It is so hard to believe that it has already been over a year since we fed our first meal to a child.

I remember it like yesterday; we were all so nervous and excited. We prayed together and got to work. We ran into a few bumps but it all worked out.

We fed the little ones spaghetti and we were so tired. We only had three ladies working and with everyone trying to find their way we ended up doing several things the long way.

The kids were a little shy but so ready. They were peeking into the doors and jumping to look into the windows. When when when?

We said our first prayer with our first group of kids and since that time we have bowed our heads and said literally thousands of prayers to thank God for this food that he has provided.

We have learned a lot. We have tried to fine tune things a bit and it runs a lot smoother. Before when anything went wrong or was even just different it would cause panic. Now I noticed that the ladies are taking things in stride as am I.

We have watched children who come to the kitchen dirty and unkempt wash their hands and then devoured the meal like it was their first and maybe last

We have seen children digging in dumpsters and help them out, walk them to the kitchen, pray with them and then feed them.

We were able to hire three more women after a church agreed to pay their salary for a year.

We have had Christmas and New Years days spent together. We have had Valentines and Easter, we end up spending a great deal of our free time with the women and their families.

We have wiped runny noses, kissed spaghetti covered cheeks, held new babies, disciplined young boys, chased some of them around the building a time or two, sent notes to moms about sling shots, we have watched older brothers and sisters 7 or 8 years old line up 3 or 4 little ones, brought them to the kitchen washed hands and set them down to eat, making sure they all ate.

We have seen Brothers and sisters running up to the kitchen with babies bouncing on their hips. We try to take the little ones for the few minutes that the older ones get to sit and eat but often that little one will be more attached to its sister or brother than to its mother who spends the majority of the day working.

We have received cards and colored pages saying thank you. We have watched as teenagers volunteered their time to help, even doing dishes.



We have gone up to houses where an 8 year old stands outside by a fire tending a small pot of rice, the younger siblings 7 year old leaving for school, 6 year old running around the house half dressed at best playing with the 3 year old who is crying because he can’t catch up and then the baby who crawls to the door, peeks out and the hightails it back inside when it is not a familiar face.

We have sent these little ones all to the kitchen, put the rice away for dinner, told the older one we would help watch the baby, just go to the kitchen and eat. We went to the car after they assured us they were on their way. By the time we got to the kitchen they were already there. Cleaned up a bit, hair wet and slicked back and a smile that you could see from the bottom of the mountain like a ray of sunshine.

Well as you know from being faithful blog reader, What a year it has been


It has been full of love, joy and happiness, tears, anger, misunderstandings, and laughter.

It has been full of fear, and bravery. It has been full of runny noses and coughs.

Of birth and even death. New tiny babies to laugh over snuggle with and pass on when they feel a little damp. Of holding friends close during trial and sadness. Trips to the hospital and trips to the park. Setting with and snuggling children who are never snuggled, praying with children who are never prayed with, loving children, whom the world seems to have forgotten are still children with the same physical, spiritual and emotional needs of all children. This past years has been full of life.


I thank each and everyone of you for making this life possible.