13 Women, Fish, Rice, and Me

On Friday I was blessed with a “teacher work day.” I didn’t have to go to school! I was so excited because my plans for the day were so special. First I walked the kids from the mission to school. They were so excited to show me since I had never been before. 

Then I headed off to the fishing village to help the women with the elderly feeding program that they have on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We went to the market to buy all the ingredients that we needed for flavoring the rice and fish. Once we were finished, we headed back to the fish house to start cutting and cooking. I stayed in the back with La Mersi and Nanete while they scaled and cut the fresh sail fish. This is a process! They cut it up into pieces and then scale the whole thing. Once it is scaled, they cut it into smaller pieces to be able to cook. This is an art in itself! They use every part of the fish that is edible, even cutting up the head into pieces. What isn’t used is fed to the dogs that wait around for scraps. They cut it in a fashion that makes the fish go a lot farther than what I thought it would. Once they are finished with all the cutting, Geraldene and I flavored the fish with onion and lime juice. 

While the fish is being cut up, the other women are working on cooking the rice and getting the flavoring ready for cooking the fish. Once the fish is all cut up, they dip it in flavoring to get it good and tasty. Finally they cook it up in a pot until it is finished. This week I was privileged to be able to eat the rice and fish for lunch. The ladies served me up a nice plate. It is so delicious! This ministry that we have for these women is such a blessing to them! They were once women who lost their homes in the earthquake or recent floods that have ravished the country in the past few years. They had nowhere else to go and now they are here with us, getting food, our love, and hearing the Words of Jesus. One day, God will change their hearts and bring them home. I pray for that day to come sooner than later.