Her name was Esther and she was from South Africa. We had already begun our Bible study this morning, when the door opened. "This is Esther," the voice said, "she is visiting our church and will be joining your class this morning." I stood up, greeted her and offered her my chair. At the close of our lesson, we were all eager to know more about our visitor. She had been in America for a little over a year now, staying with a daughter in Maryland. To escape the cold, they were vacationing in Florida. In her homeland, she had been diagnosed with a serious heart disease and only for this reason was she allowed to leave her country. She had visited the American Embassy and surprisingly was given a visa. Esther has received good medical attention and her heart is much better. A woman in her sixties, she spoke fondly of her family and friends she'd left behind. Missing them terribly, she was able to call them often. She told of how everyone she had met in America had been so kind and generous to her. She thought our country and our people to be very beautiful.... a land that has everything. Enjoying her short time together with us, Esther wanted to remember us and asked for phone numbers and addresses. We parted as sister's in Christ. I looked into her beautiful dark eyes, embraced her and wished her well. I've thought of Esther much of the evening, knowing that for a brief moment it was as it should be. No matter what our nationalities, or whatever part of the world we live in, we as Christians, can always share an identity as part of a special family......."the family of God."
