Rice and beans month was a great success this year. Dozens of families participated and over $6,000 has been raised so far for East African kids in need. The staff of Grace and Healing Ministry of Dodoma was so inspired by the awesome commitment of families here in the US that they also decided to participate.
"We have all been touched by the sacrifices made by so many to help the children here," writes Tiffanee Wright, interim Program Coordinator for GHMD.
In addition to the Rice and Beans commitments made by the staff and their families, staff members also agreed to make personal donations to the Most Vulnerable Children (MVC) program at the end of the month. On March 21st, they held a celebratory party where they tried rice and beans recipes from around the world and took time to thank God for his many provisions and for brothers and sisters in Christ who are standing alongside them in serving the Dodoma community.
Additionally, the staff asked the local church to help contribute to the effort and members responded by bringing sacks of rice and bags of beans as well as cash donations. The food that was donated is being stored and given out as urgent needs arise. Between contributions from the GHMD staff and donations from the church, over $40 was raised! (This is equivalent to the entire monthly income for an average Tanzanian family.)
On the Friday after Easter, GHMD held an Easter celebration and the Prime Minister of Tanzania sent a goat as well as rice, beans, sugar and oil. With this, the staff decided to use some of the money they had contributed to buy additional ingredients to make a real celebratory feast for all the children, their parents and HBC clients (about 175 people).
"Thank you for Rice and Beans Month. We are touched by the generosity of those so far away, as well as those right here in our own community. Campaigns like these help us get a glimpse of the beauty of the Kingdom of Heaven." -Tiffanee Wright
