“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.” Matthew 13:47
March 1, new numbers. The Trinity HOPE Board had a Zoom meeting a week ago and it opened with a devotion from Chad, updates from Keith Logan and Candi and closing prayer from Pastor Keith Enko. If you have been reading or hearing any news coming from Haiti these days it is hard to watch as more challenges are crushing that country. Gangs, inflation, cholera and vodou continue to torment families. I wasn’t really expecting much good news but our Triune God continues to bless His children in Haiti. Starting this month, the new number of children being fed is 62,400 in 277 schools. Beni soit L’Eternal!!!
More young missionaries are being prepared to share the Good News to those without HOPE in a country full of challenges. More souls saved for the Kingdom. Heaven is gaining many new faces. Do you ever imagine “what will it be like in Heaven?” Will it be more like Normal or Haiti? Will I even care when my foot takes that first step into Eternity? When that last grain of sand drops in my hourglass, I will probably not care and probably will not recall all the worldly questions that I had recorded on this side of Paradise.
The attached photo was taken on Sunday, October 3, 2010 in Bon Berger Lutheran Church in Caredeux, Haiti. There were close to 300 souls in the sanctuary on that hot Sunday morning and at about one hour and fifty minutes into the service the distribution of Holy Communion was taking place. This is a normal occurrence in Haiti; if a service would always last this long in North America the pews would probably be empty at the 90 minute mark.
Alexa shared a song recently that I hadn’t heard in a while; an old Gospel song titled ‘Never grow old.” The words brought me to think about what Heaven will be like for the souls in Haiti and in Normal who will come together in Haiti. Verses one and two.
“I have heard of a land on a faraway strand, tis a beautiful home of the soul; build by Jesus on high where we never shall die. Tis a land where we shall never grow old. In that beautiful home where we’ll never more roam, we shall be in the sweet by and by; happy praise to the King through eternity sings. Tis a land where we shall never die.”
Considering what Heaven might be like through these words, it sounds like it will be an improvement to everyone on this planet, no matter where we are now living or in whatever our present situation may be; rich, poor, healthy, sick, hungry or starving.
Verse three; “When our work here is done and the life-crown is won, and troubles and trials are o’er; all our sorrows will and our voices will blend with the loved ones who’ve gone on before.”
All of God’s children will be in Heaven, yellow, black, white, doesn’t matter; they will all be there. American, Canadian, Mexican, Sudanese, Haitian, Indian…doesn’t matter; they will all be there. What a shame if the lost didn’t hear the message of salvation. Jesus said in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." That is the call to the people in Caredeux and to you and to me…”seek and save the lost.” Thank you for supporting the children in Caredeux, Cap Haitian, Jacmel, Jeremie, Gonaives and all of the 277 schools throughout Haiti with Trinity HOPE feeding programs.
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