“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