You Are Welcome

Today we toured the ARM offices in Gaba. "You are welcome." That's how we were greeted by everyone we met. Over and over, room after room, "You are welcome."

"Thank you," we hastily replied in unison. I felt so impolite. Obviously I should be saying thank you, but I wasn't quite sure what for.

I was determined to get it right in the next office. I was prepared to exclaim, "Thank you," the moment we entered the room, but I was too late. "You are welcome" came faster than my lips could move.

Something about the way the words were pronounced the fifth or sixth time around made them finally become clear. You are welcome. Welcome in our offices. Welcome to our country. Welcome to partnering with us in this ministry called African Renewal Ministries.

It was not the sarcastic admonishment of a parent whose child had temporarily forgotten their manners. It was a greeting of complete sincerity. Everyone stopped what they were doing, focused on our presence and seemed genuinely concerned with making us feel welcomed. Tonight as we discussed our day, one of the things that we loved and shared was their sense of "external perspective." The people of Uganda, especially the ones with ARM, expressed a real concern for people other than themselves. Without hesitation, they completely stopped what they were doing to make others feel welcome.

I felt welcomed. First day, first lesson learned. People more than notice when you stop your busyness to care about their presence; they feel it and it feels good.

With much love,

Tonya