“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:12
This photo really grabbed my attention; two cooks, food preparations done and ready to serve to the children. You can tell there are a lot of kids by the size of the rice pot. These two women brought buckets of water to this little kitchen from a community well earlier in the morning. They brought water for cooking and cleaning their cooking pots and utensils.
This photo was probably taken around 11 AM, just before lunch was served. The forecast high for today in Port-au-Prince, Haiti is 88 with a low of 68. These two women walk many blocks or farther to their kitchen, with the buckets of water, every school day. They are very thankful for their jobs. They know Jesus and give thanks that He is their Savior. Everyone, and I do mean everyone at this school loves these two women dearly, because they provide the food for the kids, teachers, principal and themselves and their small children not yet in school.
Today is Saturday and they are probably washing clothes at their homes. Once again, they have made the journey to the community well and brought home water to wash their clothes and water for their rinse basin. This is 2022, what are your plans for this weekend?
In chapter 5 of the book ‘Cure for the Common Life; finding your sweet spot.’ by Max Lucado, he shared a quote by Linda Kulman; “We are a nation that believes in having it all. In 1950, American families owned one car and saved for a second. In 2000, nearly 1 in 5 families owned three cars or more. Americans shell out more for garbage bags than 90 of the world’s 210 countries spend for everything. Indeed, America has double the number of shopping malls as it does High Schools.”
These two cooks, they are very thankful for their jobs. They know Jesus and give thanks that He is their Savior. They probably heard about the 4.5 magnitude earthquake that shook 90 miles west of their home this week and also remembered the terrible earthquake that killed thousands in their town 12 years ago. They know Jesus, and give thanks that He is their Savior.
I hope that you, like the Apostle Paul and these two cooks, are content in your surroundings and with what you have; you have a Savior.
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