so little food

There is drought & famine in East Africa. You have probably seen it on the news, pictures from Somalia. All of the eastern part of the continent is suffering from missed crops, no employment, and sky rocketing food prices. That includes Tanzania.

Our Community Christian Churches of Tanzania saw the need to help the hungry right here. We prayerfully asked a partner organization, IDES, for help purchasing food. And with that assistance, the CCCT churches got to work.

A community leader, CMF staff, and good friend, coordinated the manpower and communication and getting the food to a central location. You see Ron & Steve (our nieces husband) helping Joseph carry a heavy 100 kilo's of unga.

This day workers from the churches & CMF gathered along with people from over 800 needy families as we prepared our hearts & hands to help. Local leaders spoke of God's love and provision when we look to Him for all of our needs. Prayers were offered as thanksgiving for what was about to take place. And we were not without singing & dancing as a celebration for the event.

The work began with measuring beans . . .

and handing out oil. . .

and finally dumping the corn into bags.

The areas were set up by church, having a list of those in need living in that village. Carefully the food was handed out and recorded as one by one a family member came to receive enough food for the next few weeks.

It was a day of new sights & sounds, learning & serving, joy & weariness for all of us, including our guests my niece & her husband. Laughing with the children, smiling to the mostly mama's who would be traveling home with the food, and listening to lively conversations in Maasai language that we do not understand filled the day.

Mama's walking home with 20 kilo's of corn balanced on their head, as we pile into the cruiser to ride home.

Life & work here is full of contrasts but for now we help who we can.

Another grateful day in Africa, seeing new churches caring for their villages.