Last month, two of my dear friends and I went to Utah with the single purpose of finding adventure. We had hardly any plans and we were all pretty low on money, but our wallets were full of dreams and our hearts full of peace. The only plan we really had for this trip was that we wanted to camp, but as we were unable to find a vacant camping spot, we ended up sleeping in the back of our car in a hotel parking lot (I know this sounds crazy, but stay with me...it get's so much better). Long story short, a very kind and gracious lady invited us into her home because she saw the need we faced and felt compelled to do whatever she could. We ended up staying there the rest of our trip, and we made the sweetest, most raw memories simply because of the kindness that was given to us through the local who invited us in. We played with her daughter, bonded with her babysitter, and laughed until we nearly cried. We explored, bowed in awe of God's magnificence, and found the coolest cave ever. We made so many memories, but out of all of these things, there is one I just can't get over: the intentionality of our Heavenly Father. We all felt like God was going to do something big on this trip, but we couldn't imagine what it would be, so when our sweet friend opened her home and her heart to us, we knew that God had a plan much greater than ours for this trip. We built relationships that we never imagined building and we experienced the love of Jesus Christ in a new way, and we could see the way God was loving on this beautiful family we had the pleasure of meeting. It was so incredible and life-changing, but it would have never unfolded this way if this local stranger would have looked the other way and ignored the impulse of her heart. Although I can't give you every detail of our time in Utah with our "Utah family" (some memories are just too good to document), I can share this note of gratitude with you.

To the lady that invited my friends and me into your home,

If you ever see this, I want to give you a huge thank you. Words can't fully express how thankful I am to have crossed paths with you and your beautiful daughter (and her babysitter). You showed us love in such a genuine way and I hope we were able to do the same for you. Thank you for trusting us and for being someone we could trust in a world that says we are crazy for staying with a stranger. We felt the protection of God around us and your genuine spirit was so obvious to us, as well. Thank you for inviting us in and being such a great host to us. I am so so thankful for you, and I see something in you that is just so rare and incredible. Once again, thank you.

- a thankful stranger, now friend

Let us never stop striving to live in a way that reflects this passage.

34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’