Bread For Life ~ 10 Months In Review

This blog post is dedicated to everyone who has purchased a loaf of bread, prayed for this ministry or simply offered precious words of encouragement along the way. Without YOU none of this could have happened. 

‘Bread For Life’ is the Lord’s ministry. I offered Him the one talent that I was confident I had (baking pumpkin bread) and, because of His unfathomable love for the orphan, He has done the rest. In short, ‘Bread For Life’ has raised over $10,000 is less than 10 months! Unbelievable. Or is it? 

BFL was conceived in December of 2011 when I learned that most orphans do not have daily meals,  have no safe place to lay their head., and have nobody to hold them and tell them they are loved. They are abused, abandoned and often left to die. My heart bleeds for these children daily. There is a never-ending cry in my heart to love these children, whatever that may look like. 

After much prayer and seeking the Lord, I kept asking, “What can I do?” Then the idea came to mind, “Well, everyone tells me I bake good Pumpkin Bread” (all credit goes to my mother! It’s her recipe) “I could bake bread and sell it.”

From that moment on, that is what I set out to do and sure enough, people loved the bread. Most of all, however, they loved the cause! Once made aware of the urgent needs of children worldwide, they were eager to help in anyway possible. This is why my heart becomes overwhelmed with hope, gratitude and thanksgiving. Because WE have made a difference for so many lives, already. It hasn't even been 1 year and lives have been radically changed forever!!

Why? Because this is God’s ministry! This is His heart. We get the privilege to be His hands and His feet and through that He blesses us with unspeakable joy. Isn't that the coolest thing ever? I think so!

I also remember the day the Lord spoke to my heart and gave me the name “Bread For Life”. I was walking from my kitchen to my living room and it was as if the Lord said, “Your bread will help bring life to my children. I am the true 'Bread of Life' and you will be used to show them that truth.” Amazing!

I have baked and you have bought.

So without any further a-due, please allow me to share with you all that WE have done together as a team:

** Sanyu Babies Home in Uganda. Over $6,000 donated to this orphanage that takes in babies who have been abandoned anywhere from hours old to 3 years old.  When we visited this past June, my favorite little guy was Philip. He was 3 months old at that time and oh-so-little. Upon my return home, I learned that Philip was abandoned when he was 1 day old on the steps of Sanyu in the middle of the night. The Mamma’s found him wrapped in blankets when they arrived to work that morning. My heart bleeds with sorrow for these little precious bundles of joy. 

** “A Perfect Injustice.” API is a home for young boys who have been rescued from the slum of Kampala and given a chance at life - ‘Bread For Life’ was able to purchase yard equipment (lawn mower and weed eater) for this property so that the high grasses could be cut away. It was able to provide a clear, safe path for the boys and village families to walk to the well to get water and not have to worry about snakes and other creepy African style creatures biting them or hurting them. It also allowed grass to be cut around the home allowing these boys to have a safe field to play sports on. Just what every boy deserves right? I think so. 

** “Redeemer House” Orphanage in Uganda- We blessed the directer of the orphanage Kathy Vaughan with a cash donation for what she needed to better her home. I believe she said she needed to fix (or buy) a dinner table so all the children could eat meals together as a family every night. She also said she had village children she would like to provide for. You can read about Kathy and her story here (click on "About Us"). She is a remarkable and amazing woman that I am honored and humbled to have been able to spend time with. You talk about a woman of faith: this is her. 

** “A House of Praise” (This is my favorite!)- BFL was able to partner with a couple from our trip (Craig and Sherry French) and purchase a PREGNANT cow for 24 orphans who only ate one small meal a day and drank from a muddy creak. Praise is a 24 year old woman who took it upon herself to care for these 24 orphaned, hungry, lost and vulnerable children. She receives little to no help in what she does and therefore SHE NEEDS US! It was the greatest and most heartwarming feeling ever when they delivered this cow to her. The look on her face tells you everything. These precious children now have raw milk to drink on a daily basis to help their weak bodies get strong. Since our return home, we learned that the cow gave birth and the children named the calf “Miracle”. Doesn't that just warm your heart? It does mine. (All of this is a Miracle in my book!)

