“Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” Psalm 107:4-6
Have you ever been wandering in the wastelands; hungry and thirsty? Back in the day, when deer hunting in the Pine Ridge of Nebraska, there were times that I was wandering endlessly for hours through the trees and deep ravines and canyons of Sheridan County but never, do I recall being hungry or thirsty.
On one visit to a Lutheran school in the Jeremie District we walked for several hours up a very long steep and did I mention long hill in intense heat and humidity and I did get really thirsty; but I had a filtered water bottle and drank to replenish what I had lost on the ‘Haitian stairmaster’.
There are many children attending school in Haiti who are hungry and thirsty when they arrive for class. Sometimes they saunter into class in the morning crying because their stomachs are empty and their comment is “Mwen gran goo” translated “I am very hungry”.
I can only imagine that the only time I cried because I was hungry was 73 years ago when I was a baby and announced through tears that I was hungry. In North American homes solving the problem of hunger is generally only a few feet away to the nearest cupboard or fridge and you will find food. Such is not the case in almost every home in Haiti.
The attached photo is of a girl at the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe in March of 2010, before their Trinity HOPE feeding program started; not a lot of energy, no bright smile to greet me. It is easy to walk into a school in Haiti and know if there is a feeding program, just look at the children, shake their hands, pat their heads, look into their eyes, listen to their voice…tired, weak, clammy, listless and faint. Hungry and thirsty; “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6.
Trinity HOPE Board Members learned last night that as of yesterday, the number of children in their lunch programs is around 51,000 due to the continued border dispute with the Dominican Republic and the disruption efforts from gang activity growing more prevalent throughout Haiti. The cost per meal has also risen to 40 cents due to these challenges. The children in Christian schools with a feeding program are still having their hunger pains being subsided and their bodies continue to grow physically and their minds grow more Spiritually with the Bread of Life. These children are the future of Haiti and will prayerfully right the wrongs that are being done in their cities and country. They are the bright Lights to share the message and if their Light is snuffed out, they will receive their Glory in Paradise. Thank you for bringing them this life sustaining food and please keep them, their parents, cooks, teachers, principals, feeding program directors, pastors and Trinity HOPE workers and donors in your daily prayers.
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, 8not 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