Seeds Planted in Good Soil

It's amazing the difference a month can make.  About two months ago we received this picture of two of our boys standing next to papayas growing on the trees in the field at Makencia's orphanage.  It's hard to believe that these are papaya trees that we planted in February isn't it?  I have to admit, when we started planning our gardens in Haiti I was skeptical about the soil.  You see, I grew up on a farm, I know how important good soil is.  The ground in Haiti is rough, unforgiving; it feels rocky and dry to the touch.  I wondered how little seeds would be able to push their way up through that harsh soil.  I had my doubts, but God clearly told us to plant fruit trees and gardens, so we planted fruit trees and gardens.  I am so glad we were obedient.  

Either these seeds are magical, or God is blessing them, I think both.  In either case, appearances are deceiving, I was wrong, these seeds were planted in very, very good soil.  

In Luke 8 God's word tells us that it is very important where seeds are planted.   

Luke 8:14-15 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

You can take a perfectly good seed and plant it in worthless soil and the environment it is planted in will choke the life out of that seed.  But, if you take that same seed and plant it in good soil, it can't help but persevere, prosper, and produce an abundant crop.

This picture was taken just about a month after the first picture.  As you can see, the growth in 30 days is unbelievable.  These papaya trees, much like the kids at Makencia's orphanage are prospering.

The soil in Haiti can be deceiving.  While at first glance it looks rocky and dry, but when you start digging in it with your hands you realize that it is a dark rich soil, and those rocks are filled with vitamins and nutrients, and those nutrients provide exactly the right environment for fruits and vegetables to grow.  And grow is exactly what these gardens are doing.  In my wildest dreams I could not have imagined how prosperous these gardens would be.  

Planted in the right environment children will grow and prosper too.  At first glance you might assume that because the environment looks harsh or lacking that children might not prosper at an orphanage in Haiti.  These children absolutely started life at a disadvantage; after all, they are orphaned, many of them are disabled in one way or another ,and they don't have some the same advantages financially that we have in America.  But, again, looks can be deceiving.

The children at Makencia's orphanage are growing and prospering thanks to donations from friends like you.  We are so unbelievably blessed to be able to partner with Makencia and her family.  Together we have created an environment where these children are being cared for physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Makencia's family has lovingly given their home, their hearts, their lives to care for these 30 precious children, and Fish Company has come along side her to make their world a better place, by helping with funding, and installing things like wells, water filtration systems and gardens.  Our next goal is to partner with a church from Texas to complete the two story building that will serve as the home for these sweet children.  

These children have been planted in the right environment.  They are loved, cared for and prospering and we are blessed to be a part of that.  Please consider giving to Fish Company today and helping the children at Makencia's, as well as all the children at our 14 orphanages around the world.   At Fish Company when we do our part in making the world a better place we call that "giving our fish."  Please pray about how you can "give your fish too."  

Also in Update