Grace Community Christian Church

 

Archived Things Above

Haiti Friends Forever (10/1/08)

"Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them . . ." Michael W. Smith sang those words 25 years ago, & our upcoming January Haiti trip is proving them true, yet again!

It's bizarre, when I think about it, & certainly not something I'd have ever planned. But God sees the big picture, & choreographs the players just as He wants them. Unlike us, His vision is not limited to the horizon.

What am I talking about? I'm talking about Abby McCullough, who was five years old when we met her on our inaugural visit to the Canadian Maritimes in 1989 in search of a church to serve. She became immediate soulmates with my middle daughter, Mickey. Abby grew up as a PK (Preacher's Kid) in Nova Scotia, & is presently a student at Maritime Christian College in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. When I invited myself to be a Facebook "friend" with her several weeks ago, I had no idea she would be one of the first to jump at the idea of going on a mission trip to Haiti with us!

What am I talking about? I'm talking about Anita McElroy, a scientist who was baptized here at GC3 six years ago after a near fatal accident in a lab at Ft. Detrick. That whole experience caused her to re-evaluate what life was all about, & she decided to use her sharp mind & compassion skills to touch lives & make a difference. She completed her medical degree at George Washington University & is presently in pediatrician training in Atlanta. I Googled her number & called her "out of the blue" a few weeks ago to see if she'd be interested in going to Haiti with us. I figured it was a long shot, knowing how rigorous her schedule must be, but she called me back & it turns out the week we're going is the first week she'll be free, & she'd love to go! As she put it, "God's opening this door for me, & I'm walking through!"

What am I talking about? I'm talking about Dee Dee Kernisant, who 29 years ago was responsible for getting me to a church where I heard the Biblical gospel proclaimed & had my life completely re-arranged. Both of our lives took unexpected turns & detours, & for well over ten years we had no contact at all. But here we are almost three decades later, partnering to make the grace of God real to a bunch of Haitian orphan boys.

Three completely different people. Personalities. Cultures. Backgrounds. Experiences. Ages. Educations. Countries. Yet one shared passion: To make a difference in the name of Christ.

Friendship is one of God's greatest gifts to us human beings. The enduring, delicious satisfaction of enjoying authentic community with another person is a gift to be treasured for sure, & rare. Add eternity into the mix, & you not only have a great experience in this life, but you get to impact other lives, forever. Who could ask for more?!

"Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them . . ."


Jim Dewar --