Good news,,,.bad news.

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” Isaiah. 9:6

Good news; the Trinity/Hope Board of Directors met Saturday, August 8th and this was their first annual meeting since restructuring a year ago.  The board is now made up of seven directors along with Keith Logan and Denise Gudlin.  For the rest of the old Board members, we are Ambassadors if we chose to stay on and will be recruiting more to join our number in the coming year.

The wonderful news from their meeting was that for the 2020-2021 school year, Trinity/Hope has added additional schools and will now be feeding nearly 33,000 children, teachers, cooks and principals in 160 schools throughout the country of Haiti. 

Due to COVID-19, prices for food (especially beans) have spiked quite a bit, but fortunately, the price for one meal still remains around a quarter.  The funds that Trinity/HOPE sends to pay for these programs is just over $1.3 million dollars and that goes into the Haitian economy every year, by buying all the food from local markets and directly creating approximately 325 jobs for Haitians; our local program directors and the cooks.  Trinity/HOPE never sends food to Haiti.  We buy all the food from local markets because we want to help Haiti move towards self-sufficiency.  What also helps to make this possible is that the schools in Haiti will contribute over $150,000 this school year in Shared Support, another step towards self-sufficiency and showing how Haiti can help themselves.

More good news; school in Haiti began August 10th and there is no virtual on line teaching in any of our schools.  Our journeys always seem to have a barricade with the word ‘problem’ in the middle of the path each and every day.  There is a worthy saying that ‘when GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems, HE has faith in your abilities.’  It is comforting to know that He gave us a permanent solution to our problems; Jesus.

Bad news; the past couple of days Tropical Storm Laura has brought too much rain to the Dominican Republic and the northern claw of Haiti.  There is loss of life and much damage given in early reports.  One report advised  that waters of Lake Peligre were over the concrete dam and hydroelectric plan in the Plateau Cwntral and flood gates were being opened to release a torrent of water in the Grane Rivier du Nord valley.  Please pray for all the people living in the Plateau Central, Arcahaie, Artibonite and Cap Haitian districts as the flooding will be devastating to their agriculture.

Too often, our problems in North America are not as big as they may seem.  Take a good look at the two cooks in the Trinity/Hope kitchen in Maniche which is located in the Les Cayes District.  There are 198 children at this Lutheran school trusting in this pair of saints to cook their noon meal every day.  My North American eyes see a lot of problems at the stove in Maniche.  Not a single fire extinguisher to save the palm branch wind break if a spark should ignite it.  No roof to protect the food should a rain shower move in before lunch.

These are simple problems…not Tropical Storm Laura magnatude.  The children at this school and you and I have a major problem; sin.  We needed a Savior to rescue us from the gates of hell; we need Jesus.   We give thanks here in North America and in Maniche that our Heavenly Father has given His only Son to die for us, to solve our biggest problem.  I close with words from a hymn written by Edward Hopper in 1871 called ‘Jesus Savior, pilot me.’

“Jesus, Savior, pilot me, over life’s tempestuous sea; unknown waves before me roll, hiding rock and treach’rous shoal; chart and compass came from Thee: Jesus, Savior, pilot me.  As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild; boist’rous waves obey Thy will when Thou say’st to them, “Be still!”  Wondrous Sov’reign of the sea, Jesus, Savior, pilot me.  When at last I near the shore, and the fearful breakers roar’ twixt me and the peaceful rest, then, while leaning on Thy breast, may I hear Thee say to me, “Fear not, I will pilot thee.”

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

Long range plans?

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Have you done any planning recently?  Made plans for the weekend or for the summer or for a special vacation?  Have you made plans for your retirement?  Have you made plans for where or what you are going to eat tonight?  The dictionary indicates that making plans should be a realistic view of the expectations; depending upon the activities, a plan can be long range, intermediate range or short range.  Preparation of a comprehensive plan will not guarantee success, but lack of a sound plan will almost certainly ensure failure.

I’ve sat down and made some plans for the remaining years of my life and have an agenda that set a course for the remainder of my journey.  If my history repeats itself in the coming years I can tell you now there will be some challenges and failures.  I’ve presented my plan to my Heavenly Father and am still watching and listening for His guidance.  I truly want the Lord to determine my steps on this journey regardless of my own agenda.  I am hoping that His directions and my steps will intersect at some point but if things look too dark, I will turn to His course and be confident of His wisdom and my life blesses more people.

Our Triune God will determine your steps, my steps and the steps of this child who lives in Ouanaminthe.  My journey intersects with his journey as my life is bringing him a noon meal at his Lutheran school.  I don’t know how much longer he will be blessed by my gifts but I am confident that this is a direction that is God pleasing.  God knows our hearts and He will often direct us to do things in which we are gifted or where our personalities just seem to be a natural fit; it is His plan for us and for this child.  Thank you for feeding children in Trinity/HOPE programs and preparing them for their journey...His journey for them.

