It is not about the turkey. It doesn’t matter if you fry, dry brine, or buy your turkey precooked. Don’t let it be the reason you don’t open your home to international students during the Thanksgiving season. As you may know, Spectrum (Lighthouse’s international student ministry) is looking for families that would be willing to host students for a meal. Even though the holiday puts so much emphasis on the food, it is the gathering to share of a meal together that draws us nearer. It is seizing the opportunity to share Christ in the most intimate setting—your home.
The first time our family invited students to our house was 2 years ago. That was also the first time I had ever made turkey and cooked any of the other fixings (previously we chose to have turkey-friendly dinners.)
We knew we wanted to do it because felt the holidays were particularly lonely times for most of the students. When school is in session and life is busy, it is easy to overlook your loneliness … but when the breaks happen, homesickness really hits. In a small way inviting students for a meal can help ease their pain of being away from their families. We noticed that students really liked being in a family setting, and they appreciated the attention we would give them as our guests.
Inviting people you don’t know into your home can seem strange and awkwardly frightening. But please be encouraged to love the international students in this way. You give your food, time, comfort, energy so that the students can be fed, welcomed and loved. It is sharing what has already been given to you with the hopes that one day they’d know the love of Christ that is infinitely better than any Thanksgiving meal.
“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” – 2 Corinthians 9:10-11
Here are some ways you can get involved:
- Pray for the international students that have been coming to Lighthouse. Pray that if they aren’t believers, that they would come to know Christ.
- Pray for Eufemio and the leaders of Spectrum as they continue to love and care for the students in Spectrum.
- Consider hosting an international student for Thanksgiving! If you’re interested in hosting between November 25-29, please sign up online. Spectrum will provide a helpful one-page guide. If you have any questions, contact Pui Yee Kam (puiyee_jeremy@yahoo.com)