Compassion Assignment # 4 - Letter

 
pov·er·ty
[pov-er-tee]
noun
1. the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; 
condition of being poor. Synonyms: privation, neediness, destitution, indigence, 
pauperism, penury. Antonyms: riches, wealth, plenty.


Basically, poverty can be defined as the lack of things which are required by the human being to survive. You know...having no food, water...shelter. Oh, and medical help. Let’s throw education into that list as well. Now, I’m not saying that all humans who are currently living in poverty are in such dire needs, but I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest most are.

This weeks Compassion Assignment was to write a letter as if we were the sponsored child. It’s now Friday, and I’ve been thinking all week on how to do this, and I’m not sure I can. Not even for a minute can I set myself inside the feet of a child who only knows life living in poverty. I have a hard time trying to imagine what my life would be like if I had eyes of a child and only knew insecurity.

I have no idea how hard it would be to wonder where my next meal would come from...or maybe knowing what reading and writing is, but having an understanding that I probably wouldn't learn that.

I am not sure how I would feel if I felt the love of God, but could never read His word.

You see, I have so many clothes, they are coming out of my drawers. Clothes I barely wear. I have food for myself and our family at any time we need...or want...to eat. We toss leftovers in the trash knowing there is more food where that came from. My children have the blessing to attend a school where they not only hear daily how much God loves them, a Bible is required text. If we are dirty, we take a shower...in clean water. We have shoes, electricity, automobiles, technology, education, a roof, insurance and clean clothes.

I don't think for a second, I could ever imagine what life is like from a child’s perspective who might not have anything on that list.

What I can do is put my face on the floor and thank God for the blessings He has bestowed upon our family....and ask him ‘God, what can I do?’

What can I do?

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.” -1 John 3:17-18

This world is filled with children who have no idea what it's like to live outside of poverty. We have children right here in our own back yards that know this as well as children in third world countries. Compassion International is part of the answer to my question...What can I do?

Please consider sponsoring a child somewhere in the world, so they may have clothes, food and a glimpse into a life just a little bit better....so that they may see the hand of God extended to them...individually. So that they may have an actual Bible to read God’s word..so that they can learn to read at all.

The Mother Of All Comfort

Can we talk comfort food?

Thank the Lord above for gifting me with a mother who could cook anything, and cook it well......and probably with butter and salt.
I know how lucky I am to have had a mom who could delight us all in the kitchen and who taught me how to as well. I'm not saying, by any means, that I'm any kind of chef. But I do alright.
One of the best, and most simple things, my mother ever made was Chicken Noodle Soup...always from scratch.
It's easy, it's cheap and it's comfort.
I had just made a big batch of Chicken Noodle this past Monday for dinner and then my dear friend Lindsay went and had her third baby this week!  I'll be making it again this morning for her and her family. You see, if you've had a baby, or have been sick, or have lost a loved one....I'll make you soup. Soup is good. Since I have these pictures, I'd love to show you exactly what Lindsay will be getting when she gets home from the hospital.


The main ingredients:

Chicken, Onion, Carrots, Celery, Salt & Pepper & Water

Place the chicken, chopped up veggies, salt and pepper in a roaster or crockpot and let it go!

A nice big roaster. You can certainly use a crock pot as well. I cook the chicken at 325-350 for a few hours.

I use 1 large onion

I use as many carrots as I can fit. I love carrots in my soup!

I use 1 stalk of celery

Chicken covered in yummy goodness ready to be cooked for hours. Be sure to put enough water to cover chicken.

I cook the chicken  for at least 2 1/2 hours, depending on what else I've got going on that day. Easy!

Chicken...which makes your house smell delicious...is done.

I remove the chicken from the roaster and place it into a shallow pan to cool. It should absolutely fall apart!

You're left with this delicious stock, which I then transfer to a soup pot on the stove, because I make a very large pot of soup.

Thank you Mervyn's Going Out of Business Sale for this amazing soup pot!

Since I like to make enough soup to feed an army....or freeze for a second meal in a few weeks, I do add a bit more stock. I find that liquid stock is better tasting than bouillon of any kind. But this is just a personal preference. Either one of these are ok! 

This next part is where I've deviated from my mother's plan. She always loved Kluski Noodles for her soup, and they are very delicious indeed, but when I was a child, my paternal grandmother made some homemade noodles that were just as tasty as they come. So, a few years ago, I asked her how to make them. Ever since then, I've been making the homemade noodles instead of store bought. 

Oh yes...my mother would be proud. 

Here's how to make the noodles:

Beat 3 eggs

Then take one half of the egg shells and fill it three times with cold water. Beat. After this, add about a tablespoon of salt. Then beat again

This next step is a bit of guesswork. You need to add flour to make the dough. I start with 2 cups of flour and if I think I need more, I add more.

There is only one way to mix this...by hand. You'll know if you need to add more flour by the consistency of the dough. Mix and knead by hand until the dough bounces back after pushing it down. If your dough is dry, just add a little bit of water until you're good with it.

This is the dough ball I'm left with. I like to work with half of this at a time, so I'll just tear this in half and roll out one part at a time.

The tools you will need: A cutting board, a roller and a pizza cutter or knife.

Cover your rolling spot with plenty of flour. I mean...plenty of flour.

Roll out your dough to your desired thickness. I try to get it as thin as possible because the noodles do get thicker when cooked.

After they are rolled out, I pull it up on my cutting board and start cutting. You can cut them any shape, length or thickness your little heart desires.

Place the cut noodles in a colander and when you're ready to place them into your boiling stock, give them a quick rinse in cold water. I mean quick....they will get mushy and start to stick together if you're not quick enough. 

Simply add your noodles to boiling stock and let them cook for a few minutes, that's all they need.

At this point, all there is left to do is tear apart your chicken (Which I do by hand) and add it to your soup.

Voila!

Chicken Noodle Soup. Delicious.

Some of the best part of this is letting the kids help....and play. Flour is easy to sweep up, so I let them go to town!

I'm not sure why he looks so angry....he was having a great time. 

Lindsay will also be getting chocolate chip cookies, but that's a recipe I don't feel like sharing just yet.

Bon Appetit!