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Have you ever wondered what it’s like for people who move to a new country?
‘You have to set up life, and you’re doing it in a totally foreign place. You’ve got no concept of what you should do, what you shouldn’t do, where to go for help, and you don’t have the language to be able to actually do that.’
Sarah and Liam share their story as missionaries in another country and how that shaped their view of being welcoming in Australia.
Key takeaways from this episode
- Moving to a new country can be overwhelming, isolating, and exhausting, especially without language skills, cultural knowledge, or support networks.
- Simple everyday tasks become difficult when you’re a stranger, often leaving people feeling helpless, dependent, and unseen.
- Living as foreigners helped Sarah and Liam develop deep empathy for migrants and refugees arriving in Australia
- Being welcoming isn’t about programs or agendas — it starts with presence, friendship, listening, and genuine care.
- Small actions matter: saying hello, learning a word in someone’s language, showing interest, or offering practical help can make people feel valued and safe.
- Building cross-cultural friendships takes effort, patience, and persistence, but the rewards are rich and life-giving.
- Welcoming others means looking past appearances, clothing, or cultural differences and seeing the person first.
- Offering practical support — navigating services, understanding documents, finding community spaces — can restore dignity and hope.
- Welcoming a stranger not only helps them belong, it enriches communities and reflects God’s love in everyday life
Episode transcript
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Related booklet
There are many forms of prayer ranging from the very formal and memorised to the casual and spontaneous. Regardless of the type you choose, remember that each prayer is your special time to converse with God, your loving Father. This booklet explores why we pray, how we pray, and what happens when we pray.
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