The simple act of buttering bread. It has become one of my favourite times of ministry here in Malaysia. You’re probably thinking that it is a strange thing to really enjoy. In “normal” everyday life it might be. But on the Race, the simplest acts can have the biggest impact and mean the most sometimes. At the homeless drop-in center that we work with a couple of times each week, buttering bread is a very important task.
At the drop-in center they serve bread and coffee and/or tea plus breakfast, as well as lunch on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They have showers and a resting area for the people to use.
After having some prayer time and a devotional, one of the first jobs is to pick up bread from the bakery that provides their leftover breads and rolls to the center. Once we have the bread we steam it if it has become dry and we cut what needs cutting. The last job is to butter it and arrange it on the trays.
During this time we also have to pour coffee and/or tea into mugs. Then as the people begin to arrive they may take a mug and a couple of slices of bread. They can eat this bread as they wait for the breakfast to be ready, eat it with their breakfast or have it as their meal. I happily give them each a smile and a “good morning” as they take the bread. I love greeting them as they come into the center and make sure they get a piece or two of bread to start their morning. Most give me a smile back and the ones who speak English usual say hello or good morning in return. They are such beautiful people. It is a blessing to see how happy most of them are to receive something hot to drink and good bread to eat.
I can’t even think to number the slices of bread we prepare each time we are at the center. Some days it must be over a hundred! If we have bread left over by 11am we begin to prepare bags that the people can take for later. Some take it and eat more, others take it with them, others still put it in their bags for safe keeping as they nap or shower. They are so happy to get that extra bread to take.
The drop-in center is so blessed that the bakery provides all their leftover bread for free to them three days a week. I don’t know if the bakery owner is a Christian but they are certainly furthering Gods Kingdom, whether they realize it or not. I feel blessed that God has allowed me to be His hands at Kawan Center. Being able to serve the needy a lovely hot meal to fill their empty bellies. Jesus never said we had to build houses or scale mountains but He did say we have to serve others. And that is exactly what I will continue to do. 