This is baby "Miracle"

** ‘Bread For Life’ helps adoptive families raise money. We have helped a family in their adoption process by donating over $1,900 in order to save a life of a child. I mean, really, who has $35,000 to adopt a child. Nobody does. That is why God brings people like you and I along to help in that process. *If you know of a family in our community in the middle of an adoptive process, please contact me. We would love to help support and fundraise!

** BFL has donated a small portion of money to help a family lay concrete in their home in the Dominican Republic. Because of ‘just enough funds’ a group of woman from Calvary Chapel Petaluma were able to donate the money for this to happen. This is huge. Image living in a home where the floor was dirt. Rain makes mud. Mud creates filth and disease sets in. What a huge blessing for this woman to now have a concrete floor for her and her family. 

(Not actual photo)

** BFL now sponsors a 12 year old boy who lives at “A Perfect Injustice”. A local Petaluma family and BFL has come together in partnership to save this child’s life. This boy, Bob, was on the streets in the slums of Kampala for 9 months after his family abandoned him. We decided to commit to his sponsorship and his future. On a Wednesday, that Saturday morning he was brought into the home. Look at his face before and look at it now! Praise God! I pray Bob is the first of many children ‘Bread For Life’ can sponsor!

Before API

After

(Sorry about the quality of the photos but I think you can see how happy he is how that he is safe!)

I have listed many things here. As I write these all out I am AMAZED at all that WE have done as a team. Do you realize, my friends, that none of this could have happened without your love and support. Do you see how huge this is. A few dollars here and there adds up! It makes a difference! It changes lives! This is proof!

Jesus made it all very clear in His words when he spoke to his disciples. He said, (I’m paraphrasing) “When you do these things, you are really doing them to me. These little ones are so precious to Me that you can just substitute Me in their place - so closely do I identify with them. In other words: It is ME that you are serving. Deny yourself. Sacrifice what is important to you for my names sake and I will make you fishers of men. I will fill you with a love for me that produces faith that will move mountains. Step outside yourself, trust me and watch what I can do.”

My heart is that everyone reading this will grasp and understand what is being shown here. These are not ‘miracles’ that I created or that you created, but really, it’s simply God’s heart at work, stopping at nothing to seek and to save. He just needs willing hearts. He needs people to say, “Yes Lord, I will!”

Throughout these months of sharing with people the heart behind “Bread For Life”, I have seen young children tithe all their money to this ministry. I have seen young girls empty their purses for the needs of the children. I have seen young adult men come to me in tears handing me all the money in their wallets. I have seen older woman write me checks that I could have never dreamed of. I have seen older men come to me, hug me and start weeping because they “get it”. After ‘so many years,‘ they get it now. Only the Spirit of the Lord could produce results like these. I will say this till the day I die, this is the Heart of Christ. This is what it’s all about. ‘Bread For Life’ is the Lord’s ministry and PRAISE GOD He has chosen us to do His work.

Thank you my friends. Thank you for all the support and all the love. And thank you to the mysterious person who pinned a $100 bill on my front porch and said, “Bread For Life.” Thank you! May God bless your heart, fill you with peace and give you a desire and love to serve Him all the days of your life!

Now, let’s see what we can do in the next ten months!

Blessings  

"And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful."

Titus 3:14

Just wired some more... WOO-HOO!

It's true!

We just wired ANOTHER
$2,500.00
to Sanyu Babies' Home.

Woo-Hoo! In a BIG way!

Praise GOD for "Bread FOR Life"!

All-in-all...
Jesus really IS the Bread FOR Life.

His children.

His ministry.

His heart... will stop at nothing.

All we need to do...
is...
take THAT step.

You know....

THAT FIRST step of faith and HE will do the rest!

He will do the rest.

Thank you Jesus!

$5,300 raised since December 11, 2011.
Yea, I'd say that's a God-Thing!

A.L.L. H.I.M.


"So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
James 2:17

If We Are Willing, He IS Able!

"Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD,

have never forsaken those who seek you."

Psalm 9:10

 

What another amazing day for Bread FOR Life

where the Lord just ONCE AGAIN

demonstrated His great mercy and love for this little ministry.

I tell you what, it is jaw dropping!

