Tuesday, May 20, 2025

All the Ways We Connect (Hint: This Post is about Prayer)

In a quiet corner of the small town of Pignon, Haiti, ten seniors are being given a priceless gift.

Their names are Ariana, Carius, Eslet, Indiana, Jean-Claut, Maprina, Marcellus, Jean-Richard, Ones and Zina.  And they are living out the last days of their lives under the care of some brave and selfless souls, those being the Staff and Leadership at Auberge des Vieillards (Inn for the Elderly).

If you've frequented this blog often enough, you'll already know them.  In fact, you can scroll back into pass posts and see their pictures and some stories to remind you of how very special they are.

And if you scroll back even further, you'll catch the thread of the story of Highview's remarkable connection, from the first visits in 2007 and 2008, through the construction Teams' adventures, to the specific focus of developing the property in Pignon, all the way to the present, where our dear friends live out the vision for their dignity and care.  That vision, which bears repeating, was born in the heart of Pastor Abdon, and then later with his wife Madame Lumide, two faithful servants of God who saw the need and tenaciously, patiently saw it through.

Our connection with Haiti runs deep.

Yet, for all the start up on-the-ground energy of the past decade plus, we have had to adjust in recent years to a more creative, albeit more distant way of connecting.  

First COVID, then ongoing violent unrest have prevented Highview from the regular gathering of a Team to be the on-site hands and feet of Jesus, partnering with our Haitian brothers and sisters in a more face to face kind of way.

For me personally, this means I haven't even gone to Haiti.  Which is notable, since I stepped into the role of Highview's Missionary in Residence already seven years ago in 2018, and it should have included a trip down there by now.  Even though Highview's connection with New Family Foundation in Thailand, by virtue of a very different kind of care and responsibility, is the main focus of my time and energies in this role, Auberge des Vieillards still falls under my banner to champion.  I would very much LOVE to visit in person one day to help foster those all-important incarnational and reciprocal bonds.

But it hasn't happened yet.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch church...

Once a year in February, we host a Dinner and Silent Auction in their honour, raising up to $13,000.00 which is then sent to Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada World Partners to contribute to the ongoing costs of general and medical well being of the residents.  Anyone, however, can contribute at any time, simply by clicking on the link above and following the prompts.  

You'll hear a lot about Haiti around Highview leading up to this event.  

AND, very importantly, the beautiful folks at A des V are remembered every Wednesday by our Prayer Squad, including a Prayer Bulletin email that goes out to a wider number of people each week.  All Highviewers have the option to have this Prayer Bulletin sent to their inbox, simply by asking for it at info@hcckw.ca.  

Also, a small Prayer brochure, featuring the names and faces of our Residents, are available at Highview or by request at rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca.

And here's where I'm going to get to my point for this blog.  Because this blog is about prayer.

Even though our connection has been more distanced than any of us would have liked these past five or six years, our connection through prayer is real and effective and intimate.  We have the chance, with or without traveling there in person, to intercede to the High King of Heaven on behalf of some truly vulnerable and precious human beings.  Prayer matters.  As believers in Jesus Christ, we believe this.

I can't think of a better prayer for Haiti right now than the one Jesus taught us to pray.

If you're reading this, and you have a moment, can I encourage you to pause and pray it out loud with our beloved seniors in mind?

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
on earth (in Haiti)
as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts
as we also have forgiven our debtors,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the power, the kingdom and the glory.
Amen

And if you did that just now, prayed for us at A des V, thank you!

May you reap the blessings of that important connection, and be encouraged by how much it matters.

Ruth Anne

Rev. Ruth Anne Breithaupt, MDiv.
Missionary in Residence, Highview Community Church
rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca



Friday, April 11, 2025

April Check In


While it's true that we have a larger awareness of all things Haiti while we ramp up to the Haiti Dinner and Silent Auction event at Highview (February 22, 2025)....

And while we're still very grateful for all who volunteered and contributed in all the ways that make that event so successful each year...

Our minds and hearts continue to be with the ten cherish seniors at Auberge des Vieillards in Pignon, as they receive the nutrition, health care, and emotional support from the Care Staff there.  

