“I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:10-13
If my experience in Haiti and pictures and Holy Scriptures do nothing more than causing you to better understand how blessed your life is living where you are, and how wonderfully our Triune God continues to provide for you and all His children then all is well; Glory be to Him who has brought this about.
The attached photo is of Pastor Daniel Paul, his wife Clynie and their daughters in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. Clynie gave me a “How to speak Creole” book when I first moved to Haiti and it helped me to learn their language and I still have the book next to my laptop and open its pages from time to time to brush up and always before I return to go back as I need to be refreshed with words and phrases that have slipped away.
Pastor Daniel received his theological training at the Lutheran Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN and returned to Haiti in 2001 with Clynie to begin their ministry first in Port-au-Prince and later in Ouanaminthe. They have been blessed through a relationship with congregations in Washington State that have been mindful in assisting in ways that promote self-dependency. There is a Trinity HOPE school feeding program at their school and children in their orphanage are some of the children that attend this school; their ministry has been richly blessed. The song “Thank you Lord for Your blessings on me” by the Easter Brothers was on my computer gospel station recently and its words gave reason for the smiles from the Paul family.
“As the world looks upon me, as I struggle along. They say I have nothing, but they are so wrong. In my heart I'm rejoicing, how I wish they could see. Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me. There’s a roof up above me, I’ve a good place to sleep. There’s food on my table and shoes on my feet. You gave me your love Lord and a fine family. Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me. Now I know I'm not wealthy, and these clothes, they're not new. I don't have much money, but Lord I have you. And to me that's all that matters, though the world cannot see. Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me.”
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