On Sunday February 19^th Bread FOR Life raised a total of

$1,340

It is just astounding.

God’s love for His children can not be stopped.

He will provide if we are faithful to act.

(If we are willing, He IS able!)

A Faithful

F.A.I.T.H.F.U.L.

God is He.

It was a great blessing to be able to stand before the congregation again and give an update on the ministry thus far. I also was thrilled and ecstatic to share with them the letter that I received from Sanyu pouring out their heart of gratitude and thankfulness for all that God has provided through the Body of Christ in Petaluma so far.

(To read the ‘Thank You’ letter from Sanyu Babies’ Home, click here.)

The letter was extremely powerful and the Spirit of God

was touching many hearts (certainly mine) as it was read.

Bread FOR Life is a miracle-ministry.

I do not say that with a boastful heart.

I am simply blown away and in complete

AWE at the work of the Lord.

(Should I expect anything less?)

When we can bake a few loaves of bread and bring in

$1340 dollars for the orphaned and abandoned children

of Africa you know the Lord is

ALL. OVER. THIS!

All Glory to His name!

* This is super cool *

The bread “sales” alone brought in $340.

Then we received a generous check for $500.00 (Thank you Mr. W!)

THEN...

We received another check for $500...

BUT

want to hear the most amazing part of this whole story and WHY I am really brought to my knees in tears with a heart of amazement?

Here is why.

I have always told my husband exactly this,

“I believe that when the time is right, the Lord will place it on somebody’s heart to give to the ministry specifically for the ingredients we need. I believe they will write us a check and say, ‘Here take this and go buy your ingredients.”

I told Chris this from the very first day

and I even repeated that to him the

NIGHT BEFORE February 19^th.

This is what I KNOW the Lord confided in me

from the very beginning.

He promised me that He would provide for this ministry if we would just take a few first-steps of faith.

Well, get a load of this:

After church, a dear, dear sister in the Lord looked at me and with her sweet little index finger motioned for me to come near her. As I sat down on the chair behind her, she leaned into me and whispered, “Im going to write you a check for $500.00, the question for you, is do you want it to go towards the orphanage or do you want it for your ingredients?”

I about fell out of my chair!

Literally!

I almost fell out of my body!

This $500 can now produce 500 Loaves of Bread!!!

These 500 Loaves could easily raise over $5,000!!!

As you could imagine, $5,000 goes a L.O.N.G. way in Uganda!!!!

ONLY GOD!

Truly God has called the church in America

to be the Bread Basket to the world!!!!

This is HIS ministry.

These are HIS children!

This is all HIS money!

He does not need us, however, He wants to use us.

I know that lives are being changed both here in Petaluma and there in Uganda through this little fundraiser. I see it almost daily.

He knows what He is doing.

He is caring for His children through a few loaves of bread

and a few faithful hearts.

Praise God.

All Glory to His name, Forever and Always!

I will have a grand total for you sometime next week. I believe we are now close to $5,000 for the orphans since December 11, 2011!!!

ONLY ONLY ONLY

HIM.

"He provides food for those who fear him;

he remembers his covenant forever."

Psalms 111:5

 

A BIG 'THANK YOU' from SANYU! - MBM

"And let us not grow weary of doing good,

for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Galatians 6:9

Tonight is another night in the kitchen!

Woo-Hoo!!!

We are heading to the bakery to bust out approx 43 loaves of delicious

LEMON BREAD!

Yum!

I just love “Bread FOR Life”

For those of you who are not familiar with “Bread FOR Life”, it is a fundraiser that I started back in early December 2011. We bake homemade all-natural bread (pumpkin, lemon, banana and yeast rolls) and sell the bread at local churches to raise money for orphans. I suggest a donation of $8.00 per loaf and 100% of all proceeds goes towards food, clothes, medical, and LOVE for the sweet orphans of this world. It really is the most amazing thing ever.
The Lord has blessed it so much. We have currently raised ALMOST and I mean

A.L.M.O.S.T.

$4000.00!

Woo-Hoo PRAISE GOD!

Currently we are sending all the money to a sweet little orphanage in Uganda called Sanyu Babies’ Home! The Lord placed this orphanage heavy on my heart months ago and ever since then
He has been faithful to provide.