If you're the praying sort, here are their pictures and first names.

Ariana

Carius

Eslet

Indiana

Jean Claut

Maprina

Marcellus

Jean Richard

Ones

Zina


The opportunity to contribute continues as well.  At any time, you can visit  EMCC World Partners Auberge des Vieillards and help ensure the ongoing needs of feeding and caring for our friends are met.

Also at any time, if you have any questions about our work in Haiti, please do not hesitate to contact me at rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca.  

Blessings and joy!

Ruth Anne

Rev. Ruth Anne Breithaupt, MDiv.
Missionary In Residence
Highview Community Church
Kitchener, ON

Saturday, February 22, 2025

It's a Wild Ride


 We had a roaring good time at our 
Haiti Dinner and Silent Auction
on Saturday night.

There were even wild adventures to be had,
riding our on site tap tap!

Totals are still be calculated, 
but we are well on our way to having raised just over
$10,000.00
to support our friends at 
Auberge des Vieillards
in Pignon, Haiti.
These are vulnerable seniors now living in a loving community.

A HUGE thank you to 
every contributor
every auction item donor
every dinner guest
every dessert maker
every person who sought donations
the kitchen crew
our competent meal servers
our valiant dishwashers
and to Brian and Lillian for their fearless leadership.

Thank you Lord, for the privilege of this partnership.



Monday, February 10, 2025

A Place in the Shade


 We are happy to share with you these very latest pictures from Auberge des Vieillards in Pignon Haiti.

This is the finished gazebo that has been under construction, bit by bit, for the last little while.  It existed as a mostly rounded cement platform until (drum roll please) our friend Eric was able to travel to Haiti this past month to help finish it off.


There were apparently LOTS of interesting challenges in completing this particular project.  We hope to be able to bring you those details sooner than later.



The best way to get the latest updates, however, is to come to our Haiti Dinner and Auction on Saturday, February 22 (details below).  We will be sharing the scope and sequence of all that's been going on at A des V these past months.

Meanwhile, it's great to see the updates on the paint job....


...and to know our friends now have a shady place to be outside.  In a tropical environment, this unquestionably adds enormously to the overall 'living space,' not unlike a covered deck does for us in the summer.  


Thank you Eric!
Thank you everyone, who helps make it possible to care for these precious ones!
Details of our Haiti Dinner and Silent Auction below!!!
Hope to see you there.


We invite you to join us in partnering with Pastor Abdon and Madame Lumide 
in the astonishing manifestation of God's goodness that is 
Auberge des Vieillards in Pignon, Haiti.


HAITI DINNER AND SILENT AUCTION
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Highview Community Church
295 Highview Drive KIT ON N2N 2K7

First seating 5:00 p.m.
Second seating 6:30 p.m.
Auction closes 8:00 p.m.

Full course turkey dinner including dessert.
Tickets are $40 Adult, $15.00 Child

A wide variety of quality items on which to bid.

You could also volunteer to be part of the Team.
Set up, tear down, meal servers, dishwashers.

For tickets to hold  your space contact
Brian Ogilvie at bzogilvie@gmail.com
Ken Breithaupt at kdb@ptsoft.com

For general information, or to volunteer
please feel free to email me at rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca.

Looking forward to sharing in this adventure with you!

Ruth Anne Breithaupt
Missionary in Residence
Highview Community Church



Monday, February 3, 2025

Two More Faces of Hope

'Last but not least' certainly applies here, as we wrap up a little series of posts introducing our residents at Auberge des Vieillards.

(For pictures and the names of our other residents, please see previous Highview to Haiti blogs over the past few weeks.)


Jean-Claut
A gentle soul, we are told, who lives with dementia.


Jean-Richard
At 28, he is our youngest resident.
He suffered a spinal cord injury at the age of 16 years
when he fell out of a coconut tree.
The doctors say he should have died.
Instead, he is part of our A des V family.




