“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3
Simple things can accomplish so many good things, they can reap enormous benefits; they can lay the foundation for future generations. There are some who look at a plastic bowl of beans and rice resting on a board in front of a smiling Haitian child and don’t see the hand of God in action.
At times, our world would prefer to spend countless hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars in Haiti; purchasing land, building large churches, acquiring earth moving equipment and then repairing earth moving equipment and paying salaries in a foreign land. Often, too often the plans and directions of this world are exceedingly expensive and we should always ask if these resources are being used wisely in the growth of His Kingdom. The photo of two plain iron pots setting over chunks of charcoal inside a crude corrugated metal shelter in Cap Haitian in 2003 and are much like a ‘beacon of hope’ for the young missionaries who will take the Gospel message to the lost in Haiti.
The photo is simplicity at its finest, no electricity, no cupboard with costly spices, no exhaust fans or even a door. Really quite simple isn’t it? This is the making of a lighthouse ready to prepare young children to send the Gospel light to the lost. While driving home last week I heard a song called “Send the Light” and it reminded me of those two pots in Cap Haitian.
“There’s a call comes ringing o’er the restless wave, “Send the light! Send the light!” There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save, Send the light! Send the light! Send the light, the blessed Gospel light; let it shine from shore to shore! Send the light, the blessed Gospel light; let it shine forevermore! We have heard the Macedonian call today, “Send the light! Send the light!” And a golden off’ring at the cross we lay, Send the light! Send the light! Let us pray that grace may everywhere abound, “Send the light! Send the light!” And a Christlike spirit everywhere be found, Send the light! Send the light! Let us not grow weary in the work of love, “Send the light! Send the light!” Let us gather jewels for a crown above, Send the light! Send the light!”
To those of you who have helped to keep those two simple pots full of rice and beans in Cap Haitian and at 246 other locations throughout Haiti; thank you. Thank you for following His call, for trusting in His simple plan to send over 52,000 children out into Haiti and send the light, the Gospel light, to the lost souls in Haiti.
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