A Visit From an Old Friend

By Scott Cernek, HARVEST HILLS CHURCH

Two years ago we had an opportunity to host an exchange student from Australia. At the time we had no idea what a joy this would be. This is how it came to be. A good friend of ours was scheduled to host this student, but because of an untimely accident they were not going to be able to take her into their home, so Cathy and I got a phone call. We decided we would jump at the opportunity. We had already hosted a young lady from Germany and another from China in the previous two years, so we felt that we were good to go for another adventure.

Erin arrived a couple weeks before school started, so she dived right into our end of summer activities. In fact her first day with us, I took her with me to my brother’s farm where they were cutting wheat and baling straw. Erin hopped up on that International 706 tractor with me, and sat on the fender all afternoon while I baled load after load of golden straw. She had never been on a farm before, let alone ride on a tractor all afternoon in the August heat, and she loved it. The rest of her time with us was a delight. She was one of the most rule abiding, polite, gracious young ladies we had ever had the privilege to meet.

In fact, she never failed to say thank you the entire school year each and every time I opened a door for her, bought her a meal or did anything for her. Erin was so genuine, that we just fell in love with her. She was here during the time that our oldest granddaughter was in a fight for her life, and she jumped right in and joined with us in intense prayer to save her life, and so she was part of that wonderful miracle.

At the end of the year her parents surprised her by showing up for her graduation. We had a great time with them for a couple days before they headed off for a short trip to New York City and then back home to Australia. When she left, she promised to come back in a couple years for a visit. Sure enough, Erin came back this past weekend, and she brought her eighteen year old twin sisters with her for a visit. What a delightful time we had together. It was so good to hear her distinct laugh and wonderful accent around our kitchen table again as we shared memories and good times together with her sisters.

It started last Thursday, when we picked up the three girls at the South Beloit bus drop off from O’Hare Airport and brought them to our house. Then Friday morning at 7 o’clock some 15 students from Clinton High showed up at the Sundown Café to welcome Erin back. It was a wonderful reunion to say the least. There were tears and hugs, laughter and joy because a kind hearted friend who had touched many lives had returned to say hello.

In Colossians 3:12-14 we read some verses that describe our young Australian friend very nicely. The verses read: Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another… and above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Love and kindness are the universal language, and when the Lord lives in your heart by faith in Jesus Christ, a person begins to live out these characteristics. That’s the power of God my friend and it is still active and strong today as it was when Jesus walked the earth. It is amazing how one person like Jesus could have had such a huge effect on this world we live in. Even the calendar year shouts out His profound effect on mankind.

Until next week, may God fill your life with joy and meaning.

God bless.