We invite you to join us in partnering with Pastor Abdon and Madame Lumide 
in the astonishing manifestation of God's goodness that is 
Auberge des Vieillards in Pignon, Haiti.


HAITI DINNER AND SILENT AUCTION
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Highview Community Church
295 Highview Drive KIT ON N2N 2K7

First seating 5:00 p.m.
Second seating 6:30 p.m.
Auction closes 8:00 p.m.

Full course turkey dinner including dessert.
Tickets are $40 Adult, $15.00 Child

A wide variety of quality items on which to bid.

You could also volunteer to be part of the Team.
Set up, tear down, meal servers, dishwashers.

For tickets to hold  your space contact
Brian Ogilvie at bzogilvie@gmail.com
Ken Breithaupt at kdb@ptsoft.com

For general information, or to volunteer
please feel free to email me at rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca.

Looking forward to sharing in this adventure with you!

Ruth Anne Breithaupt
Missionary in Residence
Highview Community Church






 

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Friends Like Family

We're a little less than a month away from our Haiti Dinner and Silent Auction on Saturday, February 22, 2025!

As we head into the home stretch of our preparations, it's good to stop and keep in mind who we're doing this for.

Here are two more of our residents at Auberge des Vieillards that we can get to know.


Sister Zina
This lovely lady suffers from Alzheimer's, 
loves being outdoors, 
and often comes back from the garden 
with only one flip flop.  
This sends Pastor Abdon's and Madame Lumide's
younger children out to retrieve it, 
which has become something of a loving game.






Brother Carius
This gentleman was disabled after a motorcycle accident.
He is eligible for some form of compensation,
although there is some dispute about future payments.
Something to pray about.


We invite you to join us in partnering with Pastor Abdon and Madame Lumide 
in the astonishing manifestation of God's goodness that is 
Auberge des Vieillards in Pignon, Haiti.


HAITI DINNER AND SILENT AUCTION
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Highview Community Church
295 Highview Drive KIT ON N2N 2K7

First seating 5:00 p.m.
Second seating 6:30 p.m.
Auction closes 8:00 p.m.

Full course turkey dinner including dessert.
Tickets are $40 Adult, $15.00 Child

A wide variety of quality items on which to bid.

You could also volunteer to be part of the Team.
Set up, tear down, meal servers, dishwashers.

For tickets to hold  your space contact
Brian Ogilvie at bzogilvie@gmail.com
Ken Breithaupt at kdb@ptsoft.com

For general information, or to volunteer
please feel free to email me at rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca.

Looking forward to sharing in this adventure with you!

Ruth Anne Breithaupt
Missionary in Residence
Highview Community Church


Monday, January 20, 2025

Real People in Real Time

As we continue to prepare for our annual Haiti Dinner and Silent Auction on February 22 (see details below), we are delighted to share some of the faces of the A des V resident this event is supporting.

In Pastor Abdon's own words....

 

 "Sister Indiana
She has Alzheimer's disease and doesn't work very well.  
Yet she is able to make things to sell at the market." 



 "Brother Marcellus 
He is a disabled person with a broken scooter.  
He still goes to church every Sunday, 
but it was his job at the hunger center that converted him." 


We invite you to join us in partnering with Pastor Abdon and Madame Lumide 
in the astonishing manifestation of God's goodness that is 
Auberge des Vieillards in Pignon, Haiti.


HAITI DINNER AND SILENT AUCTION
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Highview Community Church
295 Highview Drive KIT ON N2N 2K7

First seating 5:00 p.m.
Second seating 6:30 p.m.
Auction closes 8:00 p.m.

Full course turkey dinner including dessert.
Tickets are $40 Adult, $15.00 Child

A wide variety of quality items on which to bid.

You could also volunteer to be part of the Team.
Set up, tear down, meal servers, dishwashers.

For tickets to hold  your space contact
Brian Ogilvie at bzogilvie@gmail.com
Ken Breithaupt at kdb@ptsoft.com

For general information, or to volunteer
please feel free to email me at rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca.

Looking forward to sharing in this adventure with you!

Ruth Anne Breithaupt
Missionary in Residence
Highview Community Church