Brisas, the Beautiful ------
Written by Meghan Witzel
It's hard to fully articulate and
illustrate what happened for us in Colombia. So much of it is indescribable.
But alas, I shall do my very best. I have always believed in relational
ministry. I think when we connect with people, whether on faith based mutual
ground or not..that we discover the Holy in each other. "In true
relationships, the only point is to be together. Once there is another point,
the relationship withers under the heat of expectations and obligations."
-Theologian Andrew Root.
I'll never forget the first evening in Brisas. It was
like an awkward school dance. Our youth were huddled together sitting in a row
on the ledge in the main hut area, and the children and youth of Brisas were
doing the same thing, but perpendicular to them. I said to our youth: "You
guys can interact with them you know. Play hand clapping games and stuff"
They said "Well there's kind of a language barrier". I thought to
myself: "Oh ya. They're new at this. They don't know yet".
While the
first 24 hours consisted of our youth feeling frustrated that they didn't learn
more Spanish before the trip...that frustration quickly melted away. You see,
the language of love is universal. Energy doesn't lie and smiles speak to each
other. Card tricks, music, dancing, hand clapping games..they all broke down
those initially frustrating language barriers, and VERY quickly. By Circle time
before bed with our youth on day 2 in Brisas, "language barrier"
wasn't mentioned even once.
As the week progressed the relationships formed into
friendships. And, by the time we left we were family. Their community became
our community and we will never be the same. I and one of our youth experienced
the emotional and spiritual intimacy of a restorative justice circle, and
reconciliation happened so quickly and organically. I will hold onto that holy
moment for the rest of my life. We learned how to move our hips and dance it
out. And we definitely taught some "White people dancing". We learned
how to braid hair better, that passing the peace is much better with warm bear
hugs instead of cold handshakes, and that hanging in the shade more on beach
day would have been a better life choice.
My guitar was happily passed around
and spent more time outside of its case than in. We laughed, we cried, we
hugged, and we sojourned together. The first couple of days our scheduled youth
programming time was a game and follow up discussion by our incredible host,
Juan. By the third day, the youth time wasn't programmed. It didn't need to be.
If you were a stranger walking into that space you would have thought everyone
grew up together. The interactions and laughter were beautiful. I smiled as I
remembered that only days ago there was a "language barrier".
Now, no
one spoke either language any better. But it didn't matter. It was no longer a
wall that separated us. Love does that, you know. It's powerful enough to tear
down even the biggest and scariest walls. Part of why we came to Brisas was to
help build a church and assist with construction. One of our last days I began
looking around at the transformation and transfiguration among us all. And I
smiled and said to myself "It was never about building a church". I
believe in moments. Moments that move us, shake us and take our breath away.
Moments that challenge and change us, teach us to believe in magic and shape
our very existence. Moments of impact. In Brisas, the moments were endless. And
grace happened. Blessed be.
