International Prayer Day First Monday each month 10 am

Joel Griffith 1/30/20 Joel Griffith 1/30/20

The blue bowl.

“Give us today our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11

What did you have for dinner last night? Did you have enough to eat? Did you go to bed hungry? Did you have something to eat before you came to school this morning? Those are a sample of the questions that a Trinity/HOPE mission team member will ask about a dozen or so children while visiting their school in Haiti. Answers don’t vary too much; most of the children will tell me privately tell me ‘no’ to the eating questions and ‘yes’ to the question about going to bed hungry. When was that last time that you would have answered ‘no’ to eating before bed or before you left for school or work? In North America we might ‘skip’ if a meal if we are in a hurry to get somewhere. Our children come home after school and open the fridge door and hang on it while considering all the options for a snack before dinner.

A dietitian from Vanderbilt University was asked to put together a good meal for Haitian children considering the ingredients available. The attached photo is what a child in Haiti has for lunch at school, if there is a Trinity/HOPE feeding program; many schools have no such program. A bowl of beans, rice, vegetable oil, tomato paste, onions, maggi and a little bit of smoked red herring for seasoning; the children absolutely love it.

This bowl is for a medium sized child and costs a quarter for their meal for the day. What a bargain. When they pray the Lord’s prayer and come to the “Give us this day our daily bread” their heads nod as the words leave their lips. Sadly, we take that petition for granted too often as our cupboard and fridge are generally full of food.

Next time you pray before your meal, pause and think about a child in Haiti and their noon meal in that blue bowl, praying over that bowl of beans and rice and consider how blessed you are and how you could be a blessing to one of them with your abundance.

Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen. May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 1/29/20 Joel Griffith 1/29/20

Their school.

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NASB)

Where did you go to school? Was it a large school; did it have desks, blackboards, projectors, a furnace or air conditioner, a solid concrete or wood floor, a bathroom, electricity, a kitchen or running water? I started school in 1955 and I would have to check each of the above qualities with a “yes”. Not to mention locking doors, windows with glass, a gymnasium, a music room, a separate room for each class and I was blessed to have attended a Lutheran grade school so we also learned about Jesus. That was in 1955 and my old school has seen many upgrades in the past 65 years.

The attached photo of the school at Bois Marchand was taken in March of 2010 when I visited Haiti. These children could not have said ‘wi’ to all of my questions regarding their school; they have a kitchen which is a pot setting over a pile of coals outside and they also learn about Jesus; that is it. Their desks also double as church pews on Sunday and their school is used as a church sanctuary. When you look at their school, does the word success cross your mind? I don’t know what their GPA average is or what electives they are taking or how well their basketball team is doing in the Districts; they are not familiar with any of these things. I am sure that their parents are concerned that they do get good grades and will have a brighter future than they had. When I interviewed fifteen of these boys and girls I recognized the unique way God created each of these children and is preparing them to share the love of Jesus at every turn along their journey. To me, at this point in my life, that is what is really more important than the report cards, elective classes and trophy cases full of sports medals.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” and that causes me to consider the words, “… in the way he should go.” Is our world placing more importance on training our kids that the “way he should go” is to chase worldly achievement or to chase God? Whatever they learn to chase as a child, they will chase as adults; you and I both know that to be true. I read a post recently about an Native American story about an elderly grandfather telling his grandson the ‘wisdom of two dogs’ story. “Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog, all of the time." When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied "The one I feed the most." Such a good story to consider.

Their school in Bois Marchand may not look like much but these children are so very special to Him and to His work in Haiti. When they give thanks for their Trinity/HOPE meal each day, they are thanking our Triune God for you, for helping to make their lives so special…for Him. Thank you for sharing your excess with these who have nothing to spare. God be with you.

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 1/28/20 Joel Griffith 1/28/20

Amazing.

“All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Luke 2:18 ~

“All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Luke 2:18

When you first head about Trinity/HOPE what was your reaction? Too good to be true? When the shepherds told others about what they had been through and what their eyes saw, people had a hard time believing; amazing! One of the blessings I received while living in Haiti was seeing children in schools without feeding programs and then schools with Trinity/HOPE programs…amazing! The six girls sitting at the blue table in Cap Haitian in the attached photo are evidence of something truly amazing.

