Say No To Hunger

We started our ”Say No to Hunger” program in the summer of 2008.  It has been on our hearts to begin this type of project that is focused on providing both literal and spiritual food to children around the world, starting with the children living in Gganda Village,Uganda. Many children in this village, which surrounds our Hope Children’s Home, go without food for sometimes days at a time. They either have nobody to provide for them or their families are so poor that they struggle just to provide one meal a day for their children. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of many children by responding to this injustice. While in Uganda back in April, Randy (soon to be living fulltime with his family in Uganda) shared his heart with us as he helped to SAY NO TO HUNGER on afternoon.

Feeding the Heart of Children is Just a Meal Away!  

It was Palm Sunday, and during the time of assembly, several women were cooking, “cooking up a storm,” says Randy Varga, one of our SMI team members.  The women were preparing to feed some eighty village children, many who may not eat even one meal a day.  Some eat nothing for days…  days.

 “Today was a day that these kids would eat, and eat, and eat,” says Randy. “Drink a soda, and not even care what flavor they got.”  Once the children had been gathered, they waited patiently, their faces reflecting their uncertainty of what to expect. “Oh they knew they were going to eat,” shares Randy, “but when and how long were they going to wait?”

The smell of rice, beans, cabbage and chicken filled the air as the children waited.  While the women finished the food preparations, three of the older children from Hope Children’s Home encouraged the village children with significant stories of Hope and encouragement.

“When the word was given to get in line to be fed,” Randy relates, “controlled mayhem would be a good description.  They were hungry, but trying to be polite, and with a rush, the kids were in a line, chest to back and not an inch in between.  It was fun to see; they were going to be fed.  The older Hope children jumped in and started to serve… learning to help others in need.”

As the children started to eat, the tension unwound.  Bellies were filling up and the children were starting to be satisfied.  Some laid down at the comfort of being full.  “Some brought their bowls back to be washed and used again for the ones at the end of the line,” says Randy.  “There was a calm that came over all the children.”

When the meal was finished, many of the children went home while others helped with cleanup: children helping children, those shown mercy, showing mercy.  Hope giving hope.

To find out how you can get involved and help to feed many hungry kids, click here.  We will be posting more exciting updates this week.

Answering the Cry of Injustice Together,

Mike and Lori Salley
Show Mercy International
www.showmercy.org