Monday, February 07, 2011
Kroo Bay-TRS Feeding Program
Limited sleep and an early start in Kroo Bay...I grabbed a quick shower, which did no good, and loaded in the van for Kroo Bay. The ride was long, hot, and slow thru town.
When we arrived, we could see trash in the water and bricks on the roofs to hold them down. We parked on the street, and I was surprised that we were walking into the....town? village? community? The walkway was about as wide as a sidewalk and closed in by shacks, maybe 7-8 feet tall. People were sitting outside everywhere. We meandered through, like a make. I know now why we wore matching t-shirts. You had to keep the team in sight around corners. We arrived at an opening with a larger building, the community center. There were children everywhere. The local officials cleared the path for us to enter. The children treated us like rock stars! They were reaching out to touch us as we walked through.
In the building were another 300 children. They were all seated, big and small, awaiting our arrival. The city officials led us up on the alter/stage, welcomed us, and introduced us. A group of women had been cooking the food we purchased all morning. There was rice, fish, and some sort of sauce, maybe beans, too. As these women filled plates with large portions onto trays, we distributed them to the children. The plan was to serve 250 children a hot meal. When we had served the first group of 300 or so, we had plenty left. We sent the first group out and let another group in. We served more hot meals, probably around 450 or so total.
"Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them...They all ate and were satisfied." -Luke 9:10
The next part of the plan was to distribute bags of dry rice to another 2000 children. This is when things became very chaotic. As new groups would enter the building, we would attempt to line them up at the door of the kitchen and file them through to get a bag and back out the kitchen door. However, as they entered, they all would rush to be in the front of the line. The children would push, shove, hit...whatever it took to get their place. They were so fearful of getting no food! As they left with rice, the crowd began to grow, not only children, but adults, too, were coming to be fed. With the third or fourth group, the door opened and the crowd tried to push their way in. Most of our team was in the kitchen area, but I was still in the main room, trying to help with the lines. I watched as the door opened, the crowd pushed, and children fell into the doorway. The children cried, and the crowd continued to push and trample. I was so scared for the kids, but I didn't know what to do! Some of the men helping began gathering us to the kitchen area, and shut the door. All of the windows, covered in bars, had children reaching in. It wasn't that all these people wanted food....they NEEDED it! This one bag of rice might be all they get for days, a week, or more.
How could our group of 20 possibly feed all these people? We couldn't! We were merely a quick fix for the day, and we couldn't even complete the task. The crowd and the pushing caused us to leave early. The walk out was safe, but quick. I think the drive home took forever...traffic and back roads...but I didn't notice, I was so in my thoughts. As Erica, TRS co-founder, said, "Who will feed them tomorrow?"
When we arrived, we could see trash in the water and bricks on the roofs to hold them down. We parked on the street, and I was surprised that we were walking into the....town? village? community? The walkway was about as wide as a sidewalk and closed in by shacks, maybe 7-8 feet tall. People were sitting outside everywhere. We meandered through, like a make. I know now why we wore matching t-shirts. You had to keep the team in sight around corners. We arrived at an opening with a larger building, the community center. There were children everywhere. The local officials cleared the path for us to enter. The children treated us like rock stars! They were reaching out to touch us as we walked through.
In the building were another 300 children. They were all seated, big and small, awaiting our arrival. The city officials led us up on the alter/stage, welcomed us, and introduced us. A group of women had been cooking the food we purchased all morning. There was rice, fish, and some sort of sauce, maybe beans, too. As these women filled plates with large portions onto trays, we distributed them to the children. The plan was to serve 250 children a hot meal. When we had served the first group of 300 or so, we had plenty left. We sent the first group out and let another group in. We served more hot meals, probably around 450 or so total.
"Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them...They all ate and were satisfied." -Luke 9:10
The next part of the plan was to distribute bags of dry rice to another 2000 children. This is when things became very chaotic. As new groups would enter the building, we would attempt to line them up at the door of the kitchen and file them through to get a bag and back out the kitchen door. However, as they entered, they all would rush to be in the front of the line. The children would push, shove, hit...whatever it took to get their place. They were so fearful of getting no food! As they left with rice, the crowd began to grow, not only children, but adults, too, were coming to be fed. With the third or fourth group, the door opened and the crowd tried to push their way in. Most of our team was in the kitchen area, but I was still in the main room, trying to help with the lines. I watched as the door opened, the crowd pushed, and children fell into the doorway. The children cried, and the crowd continued to push and trample. I was so scared for the kids, but I didn't know what to do! Some of the men helping began gathering us to the kitchen area, and shut the door. All of the windows, covered in bars, had children reaching in. It wasn't that all these people wanted food....they NEEDED it! This one bag of rice might be all they get for days, a week, or more.
How could our group of 20 possibly feed all these people? We couldn't! We were merely a quick fix for the day, and we couldn't even complete the task. The crowd and the pushing caused us to leave early. The walk out was safe, but quick. I think the drive home took forever...traffic and back roads...but I didn't notice, I was so in my thoughts. As Erica, TRS co-founder, said, "Who will feed them tomorrow?"
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
January 21-We're in Freetown!
We're in Freetown! I wish I could've captured the airport experience and drive to our boat taxi on video. I t was such amazing sights and sounds. The airport was very chaotic, but our group was expected, and we moved through customs and luggage claim with ease.
We loaded into vans for a short ride to the boat dock. The scene was unreal! The roads, including the airport parking lot, were all dirt. As we left the airport and started down the street, all you saw were small burning lanterns with people sitting everywhere, selling stuff. Maybe they were stores, some homes, but mostly shacks, if you could even call them that.
