Kitchen Of Love 15th anniversary Celebration!

    
     For over 15 years now The kitchen of Love Ministry, or "Cocina de Amor" has been established and committed to eradicating hunger in Guatemala city one mouth at a time.  For the past decade and a half Cocina de Amor has opened it's doors 6 days a week and offered a hot and complete nutritious lunch to anyone who may drop by.  Located in Zone 14 in Guatemala City and possessing another large facility out in Escipulas, the volunteers at Cocina de Amor tirelessly provide a consistent sustenance that hungry people of all kinds in the surrounding neighborhood have come to depend on and look forward to on a daily basis.  The food is always accompanied by an encouraging word, prayer, or just good fellowship to the many people who come.


"Jesus called his disciples to Him and said "I have compassion for these people and do not want to send them away hungry.  You give them something to eat."  Then Jesus gave the loaves to the disciples and the disciples gave them to the people.  They all ate and were satisfied.  Mark 15.


       The 15th Anniversary Celebration brought well over two hundred people on this very chilly Wednesday December 8th.  Cocina de Amor lived right up to their name and reputation by delivering hot plates of pasta, Pork, and fresh bread with coffee to everyone in attendance. Live music, free raffles, Cake for dessert and an impressive fireworks display made for a terrific and memorable evening to every one in attendance. Even so, this multi-dimensional celebration offered all that and so much more.



Pastor/founder  Jose Alvarez with  "The Semilleros de Cristo"

   I had met the founder and Pastor Jose Alvarez a handful of times back in the states.  Our ministries are very closely connected and he has come to my Church in Hartford and spoken on numerous occasions.  Pastor Alvarez is about the warmest man you will ever meet. He is the type of person who will tell you he loves you and you just know he means it.  He is a powerful preacher and is in addition quite a comedian and overall dynamic and genuine speaker.

Now that peoples bodies were a bit more at ease, with hot food and coffee gently nourishing and warming them from within, Pastor Jose began to nourish them spiritually.  He invited a few different people from his church and ministry to share about the miracles that God had done or was doing in their lives.  One woman spoke with tears of her miraculous healing from breast cancer.  Her husband, also overwhelmed with emotion spoke about his battle and victory with alcoholism.

 
     I too was completely and unexpectedly introduced, called on stage, and asked to share with the large group of listeners. Let me tell you it it's never easy to face so many people and share with them some of the darkest moments of your life, and then how God came into those moments with His wonderful light and took you from a previously drug-addicted person heading potentially towards jail or death to a respected missionary in Guatemala City. It's never easy to start, but once you begin it flows naturally and is an honor as well as my duty to do so willingly and with a grateful heart.  There were many in attendance with drug and alcohol problems who desperately needed to hear about the path out of their dark bondage.

     And people were moved by the entire experience of the evening.  They were moved enough to approach the altar and in search of fellowship, communion, answers, or even healing from the God they had just heard so much about.  That is when the real touch occurs and the Spirit of God moves amongst His people.  Everything we (the ministries, the  church, etc.,) do beforehand is merely to set the stage.  It is our offering to God.  Then it's time to pray and watch God work. 

    
     Just as I was able to testify about God's goodness as well as others, here too more testimonies are born.  Many of the same people who were going through a seemingly impossible storm and reached out to God for help on Wednesday night will be the ones sharing next year, or at thier own Church about how God miraculously comforted them and saved them from their circumstance that had them balancing at the brink of utter ruin.  That's how it works, and its a wonderful blessing to behold no matter which side of the testimony you happen to be on.  The important thing is that you share it for the next person's benefit.
     Just as it is of the utmost importance to meet the physical needs of God's people as well. James 2:14-17  "What good is it dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions?  Can that kind of faith save anyone?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed, " but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  So you see faith by itself isn't enough.  Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless." 
     Congratulations to"Cocina de Amor" for putting the hand to the plow and faithfully accomplishing this important work of Christ on a daily basis.  I thank God for their heart and Commitment to the hungry, both physically and spiritually.  It's an honor to be affiliated with this ministry and I pray that myself and many others too can learn from their powerful  example.



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