The Gambia —
The rainy season is fraught with difficulty for people in The Gambia. Food and money are scarce, houses made from mud have a tendency to collapse, and malaria runs rampant.
We knew that this year would be harder than usual because crops have been poor and the price of food continues to rise. We’ve watched as the price of a 100-pound bag of rice increased from $27.50 to $44.25 (USD) in the past six months. An average-size family uses one or two of these bags each month, but many cannot afford it.
It is not unusual for me to have someone at my door saying, “I do not have any money for lunch for our compound today,” or, “We didn’t eat yesterday, and I don’t have anything to eat today either.” With rising food costs, we are seeing people who normally fend for themselves now struggling to feed their families.
Because of this we began praying that God would touch the hearts of people to send money to purchase rice for our employees and people in the village. Over the last several months we received $19,000 (USD).
SPECIAL DELIVERY
It was a Tuesday morning when I heard the distinctive low rumble of a heavily loaded truck creeping down the rutted, washed-out road that leads to our compound. The rice is here, I said to myself as I looked out the window in time to see the truck groan to a stop.
It took six men to unload the 450 bags of rice into an empty house where we planned to store it until the distribution.
The day of the rice distribution dawned hot and sunny. With the help of some teenage boys, three vehicles including an ambulance were loaded to the gills. Every bag was accompanied by a small book that explained God’s plan of salvation from creation to Christ.
As we pulled up to the various compounds and honked the horn, people popped out to see if the rice was for them. With a village this large, we had lists of people who were supposed to receive the food. As the rice was dropped off, people began dancing and clapping. Men were slinging bags over their shoulders. Women teamed up to drag their bags to their compound. People were overjoyed. Several people told us that until we had arrived, there had been no food.
PRACTICAL COMPASSION
Our purpose in this project, besides feeding hungry people, was to demonstrate the compassion of Christ to our Muslim neighbors. By ensuring that the distribution was done in a righteous manner, and that there was a missionary present with every sack that was given out, we hope that we showed people true Christianity.
People in our area need food, but their greatest need is Christ. Each bag of rice included a letter expressing our friendship with the people and a booklet describing the gospel. We have since received calls from people thanking us and asking us about the letter. Even as the distribution went on, we saw people all over town reading the booklets. Those who couldn’t read found someone to read it to them. God’s Word went to every family in Ndungu Kebbeh that day.
Since that time we have been able to purchase more rice and distribute it to approximately eight smaller villages. Booklets were given out in each of those villages as well. Only eternity will tell us what the full impact of this project.
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