Successful families defined
A successful family is one that understands the call and executes it under the Lordship of Christ. Some successful families make a fantastic connection with its Basque child. Some successful families never make the connection. The success of a family is not determined by the connection made with the child. A successful family believes that this experience is God’s will and faithfully experiences all that He offers in that call.
Successful families have similar gifts
As believers God blesses us all with gifts to use in ministering to the world. The gifts and family characteristics that work best in this program are:
- Flexibility: the ability to go with the flow; the ability to listen to different opinions; the ability to accept a broad range of people.
- Hospitality: by this we do not mean the ability to entertain but the ability to invite others in and make them feel welcome.
- Missional: by this we mean families accept that what they are doing is part of a greater whole. They are not participating in an independent one-time getting to know someone from another culture but are desirous of seeing their faith work out in the summer relationship with the Basque student.
Successful families cannot be categorized
- Do not let economic status, family status or theology limit your choices.
- Families do not necessarily have kids. Some of the best families we have had have been grandparents or childless.
- Families do not have to have teens. While teens can be a great asset if they understand the mission, if they don’t or are uncomfortable participating, it makes for a long month. Often the best “at-home” kids are elementary age as the Basque student feels comfortable socially and linguistically and someone from another place fascinates the elementary age student.
Also, empty-nest couples, especially with young adult children or extended family, work well.
- Families do not have to have all the bells and whistles. A Basque kid needs a family that has a place in their heart for him or her. They need a bed in a room that can be shared; they don’t need a swimming pool, a vacation house or to be escorted in a fancy car.
- Families are theologically defined by the following: unity on the essentials (there is a God; Christ is the son of god who died and was resurrected for the sins of individuals) freedom on the non-essentials (how to baptize, how to worship etc) and love over all.