Loving Your Neighbor

Our house in Arua is located on the edge of the city, feeling much more rural than city-like.  Outside our gate there are plots of land growing various vegetables, ground nuts, and sorghum.  Ladies pass by carrying basins of produce and charcoal on their head, walking to town to attempt to sell all they are carrying.  Others stop and knock on our gate, selling liquid soap they made or small bundles of ginger and garlic. 

Our neighbor, Gabriel, has an abundance of mango and avocado trees on his property that provide food for his family throughout the year.  He also owns a small plot where he grows coffee.  The coffee grows year-round, where it is then harvested in October, roasted, ground, and sold in the market.   For the year, with their coffee lot, they make just over 100 USD. This could cover several months of rent or a portion of school fees for one of their children.

Shortly after we moved to our house in June of 2020, there was a knock at the gate.  We had never met Gabriel before, but he entered with a warm smile and two avocados in his hand.   He extended them to us with joy and welcomed us to the community.  His family has deep roots in the neighborhood, so he shared a bit of the history with us.   He told us if we needed anything, to please reach out.  He wanted us to feel at home.   This was the beginning of a sweet friendship, not only with Gabriel, but with his whole family.  The gift of two avocados later grew into a large box of full of the round, delicious fruit at Christmas time.  They were joyfully delivered, with nothing expected in return.  They just said, “We give all the glory to God for what we have, and we share it with you.  Be blessed.”

Then, in early April of this year, shortly before we left Uganda for our first return to America since moving overseas, Gabriel stopped by with his wife.  They came carrying a large pot full of fresh ground coffee they had recently prepared from their coffee harvest.  We were stunned, knowing the value of the coffee and what it provided for their family.  We initially argued, but he insisted.  We persuaded them to sit with us so we could prepare some and enjoy a cup together.   I was brought to tears by their love, humility, and generosity to us.  The next week I returned the pot with pumpkin muffins inside as a heartfelt thank-you.  Gabriel smiled and said, “We give to you with nothing expected in return. You are with us, and we are happy to have you in our community.”  They prayed blessing over us and our family, and we parted ways. 

What does it mean to love your neighbor?

For our family, these stories I share are just a small taste of the love we have felt during our time in Arua.   Gabriel and his family exude love, kindness, and servitude. In their words and actions, it’s clear that they love the Lord with all their being.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’   This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matthew 22:37-39

There are so many ways you can love a neighbor.   Simple gestures of service, giving, and words can be a huge blessing.  But I love how the commandment Jesus gave first focused on loving God.  In loving God, that also means we know how much we are loved and openly receive God’s love in our hearts.  When we understand how deeply loved we are by God, how much would that impact how we love others around us? 

Our heart at House to House is that, as we spend time in the Word with those around us, they understand that deep, vast love the Father has for them.   Our heart is that any burdens or shames they are carrying would be lifted through God’s Truth and love in Kingdom community.  We pray they will carry each other’s burdens, lifting each other up and encouraging one another, and serve each other in joy and gladness.  In doing this, light breaks through the darkness, and communities are transformed.    

May we each discover the depth of God’s love for us, and may our love for Him grow so vastly that we pour it out to those in our lives, just as Gabriel did.