PB+J Peanut Butter and Jesus

We just finished Vacation Bible School at Beech Street. It was incredible! This year the missions offering was to support PB+J. This is way more than a sandwich. PB+J (Peanut Butter and Jesus) is an organization in Malawi that feeds starving kids and tells them about Jesus. The organization hires local farmers to grow peanuts. The peanuts are then roasted and brought to the PB+J factory where vitamins, minerals, sugar, and oil are added to make a RUTF (ready to use therapeutic food). This is put in easy to squeeze sachets. Then PB+J teams go to local villages and measure kids through weight and arm circumference to determine which are malnourished. About 50% of kids in Malawi are stunted from chronic malnutrition. These kids are given enough packets to feed them for a month.

Then the PB+J team gathers the moms, kids, and others from the village and tells them all about God's love for them and about salvation through Jesus. Once the physical needs are met, and the people have seen the genuine care of the team, ears are opened and hearts are softened to receive the good news!

I am excited to see this team in action while I am in Malawi. These sachets are what I will use in the hospital for our malnourished patients. Also, I will be staying at a guest house that is there avenue of financial support called Hope's Inn!

At VBS, the kids competed, boys vs. girls, to see who could raise the most money. Together they raised $1034 dollars!! The motivator was that the losing leader was to be peanut butter and jelly slimed. Michelle happily took on the sticky task and was the cutest sandwich you can imagine. Best of all, kids joyfully gave so that other kids could have full bellies and hear about JESUS. VBS ROCKS!!!