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

Going home.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”  Matthew 24:14

Johnny Cash and I sang a duet while driving home yesterday; well, actually I just sang “when the roll is called up yonder” while the song was being played on the radio.  Going home, have you ever considered who will be worthy of having their names written on the role?

Am I considered worthy?  I try to live in a way which is good and God-pleasing but the reality is that the face in morning mirror has failed again and again.  What about the children in the attached photo?  They are some of the 105 that attend the Lutheran School in Balague which is located in the Arcahaie District.  Are they considered worthy?  They probably try as hard as we do to live God-pleasing lives but not sure if they are able recite the six chief parts of the Lutheran Catechism like you and I can.

Good news!  While we are pleading the worthiness of our lives is exactly where Jesus comes in!  Jesus came to this world not because we were good people, but because we were bad people, sinful people who needed a Savior.  His death on the cross paid for all our American and Haitian sins that made us unworthy.  We can now, because of Jesus, look forward to eternity in the glory of heaven together with the children from Balague and all of God's family of believers!

“When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, and the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair.  When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.  On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise, and the glory of His resurrection share.  When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.  Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun, let us talk of all His wondrous love and care.  Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.”  James Black, 1893

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

Such a privilege.

“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.  My Father will honor the one who serves me.”  John 12:26

A recent devotion from the Lutheran Hour shared a brief story of Helen Roseveare who was a missionary to the Congo.  During her years serving our Lord in the Congo her faith had been challenged many times and she was often physically brutalized.  She shared the following observation "There is no cost in following Jesus" and added “there is only privilege."

The young girl in the attached photo attends school at Bon Berger Lutheran School in Caredeux and she has been given a high honor by her teacher.  Entrusted to her is the task of bringing a tray with noon lunches to the children in her class.  It may not seem like much of an honor but this child will not spill one drop of food while taking it to children who will have nothing else to eat on this day.

We should consider serving Christ as an honor and a privilege.  Helping to support the noon meal at Bon Berger is an honor as we serve our Lord with our talents.  Although being His servant is a free will choice each of us can make on our own, we should embrace the opportunity to humbly follow Him and serve Him.  We should be eager at having the opportunity to be Christ’s servant here in our home town, across the State, in the Congo or in Haiti.  Serving Him is such a wonderful privilege.

We should not walk our Christian path in a spirit of pride or ego as all the Glory is His.  Thank you for sharing your blessings and bringing a plate of hope to the children in Caredeux.  The hymn “Let us ever walk with Jesus” by Sigismund von Birken (1653) is a great reminder of the honor of walking with and following our Savior.

“Let us ever walk with Jesus, follow His example pure.  Flee the world, which would deceive us and to sin our souls allure.  Ever in His footsteps treading, body here, yet soul above, full of faith and hope and love.  Let us do the Father's bidding.  Faithful Lord, abide with me; Savior, lead, I follow Thee.  Let us suffer here with Jesus, to His image, e'er conform; Heaven's glory soon will please us, sunshine follow on the storm.  Though we sow in tears of sorrow, we shall reap with heavenly joy; and the fears that now annoy shall be laughter on the morrow.  Christ, I suffer here with Thee; there, oh, share Thy joy with me!  Let us also die with Jesus.  His death from the second death, from our soul's destruction, frees us, quickens us with life's glad breath.  Let us mortify, while living, flesh and blood and die to sin; and the grave that shuts us in shall but prove the gate to heaven.  Jesus, here I die to Thee there to live eternally.  Let us gladly live with Jesus; since He's risen from the dead, death and grave must soon release us.  Jesus, Thou art now our Head, we are truly Thine own members; where Thou livest, there live we.  Take and own us constantly, faithful Friend, as Thy dear brethren.  Jesus, here I live to Thee, also there eternally.”

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

Trusting today.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."  Matthew 6:34

This scripture reading and the song “I am trusting thee Lord Jesus” have been bouncing around in my head today.  In this world that we live in, worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles; it only takes away today's peace.  This world’s self-help courses tell us to fight fire with fire but we need to remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.

The girl in the attached photo attends Bon Berger (Good Shepherd) Lutheran School in Caredeux, Haiti.  I confess that there are times when I worry that this child may not get her meal at school tomorrow; God has never let the Trinity/HOPE pot go empty.  My doubting that financial responsibilities will slow and come to a halt have never been realized.  Jesus wants us to let go of our anxiety; we must live in the present moment.  There are too many opportunities we could miss today by worrying about what might happen tomorrow.

