joy's creativity and ongoing positive impact in my life is shown in the image above. These colorful tassle art pieces were each made by joy from an assortment of embrodiery floss that I brought with the intention to make friendship bracelets. Culturally, friendship bracelets are not an option because the bracelets are too similar to bracelets from a local religious ceremony. My friend, with the help of a few how-to videos, has brightened up one of my living room walls with these colorful tassle art pieces. I love the colors and the reminder of Joy's friendship.
Joy consistently encourages me to recognize that we are both members of one body. This unity of faith has allowed our relationship to continue to grow despite the challenges of different language and cultural backgrounds. I am learning to receive and extend grace and love in new situations and to laugh off my cultural blunders. I have grown in my language ability through our times together. I trust that our relationship will be a source of my continued language growth over the next few months and years.
Please partner with me in praying for our Father to continue to grow my friendship with Joy through the challenges that come with cross-cultural friendship. Please also partner with me in praying that He gives Joy wisdom in making decisions about her work and JD's school in the next few months.