Rice is "problem"

The talk of the town of late has been the many shortages and the rising price of food. Food prices here have risen 20-50% while salaries have remained the same, making it harder and harder for families to feed themselves. 

In addition, shortages have made basic food items either difficult or impossible to obtain. A basic cheap meal here is typically a little fish, cooked with tomato sauce, served over rice, all prepared on a single-burner kerosene stove.

There's no kerosene, so many are cooking over wood fires.

The "50% broken" subsidized rice is hard to obtain, and the price has almost doubled.

With fuel for motorboats hard to get, and the ocean being rough, fish is less available, and at 3 times the previous price. 

Tomatoes are available, but the price has gone up, and the price of tomato paste has gone up too.

So families are left struggling to figure out a new plan. What to cook? How to cook it? Will we feel full tonight? I remember when I first came to the islands hearing all the people say "if we didn't eat rice, we didn't eat." They said it as a joke then, but suddenly the joke has gone sour.

I had a friend tell me today that she was nervous to see me on the street because she's not paid me back a loan I gave her. To be honest, in my mind it was a gift... I'm a happier friend if I truly let go of whatever I've loaned. But it's hard because I know many other relationships between islanders will sour because of money issues.

Is there a point to all this, other than to depress you? I think it's important to consider a few words from the Book in these times:

- "It's more blessed to give than to receive."

- "Give to the one who asks of you."

- "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

- To those who gave generously to Paul he said, "And my God will supply all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

These words challenge us at any time, but especially in times like this when the needs seem greater. May we live according to the Word, not just our inclinations.