A dollar and fifty cents will provide lunch for these girls. Bright smiles and eyes and you probably should also know that none of these girls had anything to eat the night before school or the in the morning before they walked to school. That metal plate is more than likely their meal for the day unless their parents give them a piece of bread or a piece of mango or a banana.

If you are now a donor, or are considering being a supporter for children like these in Cap Haitian, Beni Soit L’Eternal! (Praise the Lord!) While your $1.50 is certainly a blessing for this lunch table, the bigger picture sees six young missionaries who will be taking the Gospel message to a neighborhood and country still dedicated to satan and devil worship through vodou. The next generation of these young Lutheran children attending Christian schools throughout Haiti are the hope for a country that is without hope. What a blessing it would be to one day travel to Haiti and see no vodou temples and be able to say “amazing” what has been accomplished by our Triune God through these children and supporters like you.

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 1/27/20 Joel Griffith 1/27/20

Reflections.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ~

I’ve been having a wild ride down memory lane recently and perhaps it began when I learned that a man who worked with me in Kimball, NE nearly 50 years ago while constructing Interstate 80 in the Nebraska panhandle, had passed away. Mitch and I had lost touch since 1975 and last year he somehow had seen one of my devotions posted on FaceBook and asked if I was the same person that he had worked with…back in the day.

Mitch’s journey is over and my ride is still going down the highway and it’s becoming harder to keep my car between the lines some days. Some days it is just better to stay in the garage and put the keys on the dresser. A while ago, again, probably back in the day, there was a poem by Amy Grant that came up in one of my internet searches. I’ve been thinking about that a lot recently and found it again and want to share it with you today.

“It occurred to me this morning as I washed this face of mine; how quickly come the changes with a little passing time. A wrinkle here, a hair turned gray, a not so lilting step. I see me growing older, but i don't quite feel it yet. At times I nearly feel my age, at others I'm, sixteen, so full am I of all the thoughts and feelings in between. Who would have thought the road of life would twist and turn so much? The journey makes me strong and weak and tender to the touch. And so this day I face the choice that I have faced each day. Will I be open? Teachable? Unafraid of change? Yes. I will embrace this moment. Forgive my past mistakes. and remember that just showing up is sometimes all it takes. I'll seek the kind of beauty that time cannot erase; wisdom and experience resting on my face.”

The photo of me was taken one evening in 2003 at Hotel Kinam in Petionville. Five of us were sitting around a white plastic table on a quiet dark night; three Haitians and two North Americans. The female doctor was from Oklahoma City, don’t recall her name, and this was her last day in Haiti and heading back home in the morning and the three Haitians began to softly sing what I would call Haitian Gospel songs in Creole; it was such a wonderful blessing. It brought me a glimpse of what Heaven must be like. Brothers and sisters from different parts of this world, praising Jesus.

Over the years, I’ve personally provided many meals for children attending Christian schools in Haiti and I know full well that one day, they will join me in Heaven and we’ll be singing songs to our Lord Jesus in one common language…and Mitch will be there too.

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 1/25/20 Joel Griffith 1/25/20

A chosen people.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 ~

The attached photo is of just a few of the 174 children who attend a school called Mannou which is located in a suburb of Port-au-Prince. Here the children are praying before they receive their lunch which is truly a special possession to them. Their school suffered physical damage during the earthquake 1/12/10 and these children most likely suffered the loss of friends and possibly family members when the earth shook on that late afternoon hours after school had been dismissed.

We are a chosen people, you, I and these souls are truly some of God’s special possessions. The Holy Spirit moves each of us to give of our bounty every day to bring them physical strength as they go out into a world of darkness and bring the Hope of Him who called you, and I and them. There are those in this world that will say “look at me, look at what I have done!” To me it is important that we say “Look at these children, look at what God has done through them and through me.” As the Apostle Paul often wrote, “boast in the Lord.” It is all about what He has accomplished and if my blindness has in any way been used to further the sharing of the Gospel message to the lost, than praise the Lord for what He has accomplished…through me, through you…through these children.

