“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
I’m 74 and these days, my Sunday mornings begin at or before 5 AM, taking a small handful of pills a doctor thinks will provide me with a longer life, turn on my PC and make a cup of coffee while I am being ‘connected’ and then come back and listen to the Lutheran Hour and then read the E-Mail and check the ‘news’ and listen to a Southern Gospel internet station for thirty minutes. Yesterday, as I was searching for a photo to send to you, Alexa played the song “I brought you to Jesus” by the Isaacs and the Holy Spirit once again nudged me.
The school in the attached photo was taken on one of Keith Logan’s mission trips back in one of his days, and this school is located at Acquier in the Les Cayes District. I was there in 2002 and this photo was taken in 2010 and the red dirt and school building appear to have not changed in 8 years; and it is probably the same today. At the time of my visit I was told by Pastor Isidor that I was the first blan (Caucasian) Lutheran to have visited this school.
Getting back to the lyrics of the song, the chorus goes something like this; “I brought you to Jesus but you brought a blessing to me. I brought you to Jesus and you showed me how a willing heart should be. You taught me how a little child has the kind of faith that everybody needs, I brought you to Jesus but you brought a blessing to me.”
It always seems that when a mission team from North America goes to Haiti the members feel that they are ‘bringing Jesus’ to the school children or at least that is what I often thought when I visited schools such as this. The most recent Trinity HOPE teams that have gone to Haiti before the gang chaos had started, visiting children were more about ‘sharing’ their love of Jesus Christ with these young lights, together celebrating our relationship with our Savior. The teams brought tools, such as multi-colored bracelets to assist these young missionaries in their outreach to eyes that have not seen and ears that have not heard the message. The children at Acquier are letting their Gospel lights shine brightly before others in their neighborhoods and you have been an important part of their journey with your continued support of their school feeding program.
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