Hospitality

Hong Kong recently hit the top of two research findings. In good news, the city now boasts the longest life expectancy in the world (I guess I can worry a little less about the air pollution and MSG). Along with that, we are now the most expensive housing market in the world. The prices have always been crazy here and now they are crazier than ever. 

20,000- 30,000 people in the city live in “cage houses”, unable to rent even an entire room for themselves. While I’ve always known crazy housing situations like this exist, I’ve personally never seen them first hand because, well, most of my friends are like me. However yesterday we were invited to dinner at our friend’s house in an impacted, colorful part of the city called Jordan. To protect their identity we will call them S and Y.  S is from Iran and Y is from upper- cast India. After meeting online they risked their very lives to met and get married, forsaking all for love. What a journey they’ve had since that point. Eventually they ended up as Asylum Seekers in Hong Kong. S and Y found themselves at our church because it is one of the major support networks for refugees. At our church this Muslim and Hindu couple both found Jesus! Since then they have grown so much in their faith and depend on God daily to sustain and encourage them through their hard times. 

Back to their house. They apologized 100 times in advance for how small it was, even again yesterday as they led us through the busy streets and alleys lined with noodle stalls and massage parlors that wound to their tower. We passed smokey gambling dens and dry cleaners as we traipsed up four flights of stairs to their home. Even with all the warnings of how small it was I was still surprised when we stepped inside. I could only take about two steps! There were bunk beds, a fridge, a gas burner, small shelf, and stools wedged into a space smaller than many American closets.  They pay $400 a month for this space, which they told us was a really good deal! The windows were blacked out, but if opened could let in some light along with the cigarette smoke and noise from the busy market stalls below. But the hospitality was beautiful. 

They had prepared a feast of delicious food from their home countries and served us with the best they had to offer. We shared plates with the kids and Jason ate off of a lid. They did everything to make us as comfortable as possible and tried again and again to heap more food on our plates. We had lively conversation and they even gave the kids little toys they had thoughtful bought for them.  

So often I hold back because I don’t think I have enough or wait until I am more “together” to open up to other people. Yet it seems that often those who have the least give the most. This experience reminded me of lavish hospitality we had likewise experienced in a Mozambican village and refugee camp in Burma. That hospitality is not about what you have, but what you give.