As I type, I have a little confession to make. We have been in Guatemala for the past four days, and I haven’t mentioned that fact either on Facebook fan page or on my blog until now.
Last January, I shared with you my entrée for the Hillshire Farm’s Most Wanted Sandwich competition, and many of you voted. In fact, I am so grateful to thousands of you that voted, enabling my sandwich to win the grand prize. The irony of an American Sandwich competition is that the majority of people around the world can’t even fathom having the opportunity to “create” a sandwich, yet alone the luxury to buy a variety of ingredients for a delicious sandwich.
That creative blessing is not lost on me.
As my husband and I raise our five children, more and more the pull of an “entitlement” mentality creeps into our children’s hearts. They have no clue how fortunate they are to live in a country where their mother has the opportunity to “stockpile” food or cook in bulk. That is just normal for them. I mean really, doesn’t everyone have an “all you can eat” buffet available for dinner?
With that reality in mind, our desire has been for our children to experience a third world culture. I want their eyes to be open to extreme poverty and see it first hand. The grand prize for winning the Hillshire Farm’s contest was not only cash for the winning sandwich, but also the opportunity to choose a non-profit agency for which Hillshire Farm would donate $6500.
Here is what is so neat. My choice was Compassion International; an organization dedicated to releasing children from poverty. Isn’t it an amazing irony that the winnings from one sandwich will now feed an entire village? Yes, over 200 children will be fed, clothed, and given medical attention for one month thanks to that donation.
Along with donating to Compassion, our family was able to take my cash prize and put it towards a family “missions trip” to work in an orphanage in Guatemala, as well as help a mother of six, who lives here with her children, build a concrete home for her family. As you read this post, this is where four of our five children will be working, alongside my husband and me.
Why do I share this on a Tasty Tuesday link up?
As you browse these recipes and link up our delicious inspiration, please pray for this family in Guatemala, and for children everywhere dealing with the bondage of poverty. Call your children over to the computer and show them the picture of their kitchen down below. Pause for a moment and really look. Be informed, and investigate how your family might help.
I’m seeing it with my own eyes and it still hasn’t sunk in just how blessed we are with our modern conveniences. Daily, I take it for granted, yet I will not miss this opportunity to be reminded of our nations blessed bounty. I am so grateful.
This kitchen puts it all into perspective, doesn’t it?
Thank you again to my wonderful readers for your support and to Hillshire Farms. for this opportunity. I’m sure you didn’t think your winner would take the cash and run…literally to a third world country, but it makes the competition that much more meaningful to our family.
Simple Rules for Tasty Tuesday Parade of Foods – As always, please link directly to your recipe post and not your blog URL, so that everyone can find the recipe months from now. The new image link that I amusing will not accept your recipe without a link back here to beautyandbedlam.com.
Also, Please do not link up a recipe meme that you have started. Thanks for your understanding.
My words are short right now but understand you so much- i lived in Mexico for more then 15years and is teaching my family the same and getting ready for a mission trip as well. So happy to see that you took a oppurtunity to a Great life experience. Thank you for taking the time to share, God bless you & your family : )
Wow. So humbling. My husband and I would love to take our kids on a missions trip of sorts to remind us how blessed we are and to serve others. What a great thing to do, bless your family!
Prayers for your family, the family you are working with and those in poverty around the world.
Jenn, you have such a huge heart and it really comes through in your blog. I know that I really needed to see that kitchen this morning. Too often I forget how blessed I am.
Thank you for all that you do.
Kristia
awesome the way God works, you serve Him well.
God is amazing – that He can take something of the secular world – a sandwich competition – and use it to His glory – through His willing servants. God be with you and your family as you are doing His will in Guatemala.
Your heart and generosity are truly an inspiration for me!
I am extremely touched and proud that I voted for you and that is making a REAL difference in hundreds of lives. You and your family are an inspiration. Thank you!
Thank you for writing about your trip to Guatemala and showing us a glimpse of what it’s like. I was so touched by this and am struggling teach my kids the same values of gratefulness. I gathered all three of my kids around my laptop and showed them the pictures and talked to them about how other people in other places really struggle to just survive…and to remember to always be grateful for what we have, even if we don’t always have everything we want.
Thank you again!
I linked up Spicy Sriracha Hot Wings. Thanks so much for hosting! I’m hosting a link party…”Fusion Fridays” {Open All Weekend!}
http://janedeereblog.blogspot.com
I would love it if you would come by on Friday and link up!
Wow! I have always wanted to do something like that and now with 4 children I wish I could do it even more! You have an amazing family!
Thank you for sharing your story. My children, despite our efforts, are suffering from the mindset of entitlement, and it’s so hard to break them. I’m looking forward to sharing your pictures with them.
Jen–I so enjoyed reading your story. We adopted my youngest son from Guatemala, so I have a special place in my heart for the people there. One day we will go back and I would love to be able to do mission work while we visit, especially at the orphanages. It is a humbling experience to see the face of true poverty. Your family is an inspiration!
What an incredible use of your winnings!
Thank you for sharing your story. You’re right; we do take a lot for granted in this country. Today, my children and I harvested all the peaches off our tree, even the ones that a catbird had been eating. Yes, a bird did attack some, but somewhere else, other moms would have loved to have all those peaches even the partially eaten ones. I didn’t let any good bits go to waste, just because God blessed us with so much.
Jen,
So glad I came to your site today and linked up. Thanks to blogs like yours, I have grown a heart for missions. It is so exciting to carry out tasks, however small they may be, with my family to help people in places like this. Have a VERY blessed day!
Wow. What a touching post. I feel blessed just by reading your story. Compassion is a great mission. We really are truly blessed and often forget the reality outside of our own worlds. Thanks for using a gift to do something wonderful!
I, too, am stopped in my tracks about your journey. Thanks for sharing and letting us see where you used your winnings. We can help out here in America, too. Our church spent today doing a Mobile Food Pantry… where we bought a truckload of food for $300 ( enough to fill our church gym… bought by the food bank so they could get some great deals). We “shopped” the food filling 300 grocery bags and then distributed it to 300 people who had signed up with a local agency to get the food. That means we helped feed 300 families today!! It was a great project for everyone of every age (except toddlers and babies) showing us that we all can do something to help. We are so blessed here in America, but still many of our friends do go to bed hungry.
Love hearing this, Patti…thanks for sharing. That sounds amazing, and you are right, it starts right with those around us. 🙂
Your sweet heart bleeds through into everything you do and this is no exception. I hope you and the fam are having a safe and meaningful time in Guatemala. Thank you for sharing this with us!
Wow! What a touching story. I can’t even imagine how it would be to live in such circumstances. We are so blessed. Thank you for sharing. I am new to your website today and I am excited to follow your posts. Thanks!
What a blessing you are, Girl.. There & here.. Thanks so much for sharing your journey!
Jen, congrats on winning the sandwich competition! What a wonderful way to celebrate your winnings by helping others, but I would expect nothing less coming from you. Thank you for sharing this story. It’s a blessing and an inspiration.