Flour, Oil, Bread & Water: Ethiopia City Kids
The following was written by Sabrina Coan after returning from Ethiopia.
Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah. — 1 Kings 17:7-16
Flour.
Oil.
Bread.
Water.
Sustenance for living. The ingredients for Life.
It began in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The story of the widow in 1 Kings 17, playing over and over in my head.
The widow just wanted a meal for her son. She had only a handful of flour and a little bit of olive oil. I imagine she may have been hesitant to share the last of her resources. Could she trust this man? She laid it all on the line, on The Table.
But, God, He had a plan for this family. He invited Elijah to join Him. The Lord took the flour and multiplied it. Turned it into fullness–life. The Bread of Life.
The Lord invited us to join Him in His work in Addis. We watched Him take our meager resources and bless them. He multiplied the money that was donated, our time, our energy, to do more than just meet basic needs. We watched as He provided a washer, dryer, stove, and sewing machine.
Flour.
Oil.
Bread.
Water.
Like Elijah, our team met many women at the beautiful gates in Addis Ababa. We watched ladies gathering sticks in order to provide for her family. We went into homes built from mud and twigs. And, you know what we were able to gift them? Flour and oil.
The flour and oil were provided by your donations. And they were multiplied by our Lord.
These are the homes of broken families sponsored through donations. Each month, widows and children are provided with basic necessities through the Ethiopia City Kids program.
The $20 you give each month is blessed and multiplied. It turns into full bellies. It is life-giving. It is Eternal Life Giving.
Will you join Him? The widow gave it all. She risked her last bit of flour and olive oil, trusting He would provide.
Will you trust Him with just $20 a month?
He allows us to do this. He allows us to choose to be a part of The Blessing.
His command to us is undeniable. To be clear and faultless, we must look after the widows and orphans.
Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. – James 1:26-27 (MSG)
Learn more about the Ethiopia City Kids sponsorship program and provide for a child.
