I was.. I am ~~ French Harbour Feeding Program

If you could wish for anything what would it be??  I would wish for enough food for everyone.

That no one would go to bed hungry. That there would be the pungent aroma of meat cooking and spices filling the air.   MMMM!   Well in my corner of the world that is beginning to happen and I am excited to tell you about a new ministry we discovered call "I was.. I am" 

One of the hardest things about living here in Roatan is daily encountering people who have nothing.

Nothing to eat.  No jobs.  No shoes on their feet.  It's a hard reality.

Miss Rotha has lived on this island all her life.  She told me that for years kids have been  asking her for food.  One of the dangers of living here, is after being bombarded daily for food and 50L, peoples hearts just get COLD!  Well I am happy to say that Miss Rotha has allowed the Lord to MOVE her towards HELPING!  But what can be done?  How is it possible to the feed the poor?  People can barely get by each day themselves, let alone helping someone us.

I would like you to read Miss Claire's story:

One HOT July day in 2010 when I stopped for gas with my daughter, a young boy approached the car. As he smiled and spoke I recognized him as a face I knew briefly. He was Pablo. He politely asked “Ma'am, could you give me some slippers?” My daughter, Maria, immediate
ly answered “no, but if you will meet us at Miss Nessie’s field at 3:00, we will have fun and also gifts for you.” He agreed though he said he would be in class, but he would come.

At 5 p.m. just at the close of camp, Pablo came running down the road! Maria’s heart leapt for joy and the team continued camp—Just for Pablo. He wanted to know right away if he had “Missed the gifts” and Maria assured him “no way.” She led him over to the side, gave him a Cross Training Sports Camp tee, some treats and a Bible. From that moment God began to prick my heart more. Each time we saw Pablo, he was “hungry.”

Elton, my husband of 39 years and I came to Roatan in October 2011. He got a glimpse of “the boys” up close and personal. It was time to ACT---Time to join the vision of Miss Rotha and feed the children on a regular basis. A call to her brought her over to meet us and discuss with us her heart to feed the hungry children of French Harbour and help with other personal and educational needs. Elton asked “What do you need to get the program up and running?” We discussed a place, refurbished kitchen and volunteers and the cost per child. With a gift of “seed money” given through CTSC our commitment was made.

In the months that followed the image of the children of French Harbour stayed in my heart. Each CTSC volunteer became engaged and touched by the lives of these children. Then, as God would have it He called a team out of North Carolina to join CTSC on a mission. Through that mission, Live Again Ministries (LAM) out of Locust Grove, North Carolina joined in the vision. As we began our support, we needed a theme, a name, a focus. It was then that God gave us the “I Was…I Am…” scripture as a guide for this new ministry.

“... I was hungry and you gave me something to eat...” Matt 25:35ff
“I am a new creature in Christ”  2 Cor. 5:17

Yes, there is something special about Pablo to CTSC. God used Pablo to turn our hearts in the direction of French Harbour and the children “HE hath made in His image.”

 So let's fast forward and go and see what this feeding program is all about okay? 

As Bob and I drove up we saw the above kids running up the driveway.  I asked them where they were going (although I knew of course) and they said, "we's goin' ta git someting to eat"

 The little boy in the middle of the above photo is Subu, and he and his sister basically live on the street.  Their Mom, oh Lord set her free, is addicted to drugs and they are left to fend for themselves.

Come into the Light little ones!

The way it works at the feeding program is that the kids in school are fed first.  They get a number as they come in.  First come, first served. Sherman, the man in the photo below told me that it isn't uncommon for kids to faint in school due to malnutrition. They need nourishment to be able to think.    They are making a difference!!   They feed the school kids, then they feed the  mothers with small children and then the other street kids.

But before they eat, the kids recite memory verses.  Now what I love about that is that the kids pick their own verses to memorize.  It isn't just 'rote learning' and some of them are reciting LONG passages of scripture and even three or four verses.   Then they sing songs together and it is such a beautiful sound to hear.  I wish I could have recorded their happy voices!   Why is this part BEFORE the actual food?  It is because although they are hungry for food, they need spiritual food.  Food that lasts forever!  

this girl is happy to get rice, beans and a small piece of beef

Presently they are feeding approximately 60 kids in the morning and between 80 - 100 kids in the afternoon for lunch!   Although many of the children are from the town of French Harbour there are also kids from a very poor area of the island called Higuero (I am not sure if I am spelling it correctly)  My friend Nidia went to that community last year with the Because We Care  food drive and it is a very impoverished area of the island.  Many of the kids have to hitch hike to get to school since they don`t have money for the bus or taxi.   I believe this feeding program is keeping these kids in school.   Food is such an awesome motivator!

Can you see the holes in his shoes?  These kids are so poor!

I am so happy that we are able to get involved as well.   We are currently taking donations at the Made in Roatan shop for this feeding program.  Look for the 'donations gourd' on the counter.  As well, one of our local artists, Jenny Roberts, is donating 20% from each painting that sells in the shop!  I, as well, donate things that I make to the Feeding Program and I am happy to see that week after week after week I am able to hand them money to help feed the kids!!  

I am so grateful for Rotha and her vision to help her island and for people like Claire and Ronny who have come on board too.  But more then anything I am grateful to the Lord who knows the very hairs on all of our heads and wants to take care of us all.   It is starting in French Harbour, hopefully spreading across this tiny island, across the ocean to your neighbourhood as well. 

 Imagine what the world would be like if we all decided to live by the Golden Rule:  

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.    And the second is like it:  love your neighbour as yourself"  Matt. 22:36ff

Many blessings!