Some things need no comment.
ALMOST NOTHING TO EAT: A True Story of How God Performed a Miracle for a
Family in Cuba:
It was the last week of the month. As I was getting ready to prepare
our Sabbath meal, I stood in front of my pantry, looking at the empty
shelves. What can I do? I thought.
The small ration that the Communist government of Cuba allowed per family
per month was gone. Only two cups of rice and a small bit of oil and part
of a loaf of bread were left.
>From my summer garden I had a green plantain (a banana that you cook), two
tomatoes, and a small head of lettuce. That was all the food I had to feed
my family for Friday night, Sabbath and Sunday.
Because the first day of the next month was on Monday, I could not go to
the store to buy more food until then. My little family of three - my
husband, Hugo, our daughter, Lena, and me - there was not enough food.
We usually had visitors come to our house for Sabbath dinner, "But not this
Sabbath!" I thought.
I put rice to cook in a little pot. With one of the tomatoes I made a
little
salsa and cooked six small vegetarian "meatballs" made out of the single
plantain. There it was - all of our food for two days! When Hugo arrived
home
that afternoon, I explained our food situation to him.
"Please don't invite anyone home for dinner tomorrow," I asked. He
understood.
When I heard our doorbell ring a little later and went to see who was at
the
door, I heard the voice of a young man who had come from a distant city. We
knew he was interested in one of the young ladies in our church, so we had
told him that whenever he wanted to visit ourchurch, he was welcome to stay
in our home. But why today? I thought. The fact was, though, that he was
there; and I knew that we would have to share what little food we had with
him.
While the young man took a shower, I quickly prepared a glass of water with
sugar and a slice of bread for each member of my family. That was our
supper.
When our visitor came out of the bathroom, I served him a little rice, two
of
the plantain balls, and one leaf of lettuce made into a salad. "We have
already our supper because we have to go to the church for the Adventist
Youth meeting." I explained to him.
When he arrived at the church that evening, I learned that the girl our
friend
had come to visit was out of town."Oh no!" I thought, "Now we will have to
feed
him lunch tomorrow!"
My husband gave me the solution the next morning. "Let's tell him that we
are
fasting today so you can then give the food to him and Lena." I agreed.
While sitting in church that Sabbath morning, I noticed a man from a
neighboring church attending with his young son. He had to bring his older
son
to a nearby hospital and had decided to stay at our church for the church
service. My thought was, "Two more for lunch today!"
Later in the morning, Hugo whispered to me, "There is a couple visiting
from
Havana. When I was in the Seminary, I was assigned to the church where they
are members. Many times they had me to their house for Sabbath dinner. We
have
to take them home."
My immediate reaction was desperation, but in a flash, Bible stories
passed through my mind: the manna in the wilderness, the oil and flour of
the
widow, the little boy's lunch that the Lord used to feed thousands. "Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8), I
remembered.
Trusting only the Lord, my Provider, I answered my husband with a
confident,
"Sure, invite them home. The Lord will provide."
When we arrived home after church, the visiting lady graciously offered her
help in the kitchen. "You're on vacation," I said. "It's time for you to
rest.
I will take care of everything in no time!"
Going to my kitchen, I knelt in front of the stove on which sat those two
little pots with almost no food in them. I told my Lord and Provider,
"Lord, here are my fishes and my loaves. It is all I have, and You
have asked me to feed these people as You asked your disciples to do
that day long ago. I give you what I have. You do the rest."
While the rice and the plantain balls were warming on the stove, I
took the small head of lettuce and the tomato which I had saved for the
salad.
Walking over to my china cabinet, I reached in to take out a small salad
bowl,
but it was as if the Lord was talking to me. "Where is your faith? Haven't
you
asked Me to multiply your food? You need a larger bowl - enough for all the
people and some left over." "Forgive me Lord," I said, taking out the
largest
bowl I had. As I took off leaves of lettuce, washed them, and cut them into
my
salad bowl, I did not see the leaves multiplying, but it seemed that the
head
of lettuce was always the same size, and more and more leaves were coming
off
it. When I finally got to the last leaf, the bowl was completely full. Then
I
began to cut the tomato, and it remained the same size until I had enough
to
combine with the lettuce into a nice tossed salad.
The same thing happened with the small piece of bread! Always I was able to
cut
another slice until I had filed a basket. By now my faith very strong, so I
took
out a big serving dish for the rice. I had to laugh when I saw that big
dish
beside the small pot, but I knew what the Lord was doing. I began scooping
the
rice into the serving dish, and always, the same amount was left in the pot
until
the dish was completely full. And there was still the same amount of rice
left
in the pot!
"Lord," I said, "You are providing not only for these people today, but You
are
providing also for us tomorrow, aren't you?" I could imagine a smile on His
lovely face while He was nodding to me.
Then came the plantain balls. When I turned on the stove to warm the food,
I saw
that there were only four plantain balls left. Now, I had a big bowl in my
hand,
and I smiled, in spite of myself. When I took the pod lid off, the pot was
full
of plantain balls! I filled the big bowl full, and there were still enough
balls
left in the pot for the next day!
When I was ready, I went into the living room. To my husband, I said,
"Honey, I
know you were planning to fast today, but since we have these beloved
brethren
with us, why don't you join us for dinner? You can fast at any other time,
if
you want."
Hugo looked at me as if to say, "Are you out of your mind?"
As our visitors went into the bathroom to wash their hands, I led my
husband to
the dining room table. He could not believe his eyes, and two big tears
rolled
down his cheeks.
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Thanks Donold Mackintosh
The Pastors Net
A service of MI Communication
See what I mean?
