Children are naturally curious about new people. Use this family activity to cultivate a habit of welcoming those from other cultures into your home. It will help your family participate in loving others like God does. It also provides practice in asking appropriate questions that may lead to deeper conversations.

Activity:

You will need: slips of paper; pen or pencil; dish, bowl, or jar

1. Invite someone from another culture to your home for a meal. It could be someone from work, school, or your neighborhood.

2. Involve your children in planning the meal and doing simple chores to prepare your home for this guest. They may enjoy making a welcome sign or card.

3. Before the visit, write conversation starters on slips of paper. Choose topics that help you get to know your guest and help him learn more about your family. Here are a few suggestions. Adapt these to fit your situation or add your own ideas.

Something interesting about my family is ___

I am good at ___

I would like to learn to ___

Two interesting things about me are ___

A favorite food of mine is ___

My favorite thing to do with friends is ___

4. Let your children fold completed slips of paper and put them in a dish, bowl, or jar. Before the meal, let them put the container filled with slips on your table.

5. Right after the meal, invite your guest to choose a slip and read it aloud. Take turns responding. Put that slip aside and let someone select a new one. You do not need to discuss all the questions. 

6. After your new friend leaves, pray for him as a family. Pray that he will come to know and trust in Jesus.

7. Continue inviting people from other cultures into your home throughout the year. Periodically, add new slips and remove those that do not seem to generate much conversation. Let your children develop some of their own.