Posting by Ruth Anne Breithaupt
Missionary In Residence/Highview Community Church
There’s a beauty in this picture that we might miss if we
thought it was just another restaurant photo of a group out for dinner. Because it’s not.
When Pastor Giordani, Pastor and Denominational Leader from Haiti came this month to
visit some of his church members who now live in Toronto, a two-day stopover in
Kitchener became part of the plan. That
gave a number of us the opportunity to share a meal and spend some time with
one of Highview’s beloved partners in the work in Haiti God has so lavishly
given us to be part of.
This is a partnership that spans more than a decade and
has seen us send teams to various locations, mostly working on construction
sites, and assisting in medical clinics. But I probably don’t need to tell you
any of this if you are already connected to this blog, or to Highview, or to
any one of the amazing people who have taken up the adventure and gone
themselves. And if not, just scroll back
into past posts to get the scope and joy of the bigger story here.
Pastor Giordani’s leadership role and oversight of
churches there, has involved him in most if not all of our visits, giving team
members, particularly those who have gone frequently (like Brian, Poppy and
Linda, as well as Dr. Ivan) a chance to become friends. Real
friends. Friends that respect one
another and listen to each other and are genuinely glad in each other’s
presence.
And that’s the beauty of it, folks.
While I feel completely welcome, my space at the table is
somewhat undeserved. I have never
sweltered in the heat hauling cement , or counted out pills under the shade of
a Haitian porch roof. But I am Highview’s Missionary In Residence
which means that my heart is excited for all
Highview’s loves beyond our own borders.
And I am passionate, almost militant to be honest, about respect and
reciprocity being the foundation of any of our endeavours.
So when Pastor Giordani is greeted with such warm
enthusiasm. When his own smile and ease
in our company brings its own brightness to the room. When Poppy is excited to tell him (using her
French so delightfully) about her time in India. When Brian converses with Pastor Giordani in
Creole, demonstrating just a whole lot of effort to make this important way of
connection happen. When Linda says she’s
more than happy to have Pastor Giordani stay at their home because, after all,
she’s stayed at his. When I feel the love wrapping itself around our meal, I
am honoured to sit in the beauty of it.
This love, these incarnational friendships, it changes
everything. We are not the same once we
make these deeper connections. We are just so not.
The meal is over.
We ask our server to take our picture.
Pastor Giordana stands to thank us, for the meal and for this time to be
together, in a way that’s both formal and familiar at the same time. I love it.
I love that I’ve been here. To
see this. We’ve been together as friends. And it's beautiful.
