13 Apr What A Difference A Meal Makes

Just a week ago, I was sitting next to Mariam in Tanzania. When her mouth wasn’t full of food, it was usually turned into a smile. Most of my friends don’t like to have their picture taken when they are eating. Mariam didn’t seem to mind.

We were sitting together at the lunch program our Tanzanian partners offer to the HIV positive kids their ministry serves. The lunch program is currently funded by Rice & Beans Month donations and targets about 20 kids who don’t receive enough nutrition at home. In their struggle against the effects of HIV/AIDS, nutrition plays a critical role. I found out that these kids need to consume about 30% more calories to grow and develop normally than a child who is not infected. And while many of them are on drug therapies to manage the disease, those drugs cannot be taken on an empty stomach. Without proper meals, their health problems can quickly spiral out of control.

Little Mariam looks like she is about 5 or 6 years old. After meeting her, I was talking with the program coordinator, who knew more details about Mariam’s story. I could hardly believe it when I found out that she is actually 10 years old. Both her parents died of AIDS, and her growth has been severely stunted due to years of inadequate care and nutrition. My heart broke for this little girl who had suffered so much at such a young age.

Last year Mariam was enrolled into the Lahash sponsorship program and is now receiving care through our Tanzanian partners. Although she may never fully recover those years of lost growth, she is now being loved, fed, and encouraged by a community committed to her future.

Rice & Beans Month is a critical part of Mariam’s story. As I sat next to her, watching her take bites from the huge plate of food in her lap, I thought about all the people I know back home who are spending an entire month eating simple meals. Because they are eating rice and beans, Mariam is filling her stomach with nutritious food that is literally helping to save her life one day at a time.

Rice & Beans Month is truly having an impact on the lives of the vulnerable in East Africa. As you share your savings, those funds are changing the diets of kids who desperately need it. To donate your savings from the month and help provide this needed nutrition, you can click here.

On behalf of Lahash, Mariam, and many other kids impacted by your choices this month, please receive our thanks!