“When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:5-8
Philip’s answer to Jesus, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” is the answer that we probably would use today as well. Where does Trinity/Hope get enough money to feed over 22,500 Haitian school children every day? I have heard stories of many donors giving up some of their excesses and others going without some things once or twice a week so they can help feed children. Did you know that the price of just one chicken McNugget Happy Meal will provide a meal for these children who attend the Lutheran School in Cap Haitian. Just think of that; the funds for one ‘happy’ meal in the U.S. will provide many ‘happy’ meals for these hungry children in Haiti. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘Rejoice, rejoice, Believers’ that were written by Laurentius Laurenti in 1700.
“Rejoice, rejoice, believers, and let your lights appear! The evening is advancing, and darker night is near. The Bridegroom is arising, and soon He draweth nigh; up, pray and watch and wrestle! At midnight comes the cry. The watchers on the mountain proclaim the Bridegroom near; go meet Him as He cometh, with hallelujahs clear. The marriage feast is waiting, the gates wide open stand; up, up, ye heirs of glory; the Bridegroom is at hand! Ye saints, who here in patience your cross and sufferings bore, shall live and reign forever, when sorrow is no more. Around the throne of glory the Lamb ye shall behold; in triumph cast before Him your diadems of gold! Our Hope and Expectation, O Jesus, now appear; arise, Desire of nations, o'er this benighted sphere. With hearts and hands uplifted, we plead, O Lord, to see the day of earth's redemption, that brings us unto Thee!”
Dear 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