SUSTAINABLE HOPE: THE IMPACT OF RICE & BEANS

Donald's heart broke when he stepped into the home. The children weren't able to eat much on most days. The family, consisting of two children and their grandmother, tried to sell tomatoes for their business, but they were unable to earn enough to live on. "That broke my heart because I feel like they need more help," said Donald.

That home visit left a lasting impact on Donald, Director of Path of Hope in Tanzania. "I can tell you that the predominant need for our ministry is food for the families," he said. Donald witnesses firsthand the struggles of his community. The Tanzanian landscape is arid, and unpredictable rain causes farming to suffer and the cost of food to rise. "Most of the families and children we serve are living from an impoverished background, so sometimes they are not managing to purchase food," said Donald. "So that has been a big challenge for us."

The staff at Path of Hope have a long-standing dream to provide a sustainable way to feed the community.

Years ago, a group of widowed women sought to feed the children in their community and dreamed of buying land to farm. Although they found land for sale, they couldn’t afford it. "So they kept trusting the Lord," said Donald. Soon after, someone donated money for Rice and Beans Month, which was just enough for Path of Hope to purchase the field!

Cultivating the land has been challenging due to insufficient rain and poor harvests. "We did not give up," said Donald. Matthew, a teacher, rallied the community to clear more land in preparation for better rainfall. This spring they are planning to harvest one ton of rice. They also turned trees and bushes into charcoal to cook for the children throughout the year. Donald and his team are praying God will provide for them to purchase more land to expand their farming to feed the families and provide meals for the Path of Hope program each week.

Your gifts from Rice & Beans Month tangibly meet children's nutritional needs and provide sustainable solutions for communities facing drought and starvation. Because of your generosity, communities are impacted, fields are purchased, and families are fed.

"I want to say thank you for what you are doing," Donald says to the sponsors contributing to the holistic care for these precious kids. The impact is significant, but so is the need. "Continue to do what you can to support these kids because you are doing something for the kingdom of God!" Your love, sacrifices, and choice to eat simply during Rice & Beans month allow hungry children to have food on their plates and hope in their hearts.

Share your Rice & Beans Savings to support projects like the rice field: EatRiceAndBeans.com