Week III - Africa

His name is Jeorge. He is 13 years old. He has grown up in this small African village called Mangunde. His family has always been subsistence farmers. "I remember", he says, "when our family didn't know whether to plant the seed or eat it. Without the rains we go hungry - not for days but for weeks."

The LWF entered Jeorge's story two years ago. His father and two others proposed a credit project to the LWF. It was reviewed by the community credit council and found to be viable.

The LWF assisted the men in some business training. Today they operate the bread shop for the whole village. "We used to work in the fields and sell a bit of bread on the side. We are better bread makers than farmers." Now with the help of a loan they have made enough profit to create a small shop in which they sell their bread. Jeorge tends the shop in the mornings and his family now has enough money to send him to school in the afternoons. His family has paid off their loan. Things have changed for Jeorge. He has a future with hope! Thank you LWF for walking with this family!

Abundant God, We give thanks for the gift of bread. May all your people have enough. Amen.

(Financial gifts to the LWF may be made through the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, the National Church Office of the ELCIC or directly to the LWF Regional Office in North America, 8765 West Higgins Road, Chicago IL 60631.)