Multiplying Meat

Hello! I have a lot to tell you about the beginning of the new school year. I can't believe that we are already in our 3rd week of school and I still have not posted pictures of my new classroom and my wonderful students (I now have 8! SMCA is growing!). But all of that will have to wait because I have a story for you today that blows my mind!

Yesterday seemed like a typical Monday, with the except of a heavier-than-usual rainfall. After school the girls and I headed over to Casa Hogar Douglas (CHD) because Caroline wanted to cook a feast of steak tacos for the sweet kids at CHD in honor of her birthday. She had bought all the meat and supplies, but before we could cook it all at the children's home, the rain started pouring down. We decided to have some of the guys cook the meat at the covered grill on the property and then bring it over to the home once it was all cooked. It all sounded like a great plan, so we left for CHD to prepare the rest of the meal.

On the way over to CHD I remember crossing the bridge in our neighborhood and being shocked at how high the river was. It already covered the bridge, but we were in the big staff van, so we had no problem crossing. Once we arrived we made two huge buckets of guacamole, grilled 220 tortillas, cut up 4 watermelons and proceeded to wait for our meat to arrive.

Now dinner is normally at 6:00, so by the time that 7:00 rolled round we had a room full of hungry, hyper kids and still no meat. Around this time the call came in that there were literally 4 foot waves rushing over the bridge and there was no way to cross. Our meat was stuck at the B2B property. We had no meat. I remember looking out over the dining hall at the 65 kids waiting for dinner and thinking, "Well Lord, our plan has failed... what do you have in store for us now?"

The girls and I got together and decided there was nothing that we could do but pray. We had tortillas and guacamole, but we didn't want these kids to have another night of beans and rice. So we prayed. We prayed that God would bring a miracle. That he would provide meat for his precious children.

As soon as we finished praying, one of the workers walked into the dining hall with two small trays of chicken kabobs that had been donated earlier that had been randomly dropped off earlier that day! We had meat! Now would it be enough? We began to pray that this seemingly small amount would feed every child so that each one would go to bed that night with a full belly.

The meat had already been cooked, so all we had to do was reheat it in the over and serve it out. As we began to serve, something truly miraculous happened. The meat was not running out! The pans just kept coming and coming and each time I saw someone go to the over there were more trays of meat warming there!! I cannot explain it! There is no logical reason for how every single person in the room was able to have seconds and thirds and there were still two trays left over! But wait... didn't we start with two trays?!

So maybe there were a lot more trays and we just didn't see them carried in, but there is no denying that this is the faithful and provision of the Lord! It is not a random coincidence that someone dropped off meat earlier that day. God knew what our needs would be and he provided for them beyond our expectations! He multiplied our meat! Praise the Lord!!! I can't get over how miraculous He is!

Wow! This was a night that I will remember for as long as I live! I have once again learned that even when my plans fail, God has something better in mind. And last night God's plan left me awed and amazed and strengthened my faith. I pray that hearing this story brings you encouragement. God cares about the details of your life and longs to blow you away with his faithfulness.

The next morning we were able to get back to the property because the water level had gone down again during the night. We are a bit worried that if it continues to rain at the rate that is has been then the bridge will not hold and that would mean we would be stuck on the property for a while. Please pray that the bridge will hold and that Hurricane Carl will end (that is what is causing our floods). And while you are praying, please praise the Lord for his mighty power and provision! :)