Feeding Mouths

Serving others never stops. It doesn’t stop because I’m in a place for three days or when I’m too busy.  It continues on day to day and moment to moment and need to need.

On my way to the museum, I came off the train to the church square where, again, the homeless were sitting there near the stairs. There was a man that was laying down and not moving. His friends were next to him.

How do people just leave these people completely unacknowledged? There are street vendors selling juice, tamales, fruit, and no one acknowledges this man behind them?

It starts to rain and he is still just laying there. I buy him a hamburger, a soda, and I tap him-it takes more than one tap.  His friends say he is sleeping.

“Are you sure he’s just sleeping?”

Finally he bobs his head up, his face is cut up and filfthy. I wish I had a hot wash rag to wash it off.  He was missing a shoe and he was not drinking alcohol. He ate the food and slopped it all over his face. When I was watching him eat, I thought he would like some Colombian pastries. I went back in the same place and got some random pastries. When I came back again, all of them were surprised. 

While I always have a need to help, it’s significantly increased in the "giving food" department. When I’m abroad helping others, I feel the most alive. When I am helping these people, it’s me, but it’s not. It is his spirit that comes through with focusing on serving others at times of need.  

Always remember there is someone less fortunate. Do not allow your own personal agenda get in the way of a human life. PRIS

Mr. Shoe Shine

In front of the Gran white cathedral, I sat and watched this man shining shoes.  He persistently worked shining away and he appeared so determined yet so tired and hungry. He did not have teeth, but he smiled through his eyes. This man truly touched me and I can’t say that about just anyone in this park. He was special and with this kind character I wanted to fill his stomach. When I touched his arm and patted his back, he felt like bones. It was clear he just worked, walked back to the village, and ate ver little. 

 When I came once, he was happy. When I came twice, he was surprised. When I came the next day, we sat down and talked. He shared with me that he lives in a village far away in one of the mountains. I told him where I was from and he looked so happy. It was difficult to understand him, but sometimes the spirit speaks louder than words.

I just felt addicted to his spirit and this interaction specifically was confirmation-I’m in the right place doing the right thing.

Unfortunately, this common job had competition as a few other people were also shining shoes. 

 

This man had these bright, beautiful eyes just staring at me. He was part of God’s kingdom and he would be going to heaven one day.  

 

When it comes to food and sharing, I am definitely not an Angel. As mentioned before I have grown with exposure to cultures, suffering, and with God’s spirit driving me to fill stomachs. In Nicaragua, it’s where my changes were eye opening.  I did not want or need to receive some kind of credit for doing this, but I just had to do it. I had to fill these stomachs to the best of my ability.

This did not just include buying food and giving it away. It included giving away my own food. I would purchase things and rather than eat them I would just hand them off. It was completely strange for me and something only one spirit driving this home.

This happened throughout Nicaragua until I questioned eating myself. How much do I actually need to eat? The meals I don’t eat can’t I just give them away. It was selfless behavior that was happening and I was thankful for the growth. That selfish component with my food and eating everything for me-it diminished. 

It was an eye opening experience into a whole new way to give. Rather than just thinking about what I was eating, I was much more conscious of filling the stomach.

Hunger Deliveries

Of course, it’s not possible for me to just go into a city and not serve. It may be service of therapy, motivation/inspiration to purpose, assistance to a project, a new opportunity, education, giving a self-esteem boost, watching over children etc. There is always, always, always something for me to do in the path of the Lord. It usually involves the interaction with people (on the street, in the church, selling food, at the café, janitors, security guards-those who are human and not engaged in materialistic lives). It’s just constant, constant interaction and serving others through his spirit.


Another element that had been added this trip was the giving and sharing of food.  This practicing of fasting in Morocco lead me to understand how it feels to have an empty stomach. Discipline was built when it comes to food and participating in Ramadan taking days to fast.  When it comes to the food and this city, this turned out to be my main project in front of the church where the homeless were sitting. It was clear I needed to spend some time here. There were many people to initiate conversation with and there were many mouths to feed. This was my project to feed these mouths.

The vendors were selling some nice tacos and tamales with a salad for $1. The drinks, which consist of bags filled with a juice or an artificial drink of color were just .25 cents. This is very common for everyone is Central America to drink from small plastic bags filled with a juice and some ice.

When it came time of 9am and 12noon, these were the times of delivery. The church bells gave me a reminder as my schedule was a bit disorganized in this city.

When it came to my giving, I tried to give to those who demonstrated real need. Children and their mothers, older men in their 50s and 60s (main population present), and the occasional youth. They discussed their hardships, but I tried to focus on their faith and how far that could take them.  One’s faith can move mountains and it can provide a sense of security when feeling lost and hopeless. It was nice to bring in their faith sitting in front of the church. They truly just loved the attention and the fact that they were talking to someone from America. It’s not common for them to have this interaction. It’s something interesting and new for them, which is great.

Many were thankful and a few took the food and disappeared. I tried to monitor who I gave to as there were some who had plenty of food in their bags or already had eaten. It was about addressing the need of those hungry not randomly giving off food to everyone, smiling, and leaving.  Sometimes I did not get the therapy time or the motivational talk I desired, but one piece was accomplished.

Some people looked at me as if I was doing such a great thing. I will continue to say for a lifetime that….

“I just do what I am called to do-nothing less and everything more." PRIS

 

 

Food shortage

When it comes to the MH community, food was hard to come by for many families. Many children would come to camp with empty stomachs. There was a sponsor for the camp who was going to provide money, but it never came through in time. 

Mrs.Ravel was so resourceful and amazing with getting snacks. She worked out a borrow back system for the  chips with the local market and we bought a juice concentrate to mix.  Some days we would look at each other like, " What are we going to do tomorrow?" 

One day we had no snacks and it was depressing seeing the kids facial expression when I said, "Sorry dear not today."

As far as my contribution, I worked on Monkey bay a bit each day. At first. There was watermelon and bananas offered. When I asked again, I got a different answer. Also, I had asked the founder and he needed to know a week in advance. With all the food we cook, I asked if there were any leftovers I could bring. I ended up getting a big lecture on where the food goes and the kitchen budget. 

Anything I requested was coming from good intention and MB knew this fact.  Whether it be apple sauce, fruit, or Plantain chips. I just wanted them to have something each day and I know MB had it, but it was a struggle trying to get it.
It was difficult trying to prove how high the needs actually were and how something so little could provide so much.  They had the belief that Mrs. Ravel was over there making requests, but she never once asked me to request or bring food.  She always made the best of what they already had and I loved her for that.  

It's a shame having that belief that the MH community is always "asking for money." The belief that "money" will just solve the problem is completely false.  While they do need food to meet their basic needs, they truly need education, religion,  acknowledgement to their being, and a cultural exchange.  

Money can only go so far, but contribution towards a human's existence means the world. PRIS