Lunch Time!



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On Friday's the kids are served a protein and during our visit it was a boiled egg. Lots and lots of boiled eggs!

The center has recently been able to add 50 children to their program and they currently can feed 150 children 5 days a week (Mon - Fri).  The children at the center are orphans and are taken care of by extended family.  It was my understanding that the meals served here are the only reliable meals these kids receive.   They use wood to cook under the large pots and it is not well ventilated.  Right before our visit, they were able to put a ceiling on the kitchen area to keep the smoke from going all of the center.  They are looking for a way to get the smoke routed outside.

We were able to help serve while we visited.  Kenneth is on the right (red) and William is on the left (black).

This was on our last day at the mission.  Many of the kids bowed when they received their meals and several of the younger ones (3-5 yr. olds) bowed down on their knees.  It was very humbling to see such gratitude and respect.

The white food which resembles mashed potatoes is a staple food for them and they are eat it each day.  It some type of "meal or bread" if I understood correctly.  They pick up some and roll it between their fingers and then they pick up their beans or other foods with it.  They do not use utensils.  One of the children asked one of our team members about eating the "potatoes" and when they responded they had never eaten it before the child did not believe the translator was asking the right question.  The kids eat it every day and couldn't imagine that we didn't also.

On our last day at the mission, we had a party and the kids had to eat in a smaller area.  This is most of the 150 kids.  They eat on woven mats and each day the kids rotate cleaning up and sweeping.

Also, they hope to soon have a garden to reduce the cost of buying food.  The children will help work in the garden.