Soup Kitchen Turns Grain
Into Bread
What would
you do if someone said a container holding 30,400 pounds of wheat was being
shipped your way? As the outreach center leader in Romania, Liviu Neagoe
welcomed the challenge of this unique gift coming from Operation Blessing's
Virginia headquarters. He was already used to receiving a container of humanitarian
assistance once a month. Find out how the wheat is helping Romania's poor
today!
Every Monday through Friday five Operation Blessing sponsored soup kitchens
feed Timisoara's hungry elderly men and women. Guests in desperate situations
include the grandmother trying to care for her two-year-old granddaughter
on only $24 a month. Let's not forget the man in his late fifties who
lost his job and now is homeless. His wife and children found space in
a shelter. He works temporary jobs by day and looks for a different place
to sleep each night. These three precious people are a few of those who
depend on the nutritious hot meal every day. It helps them want to go
on living.
In December, 100 soup kitchen guests began to enjoy freshly made bread,
rolls, cakes and donuts. It was because the shipment of wheat had arrived!
The first few bags of flour had been ground. In addition to baking bread
for the soup kitchen every day, meals are delivered to twenty people unable
to leave their homes. Fresh bread is also given to several orphanages
and very poor families.
When visiting Romania's outreach center in December, OBI representatives
saw the first batch of grain being ground into flour. Then they were able
to taste the results. More importantly, they saw the gratefulness of the
people. "Many were in tears when telling us how thankful they were
for the soup kitchen," commented Jodie Nelson, director of outreach.
Jodie was thinking of a woman who had shared that her children had rejected
her. This lady was alone until coming to one of the soup kitchen locations.
She now has friends and a support system. It's common for guests to check
on each other when someone doesn't make it for the meal.
"This project's heart includes demonstrating God's abounding love
to a generation who lived most of their lives under an oppressive communist
regime," shares Jodie. "It also teaches Romania's young generation
the value of true charity. Many are understanding the new concept of volunteering
and doing it for the first time!" Volunteers include a young girl
who was so moved by working in the soup kitchen last summer during Bless-A-Child's
job program, she now works there regularly with her mother. They are two
of the approximately ten volunteers, one cook and one cook's assistant
who are the backbone of the project!
Volunteerism can be contagious! In a continent west of Romania, Sandra
and her six children are volunteers at Acts of Kindness, Inc. This Alabama
ministry is a part of Operation Blessing's food distribution network.
It also played a special part in the lives of Sandra's family. Christmas
was coming and they had recently moved to Andalusia from Colorado. Medical
bills had pilled up as Sandra's ten-year-old daughter was going through
cancer treatments. Acts of Kindness, Inc. gave them food, hygiene items,
cleaning supplies, blankets and some clothing. Deeply grateful, Sandra
wanted to give something back to them. She and her children began volunteering
during a December food distribution. They helped over 2,000 people representing
544 families receive food.
Take a moment to think how many grateful people there would be if everyone
did their part in helping the hungry around them. You can do it today!
Your gift of $25 can provide 175 meals for mal-nourished children around
the world.
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