Bread Project

The Spanish word for bread is pan, and the place where it is baked is called a Panaderia.  One of the dreams we’ve had for the Social Work site is starting a Panaderia, where women from the community can make a quality product to help earn some money to help provide for their families.  It could also help them learn how to work together, the importance of persevering, and making and keeping goals.

Last summer, a generous church in Florida donated all its Vacation Bible School offering to the Social Work Site.  We asked them if we could use it for a “Bread Project”, including ‘spiritual’ and literal bread.  They enthusiastically said Yes!

The first ‘bread’ we purchased was a way to share the Bread of Life, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is revealed, of course, in the Bible.  So, we bought several large print versions, as well as audio and interactive Bibles.  We also bought The Jesus Film and other dramatized Bible stories (in Spanish, of course).  It’s been wonderful to share the truth of the Bible in ways that those who have poor eyesight, or cannot read at all, can understand! 

Now, we’re moving into the second part of the Bread Project.  The kind of bread you can smear with peanut butter or make into a yummy sandwich.  Last week we bought a stove (with oven) and gas canisters.  It was delivered this week.  Along with the VBS money, another church brought measuring cups, pans, bowls, and other items this past fall.  They’ve been waiting patiently for their first use!

Si Dios quiere (the Lord willing) that will happen next week when a woman from a nearby community will come and teach our El Callejon women.  We’re excited, not only because we’ve sampled her bread (and it is delicious!) but because she lives a similar life to the women in El Callejon, and so she can connect in a way we cannot. 

Like them, she works hard, cooking, cleaning and caring for her family, and also works outside the home on weekends.  She loves Jesus, and even though life is not always easy, she has joy in Him.

We also have someone on staff who has worked for her brother who owns an actual Panaderia.  They have connections with suppliers and others who know about bread.  One of her contacts is coming to help show techniques and share a simple recipe, too! 

Our Microfinance site leader has given one lesson to the women about running a business, and we hope to have him return, as we move ahead.  We want to help the women understand that just saying they want to bake bread isn’t all it takes to make a profit. 

We feel so blessed at all of those who have contributed already.  It’s amazing how God continues to provide!  We’ve got a lot of education and training ahead of us, but vale la pena (it is worth the pain, or worthwhile).  

We know it could be something great, but we also need to go at the pace that the women can handle.  For example, they’ve learned to cook without measuring, but that doesn’t always work well with baking.  They’ve not had experience with yeast and kneading and ovens.  But, with training and desire, we know they can learn!

We invite you to pray with us as we seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in this.  That this would truly be a blessing for El Callejon, and that we would be patient as we teach these new concepts to the women.  Please pray that we (and the women!) never lose sight of the most important Bread, the Bread of Life.