“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.”

—  Flora Whittemore

A door, like a mind, can be open or closed.

An open door is friendship and welcome. An open mind is opportunity and compassion. But both an open door and an open mind are risks.

Welcome Mariana! We’re happy to have you and your beautiful smile with us.

It’s safer to close your door so that no harm comes to you, and it’s safer to close your mind so your beliefs will not be challenged.

To let an exchange student come into your home requires an open door and an open mind. It’s not enough just to open your door, you have to open your mind to new ideas, patience, changes in routine, and a little discomfort as your family and your exchange student get to know each other.

It’s risky, but the rewards are incalculable. As you show your student around, you can once again experience all the sites and wonders of your city, through fresh eyes. You can learn first hand about a country which you may never get to see. You can try new words, sounds, and habits. Your children will experience first hand that kids in other countries, while different, are a lot like them. You might even get to sample some new foods.

Tonight, we opened our doors to Mariana. She comes to us from Spain through the Andeo program. After a long day of travel she was tired, but cheery.  We’re so very happy to have her glowing smile brighten up our house.

An open door and an open mind can open the door of opportunity between two families separated by culture and distance. It can be a bridge between cultures, promoting peace and understanding. And that open door can be a chance to build the confidence in a young person just getting started in life.

Still, opening your door and your mind are not quite enough. There’s a third door that’s necessary to open as well.

The door to your heart.

Welcome, Mariana!

Yesterday’s gift of time … We opened our door to Mariana from Spain. She’ll be brightening our days for the next month.