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He writes the Chinese characters under each English word, the symbols that appear to have absolutely no connection to the Roman alphabet. When learning to read, my kids used a phonics workbook titled Explode the Code. Certainly, that is what it takes for this kind gentleman as he slowly and deliberately learns to decipher and explode the English code.

I spend the morning observing and enjoying the international community that comes to the church in Rochester, Minnesota to learn English. These faithful come through the doors from distant places on the globe, brought to the town by work and by loved ones and sometimes by circumstances in their faraway homelands far beyond their control. They greet their friends at the door with broad smiles and eager handshakes. As we are introduced, each welcomes me, today's newest stranger in the church, with a "nice to meet you," and I smile wide, too.

The writer of Hebrews exhorts us, "Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." I wonder, perhaps that entertaining happened just this morning in a church in a town way up north in Minnesota.