Tatenda (11) and his younger sister Rudo (9) live with their father and stepmother in one of the slums just on the outskirts of Harare. For whatever reason, their stepmom was punishing them; they were denied food for two days. However, they continued to come to school until Rudo fainted during the morning break. The headmistress, Mrs. Shumba, rushed to her aid and gave her Maheu, a traditional food and drink. She revived and then shared her sad story. These are some of the stories that have led us to restart the feeding program. Combined with a harsh economic climate, most low-income families here struggle to feed their families, and some rely on just one meal a day to survive. Beginning in May, we started giving a plate of mid-morning porridge to close to 500 kids at the primary school. We feed these children on a daily budget of $20. Every morning, I read a verse and pray with the children just before they receive their porridge. One morning, when I was leaving, one little girl called back to me and said, “Pastor, next time please give us a meal.” A whole meal here consists of a plate of sadza (thick maize porridge) and a side of relish (either cooked vegetables with onions and tomatoes or beef stew with soup). One morning, I arrived, and the school had prepared a pot of sadza with vegetable relish. When I saw a long line of kids eagerly waiting to receive their meal, I was concerned. I then spoke to the headmistress, and she informed me that they had decided to try a whole meal. I could see that the number of children was more than our usual number. I then asked the children to be quiet as we needed to pray. Then I said, “Before I pray this morning, I would like to tell you a story. This story is found in the Bible. Jesus, after he had finished teaching the people, asked his disciples to go to a solitary place and rest. Unfortunately, many people saw where he was going and ran ahead. When Jesus saw the large crowd, he was filled with compassion and healed their sick until it was late in the day. His disciples asked him to let the people go to nearby villages and buy food. However, Jesus said to them, “You give them something to eat.” Then they informed him that it would require an annual wage to feed such a crowd. But among the people there was a small boy with five loaves and two fish. He asked everyone to sit down, and after he had blessed the food, he gave it to the disciples to distribute. Twelve baskets of leftovers were collected. Then I turned to the kids and asked if our two pots would be enough if we prayed, considering the overwhelming number of kids that morning. They all shouted a resounding affirmation. After I prayed, with a lot of doubt in my heart, I stood close to the pot, avoiding looking directly into it, and watched each kid walk away with a plate full of sadza and relish. After half an hour, more than 500 kids received a plate, except for five kids. I was humbled, and I then prayed to thank God after asking for forgiveness for my lack of faith. After the event, I reflected on the miracle that had unfolded before my eyes. The faith of the children had surpassed my own, and their unwavering belief had been rewarded. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of trust and the boundless possibilities when we place our faith in the divine.
Firm Foundation is a Faithful Patner of The Bolick Foundation