Hosting tips 101

Ever had people crushing over at your place for a few days,weeks,a month or two,years?
I have been hosted before by friends and I have learnt a couple of things about hosting people. There are hosting Dynamics and today Rachel and I share tips on how to be a good host.These tips are in no particular order.

+Always know your people.What do they like to eat,what are they allergic to.This helps to plan better for their stay.

+Plan!plan ahead for their coming.Stock whatever you need to stock for their stay.

+Don’t change your menu for your guests.Make adjustments depending on who likes what but don’t do a 360 on your menu.This might be costly and draining as well on your pocket,house help if you have one or yourself too.

+Take/accept the help.The more people in the house, there is multiplication of house chores.Incase a guest asks to help out ,let them help.

+Ask for help.Remember some of these guests,like to work and if African ,they have been trained to work and might be uncomfortable sitting all day.Ask them for help.This helps you bond and you could learn something new about each other.

+You are bound to meet people of various cultures.don’t be alarmed.

+For guests who stay for long;months or years, purposefully involve them in the house chores and activities.If you go by a rota include them that way they appreciate and are part of the family and it also lifts the burden off of you to do everything. Everyone has to have some form of responsibility.

+It is important to know how long a guest is staying, especially if you are in a family setting, that way there is no uncertainty and family members are well prepared. Guests who stay for Ununspecified days can easily feel like a burden and there could be the anxiety of how long is the person staying.To avoid such discomfort and uncertainity,it is good to know the length of the stay.

+Be ready to be vulnerable.This comes with letting someone in your space.Be yourself and don’t adjust your lives completely. Let the guest adjust to your system (this can be added to the menu as well)

+It is great to learn from your guests as well, as much as it is your house, your rules, try to involve some of their ways especially if they are from a different culture. You could ask them to cook a common dish of theirs or show you how they do their things. This way the guest feels appreciated and is able to involve a part of them in the family

+When a guest does something wrong or off, it is OK and right to tell them directly and in a kind and polite way. It is so easy to find yourselves discussing the guest behind their back with other family members yet the issue would have easily been resolved by speaking to them. This can also breed contempt and ruin the whole experience.

+Always consult with your family members before agreeing to host someone, that way they are prepared cause even if you are the one taking care of most of the things, they have a right to know and agree as their space will be invaded/interrupted

+Considering all the above, it is actually OK to say no to hosting someone, it doesn’t make you a bad person, it does take grace and quite some work, so be willing to give 100% rather than say yes and your heart is not in it. Whatsoever you do,do it with all diligence as unto the Lord and not man.

This post was co-authored by Racheal Atieno-my Kenyan sister,who has hosted me and so many other people at her home in Nairobi over the years. It is right to say her home is international 😂😂.

Kindly leave your views in the comment section.

Photo credit: Gakosun Photography

©Racheal Kizza 2018

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Peace rock

Jungle book 

Cartoons are one of the things I like watching because they are hilarious and they bring out my childish self. So I enjoy them with my 4 year old nephew -Joze over the weekends. This weekend we watched  a classic-Jungle Book.

I am certain a multitude of us have watched this amazing story and as children ; it was simply fascinating how this young boy communed with animals let alone be raised by the fierce animals of the jungle.

On watching it this time around, “my mind was alert and my heart was receptive ”, I couldn`t help but notice the bible facets embedded in the story line (not sure if the script writers know this or intended it  so) Let me indulge you in facet 1-Peace rock.

During the dry season, all the animals in the jungle gather at the Peace Rock to drink the water that remains, as part of the Water Truce, abiding by the “Law of the Land” to not attack or devour one another.

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Peace rock

 The Peace rock analogy reminded me of God, who welcomes all without finding fault, don`t have to be perfect to drink from His well. He says, come as you are.'' He says, I don`t condemn you.''

His word is clear in Romans 8:1, “there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the the flesh, but according  to the Spirit.”(NKJV)

Psalm 18:2“ The Lord is my rock…” (NKJV)

All these are simple notes etched on /in our peace rock .

Shere Khan fumes fear and terror among the rest of the jungle dwellers but he also respects the water truce while at Peace rock and promises Akela (pack leader ) that the ,“ waters will rise again and their will be no need for a truce and then he will come for the human and devour him.”

Do these words sound familiar? Have you believed the devil`s lies, allowed fear to be instilled in you? forgotten who and whose you are?

Akela is a representation of Jesus ,who shields us from the devil`s trap to remind us that He is our shield and strength. He drapes us in strength for the new day.

Psalm 18:32,“ It is our God who arms me with strength ,And makes my way perfect.” (NKJV)

Akela

Shere Khan symbolizes the devil himself, who is out to get you. He grips you with fear and makes you forget,`whom you have believed in-Your deliverer, shield, rock, fortress, portion and strong tower.''

Shere Khan

Be reminded that, He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world (1 John 4:4) in spite of the Shere Khans of this world.

Like Paul, boldly declare, “…for I know whom I  have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”2 Timothy 1: 12

Keep at and in our PEACE ROCK.

 

 

I Almost Forgot

After a week of going through a number of  raging emotions ; at what has been going wrong and how God has been out to get me since the year started.I came to the conclusion that God was against me and not for me (i let life get to me instead of letting my Father get to it and on top of it).

I am not insane nor have i stopped believing in my God and Father; however , lately i have been overwhelmed with life and felt the weight of the world on my shoulders.I chose to focus on the negatives in my life and ignored the positives.

I almost forgot all my Father has done for me over the years (we are quick to forget, aren`t we? )

I almost forgot how healthy , i am and that the only “sickness” i have claimed to have over the years has been flu -which in my opinion is never serious.

I almost forgot that i am not blind but i can read , write, blog and still do more reading.

I almost forgot that i have family and friends who love me dearly and will move mountains for me.

I almost forgot how i have gone through the years and NEVER lacked a single thing.

I almost forgot the beauty of life;the rising and setting of the sun which  brings glory that like a blanket covers the sky, revealing the majesty of God.

I almost forgot all the good things God has ever done for me and will continue to do for me.

Learn to count your blessings,one by one each day because through them you know, God is for you and not against you. You are reminded that you are the APPLE of His eyes(Zechariah 2:8).

Hebrews 13:8“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today ,and forever.”

Isaiah 43: 1“Fear not , for I have redeemed you;

                   I have called you by your  name;

                   You are Mine,

                   When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

                   And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you,

                    When you walk through the fire,you shall not be burned,

                     Nor shall the flame scorch you.”

  God is for you , and not against you.God is constant and will never change .Be encouraged as you go through life and let Jesus take the wheel.