Thank you for continuing to support Trinity/HOPE feeding programs that are such an important part of their lives as they go out into a world of darkness and let their brilliant lights shine.

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 1/24/20 Joel Griffith 1/24/20

Be a blessing.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 ~

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

My Sunday begins between 4 and 5 AM, taking a small handful of pills a doctor thinks will provide me with a longer life, turn on my PC and make a cup of coffee while I am being ‘connected’ and then come back and listen to the Lutheran Hour and then read the E-Mail and check the ‘news’ and listen to a Southern Gospel internet station. I was getting a photo to send to you and the song “I brought you to Jesus” by the Isaacs was playing and the Holy Spirit once again nudged me.

The school in the attached photo was taken on one of Keith Logan’s mission trips and this school is located at Acquier in the Les Cayes District. I was there in 2002 and this photo was taken in 2010 and the red dirt and school building appear to have not changed in 8 years; only the faces of the 160 children have changed. At the time of my visit I was told by Pastor Isidor that I was the first blan (Caucasian) Lutheran to have visited this school.

Getting back to the lyrics of the song, the chorus goes something like this; “I brought you to Jesus but you brought a blessing to me. I brought you to Jesus and you showed me how a willing heart should be. You taught me how a little child has the kind of faith that everybody needs, I brought you to Jesus but you brought a blessing to me.”

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 1/23/20 Joel Griffith 1/23/20

My church.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28-19-20

When living in Haiti, visiting congregation in the rural areas, it was not unusual to see this type of structure in the attached photo, there were a few that did not have the palm branches covering the walls but did have sturdy wood poles or concrete pillars supporting a roof. When you get into your vehicle on Sunday and drive to your home congregation consider where most of the Christians living in Haiti are worshipping on Sunday. They either ride in a taptap or walk to church and their pew is generally a small wooden bench that is used for a school desk during the week. No hymnals, no organ, no indoor plumbing, no electricity and their service will not be over in an hour or less. The best way to describe why their worship services last for up to three hours is because they have so much to be thankful for…a risen Savior who is Christ the Lord.

When Jesus gave each of us the great commission, He closed by saying that “He is with us always, to the very end of the age.” Imagine that he is with you always and with them always…to the very end of the age. Comforting, isn’t it? He delights in our opulent filled sanctuary and also enjoys their simplicity. Not interested in our surroundings, that is worldly, He is interested in our souls and tells us to go and win more souls and save them from the burning lake of hell. Thank you for helping to prepare thousands of His children to answer His call.

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 1/22/20 Joel Griffith 1/22/20

Where are they.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:1-2 ~

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:1-2
I had a really interesting, thought provoking question from Pastor Wayne in Columbus, NE who asked me “what are some of those thousands of kids who have graduated doing?” Wish I knew, but keeping track of my own daily activities is a enough of a task for me these days, can’t begin to imagine where those children in Haiti are today. The children in the attached photo are from Caredeux which is a suburb in Port-au-Prince; the photo was taken in 2000; ten years before the earthquake. Where are they today? Was their smile crushed in a building? How many lives have their message touched? God shaped each one especially to accomplish His work, each was fashioned in a special way to touch another life…a life that was lost and needed to be found.

We cannot spend time wondering about where they are; we only need to trust that the Holy Spirit has taken them to places where the Gospel message needed to be heard or their smile needed to be seen by one without hope. Numerous times when visiting schools in the rural areas in the Jeremie, Les Cayes and Central Plateau Districts, there have been school teachers who graduated from the schools in which they are now teachers. In the church at Caredeux, Bon Berger Lutheran, in my ten years of having worshipped there on and off I have seen faces that were ushers, choir members and lay Pastors who resembled children that I had seen in the school.

God is preparing the eyes of currently over 28,000 children in Haiti to see His glory. Our Heavenly Father continues to direct each of us to continue to walk side by side with His children in Haiti, teaching us, directing us and continually unfolding His immeasurable loving arms and wrapping them around us along our journey. Be at peace, knowing that He who has begun this good work in us, will one day bring it to completion. Thank you for your continued support for these children through Trinity/HOPE.

