| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: MARCH 18, 2023 CLEANING RICE THE JESUS WAY Our rice is not store bought but comes straight from the rice fields in the hull to our storage barn. It stores without any danger from bugs, as the hull God provided for it keeps bugs from eating it. Processed rice, ready to eat, will only store for a few months before weevils would eat through the bag and attack the rice.  Winnowing the hulls from the delicious rice THE JESUS WAY! https://youtu.be/5NlEUqw8kA8 The widows from our church know how to properly process rice the Jesus Way. This method of pounding the rice to break off the hull is the manual method used here for centuries. This process uses a huge mortar and pedestal method as you will see in the videos. The mixture of cracked hulls and rice is then placed into a special winnowing basket and separated by the women. When finished, we have a sack full of very nutritious rice that heat has never touched. Processed rice has been through machines that not only removes the hull but removes much of the nutrition as well. When visitors get a taste of our rice they are amazed at how nutritious and filling it is. Our children love it! EVERYONE WORKS The handicapped widows and orphans in our area have learned how to cope and are most willing to do what they can to help with our children’s food preparation. This video features Eva, our 22- year-old who suffers from Cerebral Palsy. Eva’s gift is helps. She learned from her teenage years how to pound the rice to remove the hull. This little lady dearly loves her rice, so helping to make it eatable is a pleasure to her even though it is hard work. As you watch her pound away, realize the pole she is using weighs 15 lb./7kg!  Eva using her gift of helps https://youtube.com/shorts/o1QY3qHC0Lk?feature=share  Handicapped widow sifting the rice In the video at the beginning of this blog, you will see a widow sifting on her knees, for she has lost 1 leg below the knee. But that doesn’t stop her from being a part of the women’s group that cleans the rice. She just sits or works on her knees to get the job done. DOING WHAT YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE IS NORMAL AROUND HERE. BABY HOMES FAST BECOMING TODDLER HOMES Visiting the children in the 2 “baby” homes means getting overrun with toddlers! They do grow quickly, as all are walking except for 4 of the 15!  Assistant Office Manager, Whitey, shows off his strength by loving on toddlers Susana (L) and Fatima ® Our Assistant Office Manager, Whitey, dearly loves the children and of course they love to be held by visitors! When I need a hug, I just have to go for a visit and the many smiling 2‑year-olds provide all the hugs I can handle. THANK YOU FOR MAKING HAPPY FACES ON THE 1000’S OF CHILDREN OUR PROGRAM TOUCHES. BLESSINGS, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |
