We know people in places high and low and, to our pleasure, people from far away.

We know two wonderful young women, one from Poland and the other a refugee from Ukraine living in Poland. They spent a week in our home as we learned about one another’s lives. They were here as guests of our State Department learning about how to deal with refugees. We still are in touch. They shared stories of fear and loss, but even more about courage and determination.

We know two gentlemen from Turkmenistan, considered to be one of the most opaque countries in the world. During their visit with us they brought us brandy from their country, and cooked us a Turkmenistan meal. They loved baseball, and took a Louisville Slugger bat and two cowboy hats home with them. We have two traditional hats from Turkmenistan in return, and a peek into a nation unseen by most people.

We know entrepreneurs from South and Central America. One started a bakery in her country. She got to spend a day working with Juanita Healy (a wonderful woman who since has died) in her bakery near Decatur. Another had started a pizza parlor. She learned about dessert pizza. Another was building a dance studio, and he led a dozen of his fellow travelers, and us too, as we danced in our living room. I played some Dixieland on my trumpet for them as they danced their way to their rides.

We know five government officials from French-speaking African countries. Although some of those countries are poor, we learned how much these wonderful people loved living in them among their friends and family. The State Department translator kept the conversation going around our breakfast table.

We know South American school children who were amazed at a tall, muscular football player who joined us in answering their questions. The pictures were beautiful. We know Chinese ladies and gentlemen who joined us with another host to dine on home-cooked alligator.

There are others. There were supposed to be more this month, but that has been canceled. Budget cuts in the long-standing program that provided these opportunities have created a hiatus in its welcoming mission. Global Ties Alabama is part of a national network that exposes people to American family life during their visits to participate in State Department or Congressional programs. Lydia and I are one of those families.

Like most federal programs, Global Ties faces an uncertain future. My wife, Lydia, and I will be sad if it is eliminated. Very, very sad.

Athens resident Ken Hines is a member of the Global Ties Alabama Board, a volunteer, unpaid position. The attached picture is the group of entrepreneurs mentioned in the article, gathered outside of the Hines’ home. These visits are being conducted across the nation. GTA also is the agency charged with integrating people accepted as refugees by the U.S. government into our communities.