Rethinking Boundaries
By Joanie A. Faust, DSC Communications Writer/Editor
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hospitality means on a global hile immigrants and spiritual scale. “If we’re from South talking about God’s abunAmerica are dant table and extravagant struggling to get into this hospitality… God invites us country, Reverend Jenny to his table not to just absorb, Smith finds herself trying to but to be at one at this table. get into theirs. God calls us to eat, share, and Smith, pastor at Desert be one together. I’m really Foothills UMC in Phoenix, excited to expand my table Arizona, is the recipient of a beyond Ahwatukee, beyond Sabbatical Grant for Pastoral Arizona, beyond the United Leaders from the Louisville States, to something bigger. Institute which will enable I don’t know what to expect her to spend twelve weeks with the families, but I really in Costa Rica and Perú. Jenny Smith left the comforts of her home to study in a place where she is trust that it will be a posiThe purpose of the trip surrounded and challenged by a different culture and language. tive experience. How do is to become immersed we learn to live together in in the Spanish language this house for a few weeks? And if we can and Latin culture. While reflecting on the guest with a mutual welcoming. I want to do that… can’t we live at a table together in unique position she finds herself in, Smith be very conscious of the balance between our bigger lives?” anticipates her upcoming journey will be giving and taking. There’s much more that Smith will be blogging and documentfilled with opportunities to grow as a pasI’m going to receive than I ever am able to ing her time in South America as well as tor as well as to understand what it means give.” staying connected to her parish through to be hospitable when you are a guest in a While Smith plans to have a mutual Facebook and Twitter. Look for a followforeign land. “I had the choice of staying in understanding and be accepting of other up article about Smith’s experience upon a place with other students, but I decided cultural practices, there are circumstances her return. † that the best way to learn the culture and she suspects may become uncomfortable take full advantage of that part of it is to for her and her host family. “I have a lot of stay with the family,” Smith said. “It will be particularities about how I eat,” said Smith, interesting to learn to accept hospitality, a modified vegan. “I know that some of but also to be a good guest and be willing these things are going to be challenging to share and open up.” Smith adds that because part of the way I know they show she hopes she can take on the role of the hospitality is through their food. Part of “hospitable guest” by trying to give back to my challenge is how do I graciously receive a country that has allowed her full access that while inviting them into my point of to their land and people. “I didn’t want to view?” go to Costa Rica and Perú and just take,” Smith plans to answer all of her quesSmith said. “My hope and plan is to serve; tions during her three month renewal find some way to give of my time and enleave in South America and hopes to Smith poses with her host family in Perú, South America. ergy—not as a pastor, but as a contributing find a deeper understanding about what Summer 2010 | Transformation | 19