Peeling Potatoes

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Anyone that knows me well knows that peeling potatoes, or anything else that has to do with cooking is not my cup of tea. The only thing I love more than eating food is eating food that someone else prepared.

However, there are some potatoes that I would love to peel. They are potatoes that came from the ground of Pastor Stanley's house for the children of Spring Valley Academy. The Giving Garden shifted from our place to his when we moved from Kenya and ITHM was able to help Pastor Stanley get his 3 acres of land tilled and planted. Now they are harvesting a crop for the kids.

A seed put into fertile ground, sprouts, grows and comes out giving life. Spring Valley Academy is putting seeds in the hearts of 350 children daily. With our support we help fertilize and knowledge and love and wisdom and hope are being grown within their hearts.

More than potatoes are being grown: beans, carrots, cabbage and other vegetables are popping out of the ground. Delicious meals are being cooked, bellies are being filled, bodies and minds are nourished. Those who used to be hungry all day are knowing the satisfaction of having a full belly at least for a few hours.

These words about sowing and reaping bring II Corinthians 9:6-15 to mind:

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

"They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever."

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"

And thanks be to those of you who give to ITHM for your indescribable generosity!

Jennifer Phillips Lawrence

If you would like to give towards seeds for the Giving Garden, an education, a building fund or the general fund please make your tax-deductible gift out to:

ITHM

23223 South Warmstone Way

Katy, Texas 77494



* Disclaimer-from my last blog, I do not support the theory of evolution as far as a world view. I only used that term to make a point about our ongoing work.

　

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Photos

Potato Harvest!
From the Giving Garden