The Gift of Hospitality - Pilgrim Hill Tasmania
Give thanks to God for bringing this dream to fruition! Christina and Peirce Baehr and their seven daughters have made their home on Pilgrim Hill, recently building a new Christian hostel in the Huon Valley hinterland, they are now open for guests. Here is a snapshot of how God is working in this ministry, providing ways and means to bless others, for His glory.
Dear friends,
Yesterday was a day we had planned to the hilt. Finish some last touches to the dorms and finish the website. But God had a different plan for yesterday.
Our church received an email, asking for a representative to show up at an "on-arrival briefing" for 40 sponsored agricultural workers from Vanuatu, who were to be dropped off at a Backpackers Hostel. Our pastor forwarded the invitation to us, which makes sense, since traveller ministry is our thing.
Peirce was tearing his hair out over a problem with the booking engine on our website - a very real problem since we do actually want people to be able to make bookings! - and the only thing he wanted in the world was to be left alone to fix said problem.
However, the Holy Spirit being rather persistent, Peirce made the decision to drop his plans and take me and the four girls at home with him down to the hostel.
It was a GREAT decision. While Peirce sat with the jet-lagged Vanuatuans (many of whom had never been on a plane before that flight) through the "Yes, Minister"-ish government briefings from reps from Fair Work Australia, I got to walk around the hostel grounds and buildings with the girls and pray.
The Vanuatuan ladies loved meeting us and the children. I chatted with the owner of the employment agency who sponsored their trip (it's part of a government initiative to support development in the Pacific islands by bringing islanders for temporary jobs). We were given a few minutes to stand up and officially welcome the Vanuatuans and invite them to our church. The piece de resistance? Peirce addressed them all using Tok Pisin*, which is a language he learned during his time in Papua New Guinea doing Bible translation with Wycliffe.
It was such a joy to watch their faces change from tired blankness as they listened to the bureaucrats to warmth and delight when Peirce spoke to them. Peirce went back to the hostel today to drop off some veggies, along with flyers for our church. Pray that this is the beginning of a real connection that can be a blessing to them during their time far from their families.
I was blessed because God had put us in the right place at the right time to do what the church is supposed to do: love and welcome sojourners.
It was also really encouraging to see that there are substantial new opportunities opening up for traveller ministry right here, right as we are opening our hostel.
Thank you, and WELCOME TO PILGRIM HILL!
Christina
Check out their website for details and bookings, or visit their Facebook page - send them a message to subscribe to their newsletter.
*Tok Pisin is similar but not identical to the Vanuatuan pidgin, Bislama.
'We're a family-run hostel in the hills above the Huon Valley of Tasmania, Australia. We warmly welcome travellers from any background.
We're 35 minutes from Hobart, surrounded by natural forests and native wildlife, and located near major orchards for working holiday guests.
Come enjoy warm hospitality, shared meals, and thoughtful discussions, amid the rhythms of an off-grid lifestyle.'
