Bephia, a mother in Malawi, didn’t know how she could feed her six children. She hardly had a harvest this year, due to the drought sweeping across Malawi and other African countries. “From the harvesting month to date, I have been surviving on grace,” Bephia said. Sometimes her family had only masau, a wild fruit, to eat. Other times they went to sleep on empty stomachs.
Hunger’s harsh reality
Bephia is one of millions around the world who daily face a reality many of us can hardly relate to—hunger. A staff member who visited northern Kenya observed this contrast. After sharing a meal with people in the Turkana region, he noticed that many plates were scraped cleaner than his. “When you are practically starving, every grain counts,” he said. At a food distribution in the same area, some kernels fell from a recipient’s bag of corn. Later a man could be seen sifting through the dirt for any leftover kernels.
In countries like Belarus, hunger is often a bit less obvious, stemming mostly from decades of economic struggles. Anastasia fends for her three children alone since her husband left after their youngest child’s birth. Embarrassed, she admitted, “The children and I drink sweet tea when there is nothing else.”
Local believers visited Anastasia, returning later with food. They said, “The children shouted with delight as they picked through the packs of rice, buckwheat, and macaroni and clutched them to their chests as if they were their favorite toys. We had tears in our eyes.”
Haiti, plagued by gang violence, a collapsed government, and weather extremes, is no stranger to hunger. The seemingly small gift of a daily meal, which our contacts provide to schools across the country, is “like manna in the desert,” according to a school staff member.
Hunger’s surprising opportunity
Hunger is a tough reality, but also a surprising opportunity. As often as possible, we ensure that God’s truth is presented along with food. Believers in Belarus reach out to homeless people in their communities by serving hot meals accompanied by singing and preaching.
One homeless man, Igor, wasn’t looking for God when he came for a meal. He only wanted food and warmth. But the truth he heard as he ate touched his heart. He saw the depth of his sin and the new life Christ offered. Now a changed man, Igor has devoted himself to service. He helps give food to other needy people and eagerly shares his testimony.
Our response to the hunger crisis
The World Hunger Fund budget for this year is $2.7 million for projects in Haiti, Venezuela, Ukraine, Kenya, Liberia, the Middle East, and other places. To date, we have received $1.2 million. If you would like to help, your support will be a blessing. Monthly sponsorships provide an especially valuable foundation of predictable support, enabling us to better plan as we respond to food-related needs.
To all who have supported this project, whether by donations or prayer, thank you! A staff member who visited a food distribution in Kenya wrote, “Recipients needed no words to communicate their thankfulness. They gestured wildly, held hands over their hearts, and pumped my hand vigorously to show their appreciation. In those moments, I wished that all those who’ve donated to World Hunger Fund could be present.”
If you wish to help feed hungry people around the world, click the donate button to give a gift.
