What I saw and what I wanted to see were two different things. As I stood with a wooden spoon in my right hand and a big dented metal pot in my left, I scraped the last little bits of cooked slimy kale and onions.
It had been just two hours earlier Evelyn was trying to teach me how to cut gigantic bunches of fresh kale into one inch pieces to cook. I struggled as I sat on a stump, bent over, and praying I wouldn't cut my finger off! The Kenyan ladies can cut kale at lightning speed and even though I had my tetanus shot, I was taking my time and getting laughed at in the process. But, together we filled up a large pot of kale, tomatoes, and onions and cooked it down to serve over one hundred of our children at school.
The kids lined up respectfully and quietly, with big smiles across their faces. Giving thanks to the Lord for the food, each child took a plate loaded with the kale and also ugali (a corn meal staple). Right there on the grass, they all sat down and picked up the food with their little fingers and munched away.
I felt happy. In fact, I felt a bit proud thinking how great it was that we were providing food for these kids and they were doing so well! My attitude leaned towards egotistical. My thoughts were somewhat high and mighty, taking this blessing of food and thinking that I was a big part of making it happen.
I saw happy kids with full bellies and that is what I wanted to see. Reality did a check on me......
As I was scraping the last little pieces of kale from the bottom of the pot, kids came pushing around me; a small riot of children trying to get those last slimy pieces! So many fingers and hands grabbing, stretching, and trying to find a meager piece to eat where there was nothing left!
These precious kids, who I thought had plenty to eat, were still unbelievably hungry. What went wrong? Why this urgency for food?
Pastor Henry revealed to me that since there were not many funds coming in for the Feeding Program, they were only able to hand out lunch twice a week.
"And what do these kids do on the other days?" I questioned.
Pastor Henry soberly said, "They do not get to eat."
This happened in 2010 and, by the grace of God and the loving support of many of you, we now are able to feed 218 kids two nourishing hot meals five days a week!
In the book of Matthew the 25th chapter, Jesus talks to his 12 closest friends and says "For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink...".
His friends asked, "When did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?"
Jesus answered, "Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was Me--you did it to Me."
Thank you for your partnership with us to reach out to all the hungry kids. What you are doing to make sure our kids are in school, getting food, and a uniform to wear is exactly what Jesus was talking about. In each beautiful, precious face we see an image of Jesus. We want to bring glory to Him, and we will continue by His grace.
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