Bucana Update #4: How Can God Feed 1,500?
Bucana Update #4: How Can God Feed 1,500? By Grace Gaston-Dousel
…Jesus saw the large crowd, he had compassion on them…As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:14-16)
“We only have 23,000 pesos in hand,” said Jerry, our strategy coordinator. “How should we spend it for relief?” With so much need before us, that was a difficult question to answer. Our team met up day before yesterday to plan for the immediate relief action to be undertaken for the 320 families (1,500 individuals) who lost everything to a fire that razed the whole community of Bucana Purok 1 & 1A. Looking up to God for wisdom, the answer came to us as we slowly assessed the situation based on the data we had gathered.
It was very clear to us that the most urgent need is for people, especially little children, to have at least one decent meal each day. Our hearts ached at the thought that our capacity at the moment is to provide for only the evening meal. We figured it would be a good supplement to the rice porridge that the city government distributes to them in the morning. After some discussion, we thought that the money we have at the moment would be good for three evening meals. Maimai (our team nurse) and Sol (our pre-school coordinator) planned a menu of rice and vegetables for each night.
To be able to carry out this feeding program, we would need Php 7,600 (US$162.75) per day to feed 320 families (Php23.75 or US$51cents/family). That’s a total of Php83,600 (US$1,790.15) for the remaining 11 days. The cost for cooking gas, plastic plates and gasoline for the jeep are not included in this computation. That means an additional Php2,000-Php3,000 (US$43-45).
So, how can God feed 1,500 individuals? Through a bunch of willing disciples who wouldn’t send the people away. As we placed our meager resources in Jesus’ hands, we were able to start distributing rice last night. MUPT team members with some community volunteers also worked together to cook mongo beans with squash to go with the rice. Though there were some glitches along the way (our community volunteers found it hard to borrow big pots for cooking the viand; Jerry, Anna & Sol had to cook in the open area using wood from what used to be the center for fuel; and the actual distribution happened amidst rain and with only the rays from a torch light because power lines were still cut), God performed a miracle. By 7 o’clock in the evening the families in the community have had supper.
Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your partnership.
…Jesus saw the large crowd, he had compassion on them…As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:14-16)
“We only have 23,000 pesos in hand,” said Jerry, our strategy coordinator. “How should we spend it for relief?” With so much need before us, that was a difficult question to answer. Our team met up day before yesterday to plan for the immediate relief action to be undertaken for the 320 families (1,500 individuals) who lost everything to a fire that razed the whole community of Bucana Purok 1 & 1A. Looking up to God for wisdom, the answer came to us as we slowly assessed the situation based on the data we had gathered.
It was very clear to us that the most urgent need is for people, especially little children, to have at least one decent meal each day. Our hearts ached at the thought that our capacity at the moment is to provide for only the evening meal. We figured it would be a good supplement to the rice porridge that the city government distributes to them in the morning. After some discussion, we thought that the money we have at the moment would be good for three evening meals. Maimai (our team nurse) and Sol (our pre-school coordinator) planned a menu of rice and vegetables for each night.
To be able to carry out this feeding program, we would need Php 7,600 (US$162.75) per day to feed 320 families (Php23.75 or US$51cents/family). That’s a total of Php83,600 (US$1,790.15) for the remaining 11 days. The cost for cooking gas, plastic plates and gasoline for the jeep are not included in this computation. That means an additional Php2,000-Php3,000 (US$43-45).
So, how can God feed 1,500 individuals? Through a bunch of willing disciples who wouldn’t send the people away. As we placed our meager resources in Jesus’ hands, we were able to start distributing rice last night. MUPT team members with some community volunteers also worked together to cook mongo beans with squash to go with the rice. Though there were some glitches along the way (our community volunteers found it hard to borrow big pots for cooking the viand; Jerry, Anna & Sol had to cook in the open area using wood from what used to be the center for fuel; and the actual distribution happened amidst rain and with only the rays from a torch light because power lines were still cut), God performed a miracle. By 7 o’clock in the evening the families in the community have had supper.
Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your partnership.
posted by grace gaston-dousel | 6:03 PM
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