Faithful God is He!

I received a precious email last night from Sanyu Babies’ Home and I would love to share that with you. It is SUCH a blessing to know that we have made a huge impact on this little old orphanage half-a-world away, and today they are rejoicing at His goodness because of you and I!

This is what it said:    Note: (*…) are things I added.

Dear Robin,

This letter comes with many greetings from Sanyu Babies' Home, most especially from all the babies in our care. (*Giggling. Precious little babies.) On behalf of all the babies, staff and administration of Sanyu Babies' Home, I wish to express our most sincere gratitude to you and to all Christians of 360 Church of Petaluma for your very kind and generous donation of 5,141,250/= (USD $2,285) to the Sanyu babies. (*Little do they know… more and more $$$ is on the way! Praise God!) The donation is of great relief to the Home and it is going to make a very big difference in the lives of the children and the entire Sanyu family. Thank you so much for being a blessing to us and I sincerely thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. (*Priceless!)

Donations to Sanyu Babies Home are very important as the Home receives no(*!) regular financial support from any church or charity, thus relying entirely(*!) on Friends like you to provide for all the children's needs. As you can probably imagine, this becomes extremely difficult at times as we often have between 40 -50 children in our care at any one time aged from hours old up to approximately 3 years. Currently we have 49 children ages 1 day old to 3 yrs.

Sanyu Babies' Home was started in 1929 by a missionary rister, RIP Sr. Winfred Milnes Walker, and it is the oldest home of its kind in Uganda. Sanyu Babies' Home is a Christian based Organization taking care of abandoned children. We exist to provide Christ-like love to babies and children deprived of parental love; and reintegrating them into the community through reuniting them with their families, fostering or adoption.

Every child has been found somewhere, often in appalling places such as rubbish bins, gardens, roadsides, public toilets, etc. The children are found from hours, days, weeks, or months old and often in very poor states of health. Their entire future relies on Sanyu Babies' Home and friends like you.(*!!)  When the children arrive, we have to guess their age and give them a name, and then here, at Sanyu is where their new life begins. (*Praise GOD for Sanyu) We therefore try to provide for all the needs of such children, from medical requirements to daily foods, etc, relying entirely on friends for support.

So a big thank you on behalf of all the children who rely on friends like you, but can not talk for themselves. (*Those precious watery big brown eyes)

We are looking forward to your continued support. Our prayers and best wishes for you always.”

Amazing!

This is what it is all about my Friends!

This is WHY the Lord created “Bread FOR Life” and this is why we must remain faithful in what the Lord has blessed us with. I am so excited to continue to make a difference. I am beyond tickled to see what the Lord has in store for us (Community of Petaluma!) as we walk faithful in His calling.

If you have a church here in Sonoma County and would like to see "Bread FOR Life"
come to your church, please email me. It is completely overwhelming the
JOY and EXCITEMENT that comes from such a sweet little ministry like this.
(I can say that because I’ve watched it change lives!)

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU

from the bottom of MY heart for all of those who have purchased bread

and made a contribution for this ministry.

Your giving is LITERALLY providing LIFE for precious little children
who have almost lost their own!

Thank you my friends.

And THANK YOU Jesus.

You are AWESOME and I love you!

 

We ARE making a difference. One loaf at a time!

 

Unknown baby girl aged 3 months admitted to Sanyu. The baby was abandoned in a Taxi by her mother. The taxi driver thought she was going to the restroom, but she never returned.. The driver took the baby to the Old Kampala Police Station and later the child was brought to The Sanyu Babies Home.

 

 

 

Unknown baby boy aged 1 month admitted to Sanyu. The baby was found abandoned near a papyrus fence tied in a plastic bag and clothes tied around his neck by a Good Samaritan named Nabuma Sumaiya. She reported the matter to the police and later brought the baby to Sanyu Babies home for care and protection

Unknown baby girl aged 3 weeks admitted to Sanyu. The baby was brought to Sanyu after the mother died immediately after birth. The next of kin, her grandfather, a widower, was unable to care fore the baby so she was brought to the Sanyu babies Home for care and protection.