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 1/21/20 Joel Griffith 1/21/20

Increasing.

“Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number. Genesis 47:27 ~

“Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number. Genesis 47:27

I have a couple of stories for you this morning, first, I have a friend that whenever we used to meet I would ask “how are you doing Kelly?” and he would always reply “richly blessed.” I wish that I had that feeling, because I too am richly blessed, but this world still tells me I am blessed, but certainly not “richly blessed.” Hopefully, one day on this side of Heaven, I will be able to reply to people that I am truly “richly blessed.”

Part two of being richly blessed. The attached photo was taken on a scorcher of a day in August of 2001 at the port in Gonaives, Haiti. John Hall and I are standing next to a crate (John on the right, me on the left and the crate is in the middle) that his congregation had shipped to Haiti that was full of clothes, computer things, cooking utensils and other items.

Over the years, as I learned more about Trinity/HOPE and my relationship with John grew closer, we would sit and talk about the program, where it would be best to grow next and how to lower the cost per meal. It was probably just a decade ago following a Trinity/HOPE board meeting in Nashville we talked about growth and where God would lead the program next…somewhat concerned with financial growth matching the number of schools that were ready for a feeding program. At that time, as I recall roughly 8,000 children were being fed and we pondered on how many years it would take to reach 10,000 children being fed. That level was attained not long ago and as we were feeding over 13,500 children in 2011 and by January 2012 that number has grown to over 17,500 children in 91 schools and today that number is 28,000 in 141 schools; “Beni Soit L’Eternal”!!!

I don’t have the words to describe my shock at that number, nor will my mind embrace the blessings that our Triune God continues to pour out on those children in Haiti. You cannot ‘out plan’ God, you cannot out spend God and you cannot imagine where the limits of His endless love begin and end. The feeding program continues to increase greatly in number. From 46 children in Tarasse twenty years ago to over 28,000 throughout Haiti; young missionaries are being prepared spiritually and physically to go and share the Gospel message of our Savior with the eyes that have not seen, the ears that have not heard and the hearts that have been hardened.

Thank you for your continued support for these children through Trinity/HOPE. Give thanks to the One who has made this journey for these children, His children, who live in a land with so little but yet are filled with the joy of knowing their Savior and telling others how they are richly blessed with a meal each day from their Heavenly Father.

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 1/20/20 Joel Griffith 1/20/20

LWML

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:15-17

One of the thousands of Haitian photos that continues to stick in my mind is the “LWML (Lutheran Women’s Mission League) kitchen” at a school northwest of Hinche. I can tell you that there are at least 70 other kitchens at schools throughout Haiti that closely resemble this cooking station. Nothing fancy, a big pot of rice and beans setting on top of some burning embers just waiting for a horde of hungry children to come running and excited for their lunch.
Reading the exchange between Jesus and Peter draws me back to that photo, back to that pot at that school. Jesus basically tells Peter again and again “if you love me, take care of my sheep.” Not a lot of direction, pretty simple, take care of my children, feed them…take care of them if you love me. There is one element about Trinity/HOPE that I have always admired; they are focused on feeding His sheep, all of the over 28,000 of them at the present time. Trinity/HOPE doesn’t build schools, dig latrines or wells, purchase school supplies or buy land with any funds from the support that is donated from people like you…they feed children.
While living in Haiti I witnessed too many well-meaning organizations try to do too much, go in too many directions, trying to please everybody in Haiti and in North America and they ended up being similar to the Platte River in Nebraska with their accomplishments…a mile wide and six inches deep. Getting so spread out in different directions, doing so much but not doing it very well…using God’s resources in ways that were not the best use of the support that had been donated. Christ told Peter quite simply to feed and take care of His sheep. Trinity/HOPE has continued to do one thing very, very well…feeding children attending Christian schools in Haiti. Thank you for continuing to keep the kettles at our schools in Haiti full of beans and rice every day. Thank you for answering the call of our Savior in John 21.

May God be with you…Jay