“Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.” John 12:30-35
The attached photo was taken looking up a side street in Cap Haitian but could easily be from any number of cities in Haiti. How many people can you count in this photo? What number you count just assume that six of every ten people practice vodou. There are a few communities where that number is higher but for the most part there are quite a few people in this photo walking in darkness; they do not know that their pathway is leading to the depths of hell. There are over 67,000 children enrolled in Christian schools in Haiti today and they are being prepared to take the Light of this world into the darkness of their neighborhoods. Lutheran teachers and Pastors are preparing them in their own language and donors from Trinity HOPE are preparing them with food which has no language barrier. If you would like to be a donor and help with these schools, please go to www.trinityhope.org and click on the Donate button. May you have a blessed weekend. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘Drawn to the Cross, which Thou hast Blest’ that were written by Genevieve M. Irons in 1880.
“Drawn to the Cross, which Thou hast blest with healing gifts for souls distress, to find in Thee my life, my rest, Christ Crucified, I come. Thou knowest all my griefs and fears, Thy grace abused, my misspent years; yet now to Thee with contrite tears, Christ Crucified, I come. Wash me and take away each stain; let nothing of my sin remain. For cleansing, though it be through pain, Christ Crucified, I come. And then for work to do for Thee, which shall so sweet a service be that angels well might envy me, Christ Crucified, I come.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths 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.