 

 

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,

 they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:31




A smart woman knows her limits.
A woman of faith knows there are no limits!

God is HUGE!

All About My Father's Business

"Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD,
the God of hosts, will be with you,
   as you have said. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate;
it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts,
will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph." Amos 5:14-15

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(So sorry MBM readers for posting this twice.
I didn't link it to the exact post, just the blog in general.
Still kinda new at all this.)

Here is an unbelievable update on

"Bread FOR Life"!

In the three weeks that I baked bread, set-up tables at several churches,
brought some to school to sell and did multiple mail orders…

want to know how much was raised?

A little over $2,200.00!

That is right!

3 weeks

$2,200.00+!!!

Nothing is
too small
or
too big
for God when it comes to the orphan!

~ They are the apple of His eye! ~

Get ready Sanyu Babies' Home,

we have a blessing for you!

I can see God’s hand *ALL* over this precious little ministry and I have a feeling...
is about to take off.

Here is why I KNOW that "Bread FOR Life" is the Lord's work:

As I was baking all this bread in my sweet *little* (very little) kitchen,

I prayed to the Lord,

“Oh God, you know my heart. This is what I want to do for these precious little children.
I know you are well aware that baking in this kitchen is very small.
It’s not that I’m complaining it just comes with its challenges: lack of counter space,
no storage and many long hours on my feet with the oven on for OVER 12 hours at a time,
day after day. Yes these are small challenges but nevertheless,
you are so much bigger than this.
So I pray, Lord, will YOU raise up the right environment up for me
to continue to do this ministry, bake bread until I drop
and watch you MOVE mountains so this little loaf of bread
can feed *every* orphan in the world?”

(Oh Yes, we are praying BIG)

This was the prayer and cry of my heart in the month of December.

Well...

without a moment to lose, the Lord has provided it

ALL!

*Giggling*

A dear friend (Thank you Mrs. SBM) who rents a commercial kitchen called me,
laughing and giddy with excitement.
(*Praise God for brothers and sisters in the Lord who are also about their Father’s business!)

Here is what she was so excited over:
She offered me her commercial bakery kitchen from 8pm-5am;

She is helping me multiply my recipe to yield 20-40 per batch in HALF the baking time;

(Are you getting this?)
She donated 50lbs bag of flour;

She is hooking me up with vender's for supplies and ingredients;

And even said she will help *shrink-wrap* all my loaves!

Are you serious?????

Woo-hoo Jesus!
(Jumping up and down, singing and crying with excitement. Literally!)

She said her oven is a walk-in conventional oven that can bake up to
400 LOAVES AT ONCE IN HALF THE TIME!

Woo-hoo Jesus!
(Jumping up and down, singing and crying with excitement. Literally!)

 I think the Lord has a plan for this sweet little ministry He created called
"Bread FOR Life"!

We have seen the conception and the first-fruits of this beautiful little fundraiser and now
I believe we will see the Lord demonstrate HIS power for HIS children.

Jesus does not *ask* us to care for the orphan,
He demands it.
(Heart stopping words by Katie Davis)

He will always make a way, provide for and bless the hearts of the obedient.
That's a PROMISE!

If you are interested in blessing this fundraiser
please do not hesitate to place orders for this great tasting, moist, and delicious,
flavor-packed ALL NATURAL PUMPKIN BREAD!
Made with only the best of ingredients!

I can take orders as BIG as...

well...

 I’m up for any challenge!

Here are some ideas...
Order bread for: Church events, staff meeting, blessing a family in need, conferences

weddings, pot lucks, BBQ’s, Sunday morning coffee tables, gifts, etc.
 Or just donate to bless the ministry! ;)

Just remember this:
Every loaf of bread you buy will go directly
to the ministry of the orphan in need.

100%

Right now, our first mission is Sanyu Babie's Home.

God is my Father and I am all about HIS BUSINESS!!!

Are you with me?

And by the way, this bread freezes a.m.a.z.i.n.g!
So order big, freeze it and enjoy it at a later time.

To place an order, please email: growingforhisglory@yahoo.com

All shipping cost will need to be reimbursed to my family please :) ♥

"Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good,
in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives." Titus 3:14