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Westview Christian Fellowship in St. Catharines, Ont. held their annual free barbecue party June 13 for migrant workers that work in the fruit and vegetable farms in the Niagara area. English and Spanish flyers were delivered to local farms and the flags from the workers' home countries were displayed in the front yard. Christian and secular reggae, ska and contemporary music could be heard from the street, adding a festive mood to the barbecue.
The party was held on a rainy day that included lightning and hail. The group waited and prayed for the storm to abate. At 5:10 the rain stopped and the sun shone. The group hurried to finish decorating with balloons and streamers, setting up tables and preparing the food.
When the guests arrived the party began. The church entertained 36 people from Trinidad, Jamaica and Mexico, playing volleyball and "Win, Lose or Draw". Pastor Braun, in his Rastafarian hat, was quickly adopted by the Jamaicans.
The church only later learned that the storm had a double blessing. First, it broke the humidity; second, it allowed the workers to have the day off. Without the rain, the guests would not have been able to come.--Alysha Braun
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