Host Family Story
A family shares their experience of hosting over many years while raising their own family.
“Every person brings something valuable to the table.”
If you know our family, you’ve definitely heard about how much we love working with and hosting high school exchange students. Hosting has become such a meaningful part of our lives—it’s not just something we do, it’s something that’s shaped who we are.
We started hosting when our three youngest boys were still very small. At the time, we couldn’t travel the world, so we decided to bring the world to us. We wanted our children to grow up with a deeper understanding of other cultures, more exposure to diversity, and a greater appreciation for different ways of thinking and living.
Hosting exchange students taught all of us to be more flexible, open-minded, and accepting. It pushed us to grow.
What we didn’t realize then was just how important those lessons would become.
A few years into our hosting journey, we began noticing that two of our younger boys were developing a bit differently. They saw the world through a unique lens, and their way of experiencing life didn’t always match what we were told was “typical.” After many conversations with doctors and a long, winding path, we eventually received official autism diagnoses.
But by the time we reached that point, something beautiful had already happened in our home: we had long since embraced the idea that people can be different—and that difference is not only okay, but something to be cherished.
Hosting exchange students had prepared us in ways we couldn’t have anticipated. We were already used to adapting to different communication styles, navigating cultural differences, and seeing the world through someone else’s eyes. So when it came to learning from our boys and supporting them, the transition felt natural. We were ready to meet them where they were, not because we had all the answers, but because we had already practiced how to love people exactly as they are.
Of course, we still have hard days—who doesn’t? But I’m so grateful for the lessons we learned through hosting before we even knew how much we’d need them. The experience gave us the tools to be more patient, more empathetic, and more willing to let go of expectations and lean into connection.
Most of all, it taught us that every person brings something valuable to the table. And that lesson has made all the difference.