Our morning of preparing food
We
fasted yesterday and by 7:15am my stomach was already making
itself
known with rumbles of hunger. I had eaten a great dinner of
salad,
roasted veggies and pasta the night before, but my body was
ready for
more. It was a sobering moment as I thought about the kids we
work
with at the carepoints each day.
fasted yesterday and by 7:15am my stomach was already making
itself
known with rumbles of hunger. I had eaten a great dinner of
salad,
roasted veggies and pasta the night before, but my body was
ready for
more. It was a sobering moment as I thought about the kids we
work
with at the carepoints each day.
We
feed them a bowl of pop (corn mush) and beans every afternoon
and
this is often the only food that will touch their lips. One
small
meal a day. And yet, they show up with the brightest of smiles
and
an abundance of gratitude for our help.
feed them a bowl of pop (corn mush) and beans every afternoon
and
this is often the only food that will touch their lips. One
small
meal a day. And yet, they show up with the brightest of smiles
and
an abundance of gratitude for our help.
This
past week we were working at a carepoint far out into
the
African bush. We were surrounding
by
mud huts and the dirt road to get there was long and bumpy.
Our morning was spent tending the fire, laughing with the
grandmas,
and cooking the day’s meal. It took hours and hours for the
beans to
soften and the corn mush to turn into a play-do type
substance, but
by 1:30pm we were ready to serve the hundreds who would come
that
day.
past week we were working at a carepoint far out into
the
African bush. We were surrounding
by
mud huts and the dirt road to get there was long and bumpy.
Our morning was spent tending the fire, laughing with the
grandmas,
and cooking the day’s meal. It took hours and hours for the
beans to
soften and the corn mush to turn into a play-do type
substance, but
by 1:30pm we were ready to serve the hundreds who would come
that
day.
The first two children of the day
Within
minutes our first toddlers started making their way up the
countryside. A small boy, no older than four and an even smaller
girl came waddling up the grass with their small plastic bowls
safe
in their grocery bags. After hugging their small bodies and
getting
them to laugh with us, we filled their bowls and sent them back
on
their way. As we watched them walk out of sight, we saw a drunk
uncle try to interrupt their journey home. With practiced ease,
they
turned away and took the long way.
minutes our first toddlers started making their way up the
countryside. A small boy, no older than four and an even smaller
girl came waddling up the grass with their small plastic bowls
safe
in their grocery bags. After hugging their small bodies and
getting
them to laugh with us, we filled their bowls and sent them back
on
their way. As we watched them walk out of sight, we saw a drunk
uncle try to interrupt their journey home. With practiced ease,
they
turned away and took the long way.
Two loving brothers!
Our
second group of brothers sat next to the fire as they slowly
enjoyed
their meal. They laughed with us, whispered in each others’ ears
and
took half of their food back with them-most likely to feed other
family members. It astonishes me that these hungry, little boys
are
able to stop eating before they’re full in-order to save their
food
for another.
second group of brothers sat next to the fire as they slowly
enjoyed
their meal. They laughed with us, whispered in each others’ ears
and
took half of their food back with them-most likely to feed other
family members. It astonishes me that these hungry, little boys
are
able to stop eating before they’re full in-order to save their
food
for another.
And
that is how our day progressed. When school let out our numbers
increased by the second and by the end of the day we had literally
fed hundreds of children. And then, even with our pots empty,
they
continued to trickle in. My heart froze with anguish when we had
to
start turning them away. We had nothing left! We needed God to
start multiplying the food or these children would spend yet
another
day hungry. And that’s when I noticed it. The ones who still had
food on their plates began sharing what remained with our
newcomers. I’m not talking about sharing toys here-they were
sharing the only
food they had with anyone who showed up.
that is how our day progressed. When school let out our numbers
increased by the second and by the end of the day we had literally
fed hundreds of children. And then, even with our pots empty,
they
continued to trickle in. My heart froze with anguish when we had
to
start turning them away. We had nothing left! We needed God to
start multiplying the food or these children would spend yet
another
day hungry. And that’s when I noticed it. The ones who still had
food on their plates began sharing what remained with our
newcomers. I’m not talking about sharing toys here-they were
sharing the only
food they had with anyone who showed up.
And the feeding continues
I
will never forget the sights of our days. The hunger in the kids
eyes. The bows of thanksgiving when each plate is passed out.
The
toddlers walking alone. The sharing of what little food they
have. I’m still not sure what to do with the emotions that
constantly
overtake me, but I’m sure grateful to be a part of this work.
will never forget the sights of our days. The hunger in the kids
eyes. The bows of thanksgiving when each plate is passed out.
The
toddlers walking alone. The sharing of what little food they
have. I’m still not sure what to do with the emotions that
constantly
overtake me, but I’m sure grateful to be a part of this work.
no spoons needed!
the food’s almost gone…
but we can share.
