Editor’s Note: Tim and Jennifer Shue have hosted four IVEP participants since 2016. For the 2024-2025 cohort, they are hosting Juliana David from India. Juliana has been assigned as a teacher assistant at Central Christian School in Kidron since August 2024. Photo: The family celebrates Tim’s 60th birthday. Left to right: Juliana David, Veena Shue, Jennifer Shue, Tim Shue, Harper Shue, Sommer Shue. Photo/Phil Raber
It was time to call another family meeting. The girls always get nervous when we announce a meeting as they anticipate a serious discussion about phone use, deciding where to go on spring break or school issues. But this was a meeting about hosting another visitor with the International Volunteer Exchange Program (IVEP). Our girls are in the busiest time of their school careers; one is a senior. Maybe these are the years we should focus on just our family. And maybe this is the year we enrich our family again with our fourth IVEP guest.
It was decided we would host Juliana David from India. This is significant because Jennifer spent a year in India with the Serving and Learning Together (SALT) program and our youngest daughter is named Veena, an Indian name, after Jennifer’s host mother. We gave our oldest daughter the most say in the decision because it was her special year as a senior. The younger two weren’t so sure. Four-fifths of our household are introverts. Would this be too much?
We soon learned that it wouldn’t. Though she was already sporting a winter coat in September, she fit right in! Hearing Juliana scream at volleyball games, applaud heartily at every musical event, laugh and tease at home, be a big sister to teenage trials and play with the dog confirmed we made the right decision to expand our family and lives during these important years. And we did not mention the food!
Juliana is very handy in the kitchen and fortunately our family loves Indian food. She has brought more than just the standard chicken tikka masala: dosa, dal and all variations of chicken in varying degrees of medium, hot and Indian hot! Her cooking fame has even spread beyond our house. In January she was a featured chef for the International Cooking mini-term that Jennifer leads every year. Julianna also introduced Indian flavors for a large gathering at the Salem Mennonite Church. In mid-March she cooked for another gathering of 50. Fortunately, we receive the benefits of any leftovers!
Our four IVEPers have all been from temperate climates, so few things demonstrate the joy of hosting an IVEPer more than seeing them experience a good Ohio snow or ice storm! Thank goodness for nearly limitless photos on a phone!
Ultimately, our experiences confirm that hosting an international visitor is good for all parties involved. Everyone is stretched a bit and that is the point. The act of hospitality seems to be waning in our churches over the last few decades. We view hospitality as one of our bedrock principals of Christian expression. IVEP has been a logical expression of that goal toward recognizing the borderless love of God.