The ride to the dock was short, and the small restaurant/bar there looked like something out of a movie. It was beautiful! We didn't wait long and soon boarded our boat. What an experience! It was a speed boat with two motors. It flew! We crossed a piece of the ocean, in the dark, at top speed! The smell of Africa, wind in my hair, and spray from the boat...amazing...just what I'd imagined! :)
From the boat, we loaded into podas and headed for the guest house. It's hard to describe driving through the city. At 10 pm, people were everywhere! Where were they going, and what kind of business were they doing so late? Traffic was chaotic! Mexico doesn't even compare. Again, God calmed my anxieties, and sitting in hot traffic for an hour didn't bother me.
Arriving at the guest house, I was pleasantly surprised. The house was nice, furnished, and well ventilated. Electricity, water, and internet were a different story! Soon after arriving, the power went out. I did get to Skype with Chris briefly before bed. Night one...no air, no fans, no lights....I had a good night's sleep!!!!!!
We loaded into vans for a short ride to the boat dock. The scene was unreal! The roads, including the airport parking lot, were all dirt. As we left the airport and started down the street, all you saw were small burning lanterns with people sitting everywhere, selling stuff. Maybe they were stores, some homes, but mostly shacks, if you could even call them that.
The ride to the dock was short, and the small restaurant/bar there looked like something out of a movie. It was beautiful! We didn't wait long and soon boarded our boat. What an experience! It was a speed boat with two motors. It flew! We crossed a piece of the ocean, in the dark, at top speed! The smell of Africa, wind in my hair, and spray from the boat...amazing...just what I'd imagined! :)
From the boat, we loaded into podas and headed for the guest house. It's hard to describe driving through the city. At 10 pm, people were everywhere! Where were they going, and what kind of business were they doing so late? Traffic was chaotic! Mexico doesn't even compare. Again, God calmed my anxieties, and sitting in hot traffic for an hour didn't bother me.
Arriving at the guest house, I was pleasantly surprised. The house was nice, furnished, and well ventilated. Electricity, water, and internet were a different story! Soon after arriving, the power went out. I did get to Skype with Chris briefly before bed. Night one...no air, no fans, no lights....I had a good night's sleep!!!!!!
January 21-We're in Brussels!
We're in Brussels, and we have a four hour layover. Everyone is very excited to contact family and let them know of our safe arrival. I posted to Facebook, and I emailed Chris, Mom, and Gwen. It feels good to be able to contact them. I actually even got to Skype with Mom! She seemed very happy about that! It was the first time she hadn't cried on me in a week! :)
Loading the plane, we are again on an empty plane. I am spoiled! This international traveling thing isn't bad when you have three seats to yourself!
We are now about an hour from landing, and excitement, and fear, are coming to me now. I can't wait to get through customs and ride the speed boat...wind in my hair, water splashing up, and the smell of Africa in the air. God has comforted me so far in my travels. I just pray that he gets me thru these last few hours. I feel the anxiety in my stomach now!
"For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth, I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you." -Psalm 71: 5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." -Proverbs 3: 5-6
Loading the plane, we are again on an empty plane. I am spoiled! This international traveling thing isn't bad when you have three seats to yourself!
We are now about an hour from landing, and excitement, and fear, are coming to me now. I can't wait to get through customs and ride the speed boat...wind in my hair, water splashing up, and the smell of Africa in the air. God has comforted me so far in my travels. I just pray that he gets me thru these last few hours. I feel the anxiety in my stomach now!
"For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth, I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you." -Psalm 71: 5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." -Proverbs 3: 5-6
January 20th-Today I Leave for Africa
Today I leave for Africa! I've spent six months preparing for this, and today it's finally here!
The past two weeks have been filled with so many emotions. I've questioned my choice, been excited, made myself sick over my travel anxiety, and worried about the weather. Snow is forecasted for four of our five cities, a member of our team has strep throat, and one member's grandfather is dying.
Yesterday, I decided to give it all up to God! I've been praying about all of it, but, for some reason, God was giving me peace about all of it.
I took both children to school this morning and said my goodbyes. My anxiety was fine until I got home and waited to leave for the airport. That's when my nerves set in. I prayed about it, got Chris in the van, and off we went to the airport. Once there, the excitement and chaos of the trip began! My anxieties disappeared!
We checked baggage, went through security, flew to Chicago, and waited for our Brussels connector. It was during this that we learned, one by one, that all our teams had departed on time and snow was no longer in the forecast for Chicago!
Again, my anxiety stayed under control as we boarded for Brussels. The huge plane was far from full, and I took a row of three seats to myself. After dinner, I laid down to rest. I fell straight to sleep and woke up as breakfast was being served! Only one hour 'til landing, and I had survived the first long leg of the trip!
"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on the completion until the day of Christ Jesus." -Philippians 1: 6
The past two weeks have been filled with so many emotions. I've questioned my choice, been excited, made myself sick over my travel anxiety, and worried about the weather. Snow is forecasted for four of our five cities, a member of our team has strep throat, and one member's grandfather is dying.
Yesterday, I decided to give it all up to God! I've been praying about all of it, but, for some reason, God was giving me peace about all of it.
I took both children to school this morning and said my goodbyes. My anxiety was fine until I got home and waited to leave for the airport. That's when my nerves set in. I prayed about it, got Chris in the van, and off we went to the airport. Once there, the excitement and chaos of the trip began! My anxieties disappeared!
We checked baggage, went through security, flew to Chicago, and waited for our Brussels connector. It was during this that we learned, one by one, that all our teams had departed on time and snow was no longer in the forecast for Chicago!
Again, my anxiety stayed under control as we boarded for Brussels. The huge plane was far from full, and I took a row of three seats to myself. After dinner, I laid down to rest. I fell straight to sleep and woke up as breakfast was being served! Only one hour 'til landing, and I had survived the first long leg of the trip!
"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on the completion until the day of Christ Jesus." -Philippians 1: 6
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