WORKING WITH THE FOOD MINISTRY

When people meet me, the first thing they notice is that I have Down Syndrome. What they can’t see, though, is that I am strong and brave, and I love Jesus with my whole heart.

I’m very proud of myself because I earned a black belt in karate and can take on just about anyone, even though I’m pretty short. I love when my friends and family watch me at a meet because everyone knows I will do my very best.

But I’m most proud of my work every Wednesday. My mom drops me off at my church on her way to work. My grandmother is usually already there helping to set things up for the day. I join some retired people in a Bible study where we read God’s Word, talk about it and pray for everyone’s needs. Then we begin setting out all the food in the church gym. Each week, there is so much food that people and restaurants have given to the church to hand out to people who are struggling. We bag it up so everyone who comes gets a little bit of everything.

Then, at 1:00, someone opens the door and the people start coming in. I smile and give hugs to the people I know who come every week to get food. I love it when they have children. I take a few minutes to play with the little kids while the grown-ups talk with the people and pray with them. Sometimes I talk with the grown-ups when there aren’t children around, and ask them if I can pray with them. I pray with my whole heart because I know that God can do anything! Most of them need prayer because they need a job. Some of them are sick and need God to heal them. But no matter what their need is, I pray. I try to remember what their prayer request is so I can tell my mom and dad later when we pray together at dinner.

I love giving out the food each week at church. It’s so fun to see God providing food for so many people who need some help.