“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23 KJV
If you lived in Haiti and your child attended a school and the students didn’t wear uniforms…that was odd. When I would ask ‘why no uniforms’ there were always two possible reasons I was given by Joey, either the neighborhood was really poor or there were a lot of vodou people there. There is a rare sight for me in this photo and that is the girl in the right side of this photo wearing a green striped shirt is wearing blue jeans; girls in Haiti schools always wear dresses or skirts; that is odd. Take a moment to reread Psalm 23 and consider how the Good Shepherd is providing for this child and also for you. She and her classmate are looking at the bracelet that the missionary gave them…before lunch. The word ‘lunch’ may not seem like much to you but to them it is such a blessing…cause these kids come from homes that don’t have much but hand-me-downs and thankfully a Good Shepherd who provides for them. For these kids in Ouanaminthe the word lunch is what the phrase ‘my cup runneth over’ means to them. Thank you for sharing of your time, talents and treasures with these children. I am closing with the words from the hymn ‘The King of Love My Shepherd Is’ that were written by Henry W. Bake in 1868.
“The King of Love my Shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am His and He is mine forever. Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul He leadeth, and where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth. Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love He sought me and on His shoulder gently laid and home, rejoicing, brought me. In death's dark vale I fear no ill, with Thee, dear Lord, beside me; Thy rod and staff my comfort still, Thy cross before to guide me. Thou spreadst a table in my sight, Thy unction grace bestoweth; and, oh! the transport of delight with which my cup o'erfloweth. And so through all the length of days Thy goodness faileth never. Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise within Thy house forever!’
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