“Steve, we’re taking the dog for a walk. Do you want to come along?” Laurie asked me. The afternoon sky had a pinkish hue as the sinking sun shot golden beams above the fluffy clouds, like angelic swords guarding the edenic beauty of the Aramia flood plains. “Of course! Let’s go,” I answered, looking forward to seeing a beautiful sunset from the knoll at the far end of the government school grounds just ten minutes from our house in Kewa.

Ascending the hill to the school, we passed Jerry’s house. He and his wife were sitting on their porch, so we stopped to say hello. In Gogodala culture, it is rude to pass without acknowledgment or greeting. Jerry walked over and shook my hand. He is an evangelist in his church, and he opened up and shared with me some problems he was having in his ministry. I felt honored that he would trust me with his problems. We belong to different denominations, but we are neighbors and fellow laborers for Christ. Jesus implied this kind of acceptance when He said, “Other sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring” (John 10:16).

I think God used a rambunctious dog and a beautiful sunset to bring me closer to my neighbor. That evening, we enjoyed the sunset together from their porch—a double blessing!

This kind of meeting doesn’t happen as naturally in our Western culture as it does in places like Papua New Guinea. In America, we might wave to a neighbor as he drives out of his driveway or say a quick hello to a friend in the supermarket. Though it takes more creativity and intentionality to break through the social barriers in Western society, it can still happen. Pray about it. With God, all things are possible.

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