{"id":9508,"date":"2026-03-10T08:53:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T08:53:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mission.ch\/hospitality-creating-spaces-for-encounters\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T12:52:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T12:52:39","slug":"hospitality-creating-spaces-for-encounters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mission.ch\/en\/hospitality-creating-spaces-for-encounters\/","title":{"rendered":"Hospitality – creating spaces for encounters"},"content":{"rendered":"

From January 2025 to January 2026, Benjamin worked with Latin Link in Bolivia:<\/p>\n

“I worked at El Alfarero in the caf\u00e9, which works with volunteers. This included all the usual work in a caf\u00e9, such as making coffee, operating the till and cleaning. We also looked after the volunteers, played community games, held small devotions and other activities. <\/p>\n

In Santa Cruz, people are actually very welcoming, but I have noticed that hospitality is not as commonplace as I am used to at home. So I was all the more pleased when I was able to invite two Bolivians to dinner. One of them said something like: “So nice, I’ve never been invited to someone’s home for a meal just like that.” I was very surprised at that moment because it was someone who was popular in the church and a leader – not a lonely person. <\/p>\n

I’m not a 5-star host, I’m often not very attentive, I don’t cook like a professional and sometimes I don’t feel like having long conversations. Nevertheless, I’ve always enjoyed inviting people over. I didn’t have my own table in my apartment, so I asked my landlord if we could eat at his table. I didn’t have four identical plates, so we all ate from plates of different sizes. And because I didn’t have a coffee machine, we drank instant coffee together after the meal. Many people think that as a host you have to be perfect – but this imperfectionism makes the situation more real, more personal, and often even makes the guests feel more comfortable. <\/p>\n

That’s exactly what I liked about El Alfarero’s caf\u00e9: everyone was welcome there, you didn’t have to be a member of a club or a Christian and, above all, you didn’t have to order anything. Many people came to do their homework, play games or talk. I thought this open approach was great – it reminded me that hospitality doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s simply about creating spaces for encounters, accepting people as they are and making personal moments possible. And that’s exactly what I try to do in my everyday life. Because in the end, it’s not perfection that counts, but the genuine connection between people.” <\/p>\n

Story from https:\/\/www.latinlink.ch\/<\/p>\n

@latinlink_switzerland<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From January 2025 to January 2026, Benjamin worked with Latin Link in Bolivia: “I worked at El Alfarero in the caf\u00e9, which works with volunteers. This included all the usual work in a caf\u00e9, such as making coffee, operating the till and cleaning. 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