Sacrifice Challenge Day One

We made it!  I was really concerned that we would not even make it through the first day.   Isn't that so sad?

This week our family is challenging ourselves to sacrifice in the area of food.  We will be eating only what a child from Uganda would eat.  If you want to know what we are doing and what we will be eating you can read my post here, http://www.thebloggingpastorswife.blogspot.com/2012/01/family-challenge-preparation.html

 Last night as I was talking with Garrett about the challenge I quickly realized that he was far from excited.  He told me that he thought Isaac (our Compassion child) probably didn't like living in Africa because of the foods they eat.  Wow!  Are we spoiled or what?!?  

This is such an awesome learning opportunity for each of us, not just the kids.  I reminded him that Isaac has no idea what fast food tastes like, nor has he ever had some of the options that we have.  I tried to explain the best that I could how food is not the reason we should like or dislike where we live, and how we should be thankful for what we have no matter how much or little.  I let him know that our joy should never come from the food we have or the restaurants we can go to.

We also were able to talk about the Israelities and how God only gave them one option.  The issue of food can really bring out what is in our heart.  In our home we have put so much focus on food that for us to do a simple challenge we are causing a big stir.  We have had quite a few issues surface in the one day we have done this challenge.  Here are a couple things that have arose:

• Peer preasure from friends - how it looks to eat differently than others.  Today some of Garrett's classmates thought it was really odd and strange that I would make him do this challenge.  They both left this morning wondering what their friends would think of their lunch.
• Taste - we might not like the options.  I quickly learned that our family is not a huge fan of mangos.  
• Deprivation - we don't get what everyone else has.  Garrett wasn't able to have brownies that a mom brought in for the class.  He came home in tears very upset that he didn't get what everyone else had.  At the root he was glad that he made the right choice and stuck with the challenge even though he really wanted a brownie. 
• Desires - we don't get to eat what we are used to or what sounds good.  I really wanted a salad for lunch!  It can be hard to put our desires on the backburner especially when everything is so readily available to us. 
• Convienence - It can be harder to plan and prepare a different diet. 
• Balanced Foods - We are eating so many starchy foods that my body is already craving veggies.

This is going to be an awesome learning experience for each of us.   We are all going to learn so much about discipline, others, self-control, sacrifice, and our desires.  If we were never faced with this sacrifice we might not have the opportunity to work through some of these issues.  This challenge is teaching us so many great lessons...and it's only the first day!


I want to share with you what we ate today.  It really wasn't bad.  Lexi even said that it was way better than she thought it would be.  She reminded us all that we shouldn't have ice.  There are so many things to think about.  We realized that we take so many things for granted.   (I did have some ice water today and some ice in my coffee.)

For Breakfast:  We had bananas, pineapple, and peanuts.


For Lunch:  Rice with black beans, bread, peanuts, banana, and pineapple.  I didn't get to make fresh bread this morning so I had to send them with loaf bread.  Tomorrow I am going to send them with flat bread.

 For Dinner:  Pan fried flat bread, rice with beef, corn, and mangos.

We are so thankful for all that God has given us and do not want to take anything for granted. Whether we have a lot or a little God is the provider!   This is going to be an awesome experiement for us, and I am praying that the Lord will show us great things.

Until tomorrow,

Valerie