The house at 305 Mead Road may look like just another beautiful old Oakhurst home receiving a facelift, but it’s much more than that. It is about to become the first home in Atlanta for L’Arche, a network of intentional, faith-based communities where people with and without developmental disabilities live together. And on June 3-10, 500 representatives from 140 L’Arche communities in 40 nations will converge in Decatur for the L’Arche International General Assembly at Agnes Scott College.

Just prior to the formal assembly, June 1-3, L’Arche is coordinating a Family Weekend, in which international delegates will stay with Atlanta families. L’Arche is now seeking Atlanta—and especially Decatur—families to host two or three delegates in their homes from Friday to Sunday. ”We thought it would be a good way for them to gain an understanding of the community and culture of Atlanta,” says Tina Bovermann, the events manager for the International General Assembly.

If you are curious to meet people from all over the world, consider opening your home to these guests during this weekend. According to the organizers, the weekend is “yours to make.” I have signed on to take some guests into my home that weekend, as have several of my neighbors. We will meet them at Decatur Presbyterian on Friday afternoon, then they will participate in our lives and routines with us throughout the weekend until Sunday afternoon when we will help them get to the Agnes Scott campus for the assembly. I’ll probably invite my guests to walk up to the square on Saturday morning for the farmer’s market, for example.

The assembly organizers are also encouraging hosts to take their guests to the Martin Luther King, Jr., Center on Saturday. “It is no accident that we are gathering in Atlanta,” Bovermann says. “It is the home of Martin Luther King.” The last assembly took place in Kolkata, India, inspired by the work of Gandhi and Mother Theresa.

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