Friendship

It’s no secret that building a genuine connection with our street friends, one that’s more than a transaction, can be tough. When our friends on the street need basic necessities, such as food, water, and clothing, they'll do almost anything to obtain them. That might mean they'll listen politely when you share the gospel, even if they're not truly receptive, just because they know it means they’ll get the thing they need. 

So, it makes it hard to know if you're actually building a real connection. 

Thankfully, God has blessed me with some genuinely true friendships with the people we serve. But, how do I know they're genuine? 

I know the connection is real when a street friend shares a personal hardship, like the struggle with someone in their life, or the deep challenge of addiction. When our friends open up about these struggles and ask for prayer, they've essentially invited you into their lives. They've let you pass the surface-level exchange because they trust you. 

This genuine connection is true of one friend, whom we’ll call Joanne. Joanne is a professing Christian, and whenever I'm out serving, I always make a point to at least say hello. Sometimes, we’ll talk for a while about her plans to travel and help a friend, or maybe about the challenges of finding affordable housing. 

No matter what, I always tell her she’s welcome to visit me at OIM. Sometimes I'm not in the office when she stops by, so if that’s the case, she might leave something for me. For example, she's dropped off articles she finds interesting, which are articles mentioning OIM or about affordable housing. During some other visits, we just chat.

The reason she stops by? Simply because I told her she could. While she will still sometimes visit and talk with volunteers, her intentionality in seeking me out is because I tell her she can. Without that invitation, she wouldn't seek me out. What a privilege and a blessing to have such a connection! 

I truly count it as an honour to have a friendship like I do with Joanne, a wonderfully kind-hearted person who, if I wasn't in this line of work, I never would have met. She has every reason to be discouraged by her situation, yet she chooses connection and kindness.

Thank you, Joanne, for your friendship. 

~Andrew, Strategic Communications and PR Manager