This past Wednesday, I had the opportunity to serve in a soup kitchen here in the city, which will forever be etched into my mind.  Knowing almost half the people in this country live on less than two dollars a day, which I find absolutely startling, I could not imagine what it would be like for individuals who survive on less than that and therefore need to access the soup kitchen.  Many of these individuals do not have a home, or a family, and may be struggling with additions or other medical issues.   Although I had never been to this soup kitchen before, as soon as the taxi rounded the corner , the line of people waiting outside the door, anxiously awaiting a hot bowl of soup, told me I had reached my destination.  Upon entering the house, we were warmly greeting by the ladies running the kitchen, and then quickly put to work to ensure we stayed on schedule.  I was brought to the back “kitchen” by one of the workers (who spoke English), where I set out about 50-60 big bowls, and filled them each with a small portion of sausage.  She then ladled the soup from the massive pot, nestled over a fire where it cooks, and into each of the bowls I had set out.  During this time, in true Andrea form, it was rapid fire question period.  The worker was  lovely.  She explained how the soup kitchen operated, and told me the stories of many clients, who were now filing through the doors and finding their seat at the tables.  The stories were heartbreaking.  The clients were first served tea and na’an bread, then out we came with the bowls of hot soup on trays.  Within minutes of lunch being served, the smell coming from the room required me to start breathing through my mouth, and not because of the smell of the soup.  The clothes many of these people were wearing were torn, falling apart, filthy dirty, and the rubber soles on their shoes had been completely worn away.

Some of the clients ate only a portion of their soup, and then started pulling out “tupperware containers” (i.e. cut up plastic coke bottles, old jars, etc) to save the rest for later.  We were warned that this would happen.  Once everyone had been served, I was able to bring around a bucket of soup and deliver seconds to those who wanted more.   As I walked around with the bucket, I could hear, from every corner of the room, men and women yelling for me to take notice of them and deliver a second portion.  I would feel tugs on my clothing as I passed by some individuals, as they wanted to ensure I would not pass them by without filling up their empty bowls and tupperware.  Toward the end, as I was collecting the dirty bowls, one lady had not finished her portion of soup.  As I was taking it back to the sink, another lady tried to grab the half eaten soup from me so she could fill her extra container.  It did not matter that this half-finished bowl of soup was not hers, she was simply desperate for any leftovers.  Thankfully, we still had some soup in the kitchen, so I quickly went to the back, taking her container with me, and poured her a fresh portion “to go”.  Although she spoke no English, the expression on her face said it all – it was as if she had just won lotto 649, yet, it was only another portion of soup.

That day, in particular, there had been sufficient donations, which resulted in every person being able to fill the plastic containers they brought, until overflowing.  The joy that sprung from my heart getting to witness His provision for these people was overwhelming. But, as I walked through the rows of tables, dishing out more soup, all I could hear were Jesus’ words, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).  I begun just praying this over the people, many of whom were now walking back out the door, that they would come to know the love of Christ and place their faith in the I Am.  There is not one who is out of His reach.

The soup kitchen serves lunch twice a week, and with much excitement, I look forward to seeing my friends again soon, perhaps this coming Wednesday.