The Lord could come between now and tomorrow and all our worry would have been silliness and you, me and the children at Bon Berger will be together in Heaven.  Thank you for joining me in trusting in our Lord Jesus to keep the pots full at Trinity/HOPE schools in Haiti.  Thank you for joining me in sharing our financial blessings with those who have so few.

“I am trusting Thee, Lord, Jesus, trusting only Thee; trusting Thee for full salvation, great and free.  I am trusting Thee for pardon; at Thy feet I bow; for Thy grace and tender mercy, trusting now.  I am trusting Thee for cleansing in the crimson flood; trusting Thee to make me holy by Thy blood.  I am trusting Thee to guide me; Thou alone shalt lead; every day and hour supplying all my need.  I am trusting Thee for power, Thine can never fail; words which Thou Thyself shalt give me must prevail.  I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus; never let me fall; I am trusting Thee forever, and for all.”  Frances R. Havergal, 1836-1879

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

Getting a call.

“The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.  One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.  The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was.  Then the LORD called Samuel.  Samuel answered, “Here I am.”  And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”  But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”  So he went and lay down.  Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”  “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”  Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.  A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”  Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.  So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.”  1 Samuel 3:1-9

As a child, calling a person was done on a telephone with a rotary dial or by opening the door and yelling out a name.  The scripture reading talks about how Samuel received his ‘call’ from God.  It is good to read these passages from time to time as we too have been called but…sometimes we don’t understand who was calling or what it was they really wanted.

The young boy in the photo attends the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe and this is one of those special photos as the boy sitting next to him is wearing a North American throw away t-shirt that proclaims “saving the best for last.”  This young boy and you have both received the ‘call’ from our Heavenly Father; but each of your calls were different but will both bring blessings back to our Heavenly Father.  Your gift is feeding this child and he is growing the Kingdom in Haiti.

We get calls all the time and sometimes we answer and sometimes we just let the phone ring and ring and hope that the caller will leave a message.  He continues to call you and His children in Ouanaminthe and around this world.  Thank you for answering His call and taking the message.  While driving home George Younce sang a song titles “Who at my door is standing” and its words seem relevant to this passage in 1 Samuel. 

“Who at my door is standing, patiently drawing near, entrance within demanding?  Whose is the voice I hear?  Sweetly the tones are falling; “Open the door for Me!  If thou wilt heed My calling, I will abide with thee.  Lonely without He’s staying, lonely within am I, while I am still delaying, will He not pass me by?  Sweetly the tones are falling; “Open the door for Me!  If thou wilt heed My calling, I will abide with thee.  All through the dark hours dreary, knocking again is He; Jesus, art Thou not weary, waiting so long for me?  Sweetly the tones are falling; “Open the door for Me!  If thou wilt heed My calling, I will abide with thee.  Door of my heart, I hasten!  Thee will I open wide.  Though He rebuke and chasten, He shall with me abide.  Sweetly the tones are falling; “Open the door for Me!  If thou wilt heed My calling, I will abide with thee.”

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

Going to celebrate.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick!  Bring the best robe and put it on him.  Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it.  Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:20-24

The lost son didn’t understand how much his father loved him and seldom do we really understand how our Heavenly Father can possibly be excited when we are walking back after being lost in the affairs of this sin filled world.

The children in the attached photo are some of the 344 that attend Grace Lutheran School in the Les Cayes District.  They are His kids and they like you and me have strayed now and then and we have been tempted by this world to turn away.  Their temptations are different than our temptations.  We take our food for granted and think nothing of spending $86 a month for cable TV, a cell phone, groceries, clothes, shoes; eighty-six dollars would feed all these children for one day. 

When we find that this world’s temptations don’t bring what we had thought they would, we turn and return home to our Heavenly Father who is changeless.  His love is everlasting; for you, for them and for me.  Have you been following the temptations of this world recently?  Have you been searching for something you can't find?  Are you running with nowhere to run to?  Come home; come home to the One who loves you more than anyone.  Thank you for helping to feed His children.

I heard a song recently which was written by Cleavant Derricks and this is not found in the Lutheran Service Book, but a quartet sang it on the internet radio station.  The title is ‘We’ll soon be done with troubles and trials’ and the words hit home.

“Some of these days I'm going home where no sorrows ever come, we'll soon be done, we'll soon be done with troubles and trials; safe from Heartaches, pain and care, we shall all that glory share, and I'm gonna sit down beside my Jesus, Lord, I'm gonna sit down and rest a little while.  We'll soon be done, we'll soon be done with troubles and trials, troubles and trials.  In that home yes, in that home on the other side, on the other side, and I'm gonna shake glad hands with the elders, tell my kindred good morning.  Then I'm gonna sit down beside my Jesus, and rest a little while.”

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

Memory verse.

