One of the important issues to resolve as we prepare to open the creche this October is how we are going to feed the children. The picture to the left is an answer to our problem. This is a MannaPack from an organization called Feed My Starving Children. It is a package weighing 13.6oz and containing fortified rice and soy protein along with other ingedients including potatoes and carrots and will serve 6 meals. Love of Christ Church has been involved with FMSC for several years in that we host packing events for 3 days and volunteers package these meals. Last fall LOC with 2 other congregations in Phoenix packaged over 1 million meals in those 3 days and plans are underway for another event this November.I have been working with FMSC over the past several months to become a recipient of this food for the creche and to provide a hot meal for the children on their way to school. Laurell and I attended the grand opening of their new packing facility in Tempe and the Lord led us to meet and talk to the president/CEO of FMSC and discuss our needs in Shongweni. Although FMSC is still working on requests from 2009 approval was just granted to have 2 pallets of this meal shipped to Shongweni. 2 pallets contain over 14,000 meals and it will be a good start to our program since we could be serving over 1000 meals a week. This food will replace the porridge that the children usually eat and contain more nutrition. Plans are being worked out to ship the pallets to Durban where they will be picked up and trucked to the container on site at the church before we arrive in October. FMSC does not charge for the food but it is our responsibility to pay for the shipping.
It is now 3 months before our team leaves on October 5th and we will return on the 19th. There is a team from Pennsylvania that will be going in September. While we are there we will be able to worship with the congregations in Westville and Durban and have a dedication ceremony at the nursery and community center with the new bishop of South Africa. Our plans include working with the community and primary school in Shongweni.
