Our young friend Constant was asked by school administration to act as liaison for some new enrollees soon to venture stateside from his (and their) distant island nation. Knowing they were readying themselves – as he had earlier done – to traverse the fourteen time zones into Tulsa, Constant took the role with keen empathy. A flurry of email exchanges followed. At last D-Day for the half-dozen students’ arrival came, all of them aboard the same flight.
By this time in Constant’s Tulsa sojourn, he had grown aware of my Sunday worship rhythm. Later, in a matter-of-fact style, he related to me the airport scene as he welcomed the young arrivals from their native, predominantly Buddhist, homeland.
Scene: Arrival gate. Friday.
Constant: “Welcome to America!”, followed by incidental chitchat.
“Sunday morning you will go with me to Church. . .
“And, you will meet my friend, Jerry, there.”
Having engaged with Constant already and recognizing him as their ‘veteran’ international point person, the travel-weary but eager students nodded their pleasure. Formalities complete, the mini parade of scholars gathered up their carry-ons and headed for Baggage Claim.
Nice, I thought, maybe not the protocol others would have employed in receiving first-time arrivals to the country. Well done, Constant.
Sunday dawned.
Not having yet known of their airport dialogue, I entered our church sanctuary and got a happy surprise. My friend Constant flashed his easy smile, and then guided me to a particular row of seats. Here sat the six newly landed scholars – guys and ladies, warm and courteous – taking up the better part of the church pew row.
When service ended my wife and I mingled with the group. Then waved farewell as Constant whisked them off to further adventurous tastes of American culture.
We would meet again.
©2023 Jerry Lout