“Jesus wept” John 11:35

This was the Bible passage that many of us hoped to draw for our memory verse in 1964 when Pastor Heidemann was assigning us confirmation verses.  It is hard to imagine that the Son of God ever wept but while reading the news headlines these days with glasses steamed over from wearing a damn mask, it seems that this sinful world has many reasons to bring tears to the eyes of Jesus.

Tears came to His eyes when He came to the tomb of Lazarus.  Theologians assert that the tears of Jesus were tears of anger as He saw what the sin of this world had done to Lazarus.  The tears of Jesus could have been tears of sadness at the thought of bringing Lazarus back to life as he had to come back to this sinful world.

The tears of Jesus were tears of compassion.  One can imagine that Jesus might be smiling upon you for having compassion on these boys wearing masks who attend the Lutheran school in Cap Haitian on the start of the school year.  There may be a tear of joy as these two receive their daily meal, from you, in this sinful world in the midst of a pandemic.   Thank you for showing compassion to the children being blessed by Trinity/HOPE and consider the compassion that God had for you by sending His Son to die for you on the cross.  The words from a Statler Brothers song seem like a wonderful way to close this devotion, hope that they will touch you and possibly bring a tear to your eye.

“There were tears in the eyes of Jesus; there were nails in the palms of His hands.  There were thorns in his brow and only God could know how much pain he could withstand.  There was blood all around the hillside as a mother mourned her loss, and we all stood to gain from the heavenly pain on the other side of the cross.  On the other side of the cross, the side that no one could see; hung the Spirit of things yet to come, hung the future of you and me.  And what He gave that day on the cross not one bit of love has been lost.  Hold my hand, stand up and say if you were there on that day; on the other side of the cross.”

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

In a desert.

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.  I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”  Psalm 63:1-3

David wrote these words when he was in the Desert of Judah.  Have you ever been standing outside and alone in the middle of a desert?  Just the thought of that degree of heat causes my mouth to get dry; my lips are almost starting to feel cracked and waxy.  The most important thing to David’s mind on this day was knowing that God loved him.
A person who understands that God’s unfailing love abounds in their life is on their way to Eternal glory.  The children eating lunch in this photo attend school at Bois Marchand in the Aribonite District.  Their school is located on the Northwest edge of Gonaives and there are cacti within a stone throw of this school.  It was very hot on this day but these children understand God’s unfailing love and they, like you and I are on our way to eternal life.

There is a peace that comes from knowing that God has our best interest at heart.  How do they and you and I know that God truly loves us?  Take a look at the cross.  He knew us before we were born, before the foundations of the universe were laid, He set a plan in place that would offer forgiveness for sins we had not yet committed.  He placed you where you are to help feed these children He placed at the Bois Marchand School.
Sometimes we look at our hardships living in North America, and they may seem HUGE but I ask that you consider your blessings and take another look at these children eating their only meal of the day…in a desert.  Hardships here and there; with all the things He has done for you, could you not take a few hardships for him?  Trust Him.  Trust His love.  Feed His sheep.

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

Stop the madness!

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes."  Ephesians 6:10-11

I’m having to wear a mask to the grocery store and look at arrows on the floor to be sure I’m going with the flow.  The BiG Ten cancelled all Fall sports.  The stock market dropped a boat load of points recently.  It seems like all our law makers do is cast blame on each other and don’t want to accomplish anything helpful to us who elected them; but pile on more debt for my grandkids.  Do you suppose that these small children from Cap Haitian with and without masks on their faces could walk into our Capitol and stand up and yell at the top of their voices “STOP THIS MADNESS”?  What would they accomplish?

Sadly, there are people in our world that will read the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians and imagine that God is telling ‘them’ to be strong and trust in their own wisdom and strength; after all, they are in control of their destiny.  Our Triune God has not instructed this world to be strong in ourselves or in our resources.
These young children from Cap Haitian began attending their school on Monday.  IF they were in our Capitol building they would probably get some attention, but not because of their leadership qualities, but rather because of the oddity that they would bring.  Our Lord is telling us in Ephesians to be strong in the Lord.  Do not put your trust in worldly wisdom, wealth or strength, turn back to Him who created you and blessed you with the possessions that you have and need.

These young children are in school on the very first day and that is amazing as usually the parents don’t send their kids until the end of the week as they have been told by vodou rumor mills that school is closed.  It is truly very amazing with the pandemic this year; they surely must have had doubts.  Some have masks and some don’t and one little girl lowered hers.  Their social distancing by Haitian standards is quite impressive as the children quite often appear to be sitting on each other.  They are here in this Cap Haitian Lutheran School to restart their education, grow closer to Jesus and to be fed.  In this photo are 12 children and one teacher.  Their lunch cost a donor $3.25 and their witness can bring Eternal Life to a lost soul.  

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