Confession: I love Disney movies, but not the ones you’d expect. Growing up, princess stories did very little for me! I cried every time I saw the witch in Snow White, so that movie was out. Ursala, the Cecaelia in The Little Mermaid, made me hide my face in a pillow, so I stayed away from that one, too. Thankfully, Walt made alternatives. Though they may have promoted unrealistic expectations for the multiple pets I’ve owned, I much preferred the Disney cartoon films centered around talking animals. Lady and the Tramp, Robin Hood, The Aristocats… you get the idea.
One of my absolute favorites is 101 Dalmatians, and if you’ve seen the film, you’re familiar with Rolly, one of the original 15 puppies born to Pongo and Perdita. My mom has always (affectionately, I hope) identified me with Rolly, and more specifically with his somewhat famous line, “I’m hungry, Mama.” 
What can I say? I grew up in a VERY Southern culture where food = comfort. I can count on less than one hand things I absolutely DO NOT WANT TO EAT (1. Liver and Onions 2. Eggs 3. Anything from Burger King and 4. Anything from Bob Evans.) Otherwise, I’m not picky. I love to cook. I love to watch/help other people cook. I love to try new dishes and experiment with different flavors/textures/spices, etc. It’s perhaps not the “healthiest” habit for my waistline, but that’s a topic for another blog.
As I write, I Am actually hungry. It’s nearing lunchtime, and I’m literally weighing my options for a Friday noon meal in Elkton, KY. By my spoiled, American standards my options are limited. There’s always Subway and then there’s the Mexican place. We’ve got a Dairy Queen (it’s also my hometown’s “official” tourist attraction) and three or four diner/café style eateries. And still, there’s the Dairy Mart, where you can get what I think is the best hamburger on the face of the Earth with a side of ANYTHING fried and a killer milkshake! Trust me, writing this is not helping my hunger pains. In any case, sitting here in an air-conditioned office, whining about food options and knowing full well that I wouldn’t be this hungry had I not CHOSEN to skip breakfast this morning, I suddenly felt twinges of guilt and reality.
I don’t know what Hunger is. There has NEVER been a day in my life that I didn’t have the availability of three meals, plus any number of snacks or supplements to sustain me. If I didn’t have the money, there has always been someone who would cover me. If I was too tired to cook or “couldn’t find anything in the house to eat,” I’ve never been more than a ten-minute drive from a restaurant or grocery store. I’ve never been concerned about the quality of what I consume, because I trust that American Agriculture provides the safest, most reliable food source in the world. I’ve always been assured that I would never go hungry.
Reality is that this is an assurance that I won’t always have throughout The World Race. 11 months of limited dining choices. 11 months of questionable food sources. 11 months of uncertainty.
Harsher reality is that 11 months is nothing! For citizens in many of the impoverished nations in which my squad and I will serve, it’s become the normal and expected lifetime practice to go days-at-a-time without a meal. Disease affects nearly EVERY family because water sources are contaminated, but either there is no other option or any alternatives are too expensive to consider. Education, which might stimulate better practices or development, is an unheard-of luxury. The situation seems hopeless.
And for weeks, I’ve been worried about where to fit my travel spice container so I’ll be able to flavor bland meals… Priorities. 
It seems such an injustice to know that throughout the world people are starving, and I live in a nation that is fighting obesity. Weekend restaurant lines for $30 meals are out door, and that same $30 one-time expenditure could feed a family on the other side of the world for weeks.
I’m almost mad because of it! “Why, God? Why do I have so much more than I need and others have little or nothing? Please don’t take your favor away from me, but why can’t they have it, too?”
The Bible is full of accounts where people were hungry, starving and even dying and God supplied their needs. The Israelites got Manna; the widow’s oil and flour never ran out; and 5,000+ were fed by five loaves of bread and two fish! God’s clearly good in kitchen! However, when you sit down in a fine restaurant, you don’t analyze the chef’s menu; you just trust that when you ask for the daily special, it will be spectacular. And, like all the best chefs, I believe God expects His recognition.
The Subway sandwich I finally had for lunch wouldn’t go far in feeding all the people I will meet throughout the next 11 months. My culinary skills wouldn’t do them much good, either. I don’t have enough money to hand out to even make a dent in their needs. But I know the God who can meet every need. And I’m definitely taking Him with me!
I believe that through the power of Faith, Prayer and Praise, God will begin to feed the nations. His blessings are far more abundant than you or I can fathom. He has a never-ending stockpile in the Heavenly pantry and all we have to do is ask for the supplies and get to work following His recipes.
I’m ready to start cooking!!!
Be Blessed,
Ashlee
