A Month of Rice and Beans with the Haaks

I've loved hearing people's responses as they finished out the month -- especially some of the younger participants. Below is another guest post from the Haak family based on their experiences from the month. You can read more about it at their blog: http://haakinitup.blogspot.com/

Quotes from my family courtesy of their month-long rice and beans "torture."


"What gross thing are you making for dinner tonight?"


"Open mouth. Put food in. Close mouth....yes, you do have to chew it."


"Mommy, thish is just too weird!"


"Do we really have to be Solitaire?" (translated..do we have to stand in solidarity?)


"Wow mom! This one actually tastes good!! Do kids in Africa get this one?"


"Can we just eat this one for the rest of the month?"

(Day 3 of 31) "Is the month over yet? I need pizza."

(In reference to the one above) "Mom, I've had this one a lot. Do you have another kind?" (speaking of rice)

"Can't we just send them money, so they can buy something that tastes better?"

"Next month, can we eat hot dogs every night?"

I am laughing and groaning as I remember and write. I've never had more complaints and near rebellion at dinner time by my children as I have this month. But, I am also really excited that we did discover some new recipes that Everyone really liked! Yes, we had a few gagging sessions and "if you throw that up, you'll clean it up!" "talks" at the table. My 3 year old (who amazingly has complained the least) has gone to bed with very little to eat more nights than I can count. Yet, he has shown the most excitement at the prospect of sending money to other children.

I pray my children will have learned something from this whole exercise...most of all thankfulness and an awareness of others around them.

If LAHASH does this again next year, we'll be right there with them.

I think we'll celebrate with Pizza and Cake when the month is at end.

Congratulations everyone! & a celebration dinner in Portland!

Congratulations to everyone around the world on the completion of Rice & Beans month! We were so glad to do this event together with you, and hope it has been meaningful with lots of lasting memories. Please enjoy a celebration day today with family and friends. It's good to celebrate!

For those in Portland, Oregon, we invite you to join us tonight (April 1st - no fooling) for a celebration dinner at McMenamins (Kennedy School) in the Courtyard Restaurant.

We'll be there from about 5 PM to 8 PM tonight. Come join our large table for a celebration and good memories!

5736 N.E. 33rd Ave.

Portland, OR 97211

Taban Moris

Taban Moris, called “MOH-ris”, age 15

One of the most devastating side effects of the civil war was that it broke apart the traditional family structures designed to care for children when their parents died. Children without extended family members close by to watch out for them fell through the cracks, scavenging on the streets or even dying. When Moris was three days old, his mother died from a respiratory disease or infection. Completely overwhelmed by grief and the prospect of caring for a newborn and six other children, the father committed suicide. Somehow the children ended up at a refugee center, where the staff connected them to IWASSRU. The youngest three children were brought to Amazing Grace.
Moris is a mischievous, talented young man. He’s quite clever, which gets him in trouble often at school, since he cannot seem to keep his mouth closed! He plays the drums for evening worship with incredible natural talent, having never had any kind of training. His personality comes out even in his drum-playing, as he’ll stop the singing to correct the singers or scold someone for not dancing. At one point he said he’d like to be a bishop, but now he has decided that instead he’d like to be a professional footballer (soccer player).

Cranberry Bean Gratin

Cranberry Bean Gratin

-from The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters, thank you Kelli for sending it in!

Soak overnight in 4 cups water:

1 1/4 cups cranberry or borlotti beans

Drain and cover with fresh water by 2 inches in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and skim off any foam. Simmer gently for 2 hours or so until the beans are tender. Add more water if necessary during the cooking.

Season to taste with salt.

Set the beans aside to cool in their liquid. Meanwhile finely dice:

1/2 onion (about 1/4 cup diced) (Lenz family used one whole small onion)

1 small peeled carrot (about 1/4 cup diced)

1 small celery stalk (about 1/4 cup diced)

Heat in a heavy-bottomed pan:

1/4 cup olive oil

Add the diced vegetables and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.

Add:

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

6 fresh sage leaves, chopped (we didn't have fresh sage so I used 1 tsp. dried)

salt

Cook for 5 minutes and then stir in:

1/2 cup chopped tomatoes, fresh or canned

Cook for 5 minutes. Taste and add salt if necessary.

Drain the beans, reserving the liquid. Mix the beans with the vegetables and put into a medium-size gratin or baking dish. Taste for salt. Add enough bean liquid to almost cover. Drizzle with:

1/4 extra-virgin olive oil

Cover with:

1/2 cup toasted breadcrumbs (we had Panko breadcrumbs in the cupboard so thats what we used)

Bake for 40 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven, checking occasionally. If the gratin is drying out, carefully spoon in a little bean liquid (pouring at the sides of the gratin dish to avoid getting the crumbs wet).

RiceAndBeans Recipes

Juan Annet

Juan Annet, called “JOO-ahn” or “Mama Nancy”, age 17

In a country both recovering from war and anticipating war again, criminal justice systems are somewhat patched together. Juan and her grandmother fell into the justice system when the grandmother was caught poisoning people in their town. Both were arrested, as much for their own protection as for the sake of justice, since mob vengeance is common. The grandmother died shortly after and, although she was found innocent of any wrongdoing, Juan had nowhere safe to go. They kept her at the prison, a ramshackle collection of huts with one armed guard, housing both men and women. One day, while working in the fields, Juan was raped by a fellow prisoner and became pregnant. She gave birth to a little girl called Kiden Nancy in mid-2008 while still in prison. Mama Susan petitioned to receive custody of Juan and her daughter, which was granted in early 2009.

Juan cannot read or write, despite completing the equivalent of 5th grade, because the school system she was in was so underfunded, overloaded, and ill-equipped. It would be extremely difficult for her to return to school now, so she is eager to participate in some kind of training for a career, like tailoring, catering, or hair-dressing. Her daughter Nancy is a beautiful toddler, full of personality, who brings joy to everyone at the compound.

Celebration Dinner!!

If you're in the Portland area, make sure to join us for our Celebration Dinner Thursday, April 1st at Kennedy School (5736 N.E. 33rd Ave.) between 5pm and 8 pm. Come before 6 for cheap Happy Hour food!

If you're not in Portland, we'd love to hear how you're marking the end of Rice and Beans month! Pizza? Steak? more Rice and Beans??

Kabang Annet

Kabang Annet, called “KAH-bahng”, age 17

When a father dies, the mother is left with an extremely difficult decision. She can try to provide for her children without the income of the father, or she can remarry, knowing that her new husband will likely reject the children from her first marriage. Kabang’s father was a house-builder who was killed by a client who did not want to pay him. Her mother remarried and left Kabang and her brother with their grandmother. The grandmother’s health began to fail and she was no longer able to care for them, so they were brought to Amazing Grace.
Kabang shows strong leadership and a drive for justice both at the home and at school. She describes her heart breaking for children at school who are punished for nothing. She does extremely well in debate, and expresses a desire to become a lawyer. Her empathy, sense of humor, and dependability make her a popular leader, designated by her peers and her elders alike. She took the initiative of teaching a Sunday School class for the children at their local Anglican parish, and the children of Amazing Grace all sit for her Bible lessons.