Rob and Sarah

Finding Ways To Help

Hi! We are Rob and Sarah. We live in Iowa. This year our Sunday school is doing a project on Bangladesh.

Our teacher's name is Mr. Thompson. He teaches third and fourth grade. We love him.

This week in Sunday school we each gave $1 to our church's World Hunger Appeal.

We asked Mr. Thompson what $1 buys in Bangladesh.

He said, "One dollar goes a long way in Bangladesh. For the price of a big gumball, a person there can eat a meal."

"But some people in Bangladesh earn less than $1 a day! Their children don't get all the things they need to grow strong and healthy."

We asked Mr. Thompson why we should care about people in Bangladesh.

Mr. Thompson got out his Bible and opened it to Matthew's Gospel. Before reading, he asked us, "If you saw Jesus hungry, would you give him food?"

We both said, "Yes, of course!"

Then Mr. Thompson began to read from the Bible. Jesus said: "I tell you the truth. Whatever you do for the poorest and weakest, you do for me."

Sarah then said, "So, when we help the people in Bangladesh, we are helping Jesus?" And what did Mr. Thompson say?

"In a way, yes."

"But, Mr. Thompson," Rob said. "There are so many people in Bangladesh. I can't help them! I'm only a kid!"

"There are lots of ways you can help!" replied Mr. Thompson.

"I know!" exclaimed Sarah. "I can send them a can of peaches. They are my favorite food!"

"That's a start," replied Mr. Thompson. "But there is more."

Mr. Thompson said, "Giving food is a good thing. But think of this too. If someone gave you a fish, you could eat for a day.

"But if you both worked together...and you learned how to fish, you could eat for a lifetime." "Hmm," said Sarah.

Mr. Thompson went on: "Our church works with people in Bangladesh to help families find ways to earn enough to eat and buy things they need. We help them learn to make silk cloth and start small shops."

Rob said, "But you never answered Sarah's question!!! What can we do???"

"For one, you can pray," said Mr. Thompson.

Sarah added, "Yeah, we pray every night. Tonight we will pray for people in Bangladesh and for an end to hunger everywhere."

Mr. Thompson nodded, "The first step is prayer. The second is giving."

Mr. Thompson said, "You can share some of your allowance or the money you earn from doing chores. Every penny or dollar you give helps put an end to hunger."

"What else can we do?" asked Sarah.

Mr. Thompson went on, "You can speak out for people who need help. You can also learn about other cultures. There are so many interesting things to learn from people in other countries like Bangladesh!"

Rob said, "Maybe I will go to Bangladesh when I grow up!"

Mr. Thompson said, "I bet you will!"