It All Starts With The Fruit... Eleos Week 2

Chopping all the fruit first thing in the morning is my favorite so far. I always start with the pineapple. Then it's mangoes, bananas, pears; and last, blueberries.

Spaghetti, green beans, garlic bread, and cookies, or fresh fruit were on the menu for week two. The sun was shining, and it was so beautiful. We met seven new families; thirteen meals total were delivered.

They all have different stories.  Some are couples, some are widows. Some are "rich" and  others poor. Some are able to answer the door, some are not. Some don't call us, they're children do because they just can't make out the numbers on the phone.  Some have had strokes or suffer from Altimers. Others  are just on a very fixed income and usually heat a can of generic soup for lunch or dinner.

Some have had needs outside of Thursday, others just need to talk on the phone when we check if they need a meal this week. It's really such a blessing, for us.

A lot of you have been asking questions about Eleos.

What exactly is it?
What does it, "eleos" mean? 
How does it work?
Is it like a church?
Are you a 501-c3?
How do you buy stuff?
How do you cook it?
Will it always just be meals for older people?
What if it gets too big?

Where did it come from? 

I thought I'd explain. 

What exactly is it? 

It's just a name. It's a name because... in our culture, a name is socially acceptable to receive help from. People will let a name help; a name like "Eleos" or "Habitat for Humanity." But they won't let, Joe and Jane; or Daniel and Kati help. So, we gave it a name. It's just a name that has people behind it who want to love on other people.

What does it, "eleos" mean?
ἔλεος

You can best sum it up in the English language as: mercy, compassion, and a readiness to help. You can click HERE to read some interesting things about the actual word, hear how to pronounce it,  and how it's used in scripture. I bet you'll fall in love with it just like we did. 

How does it work?

Well, "it" has lots of different things. It's not just the Thursday food thing. We have other things in the works, praying God will see them through. Just today, the city donated the local Civic Center for us to use on April 16th for a Free Family Community Pancake Breakfast. Then they also donated the building on May 7th for a Free Garage "Sale", where people can come and get anything they need and take it home for free. They were so GREAT! 

We hope both will become Annual Events. The Family Pancake breakfast the weekend before Easter and the Free Garage "sale" the first week of May. That is when parents are pulling out last years summer stuff and realizing their little ones have grown four inches over the summer and panic can sat in. Or the momma ate too much over the holidays and last years summer clothes don't fit ; ) Perhaps, if it goes well... we can do a back to school one in the fall. We are hoping people in the community will chip in and donate their spring cleaning items.

For now, as far at the food part: It's simple. People call, give us their information, some chat for a long time, some make it quick. Then we deliver their food on Thursday. I call that morning to remind them we're coming and give them a time frame. We don't stay and chat because everyone is waiting on their hot meal but we make it clear that we are available if they need anything. Sheets changed, house cleaned, something fixed, someone to talk to, etc. There is no charge for anything and no donations are accepted or expected.

Is it like a church? 

Hmmm, define church. I'd say it's like being the church outside of the walls. But no, we don't have a church. 

Are you a 501-c3? 

No. Why? Well, that is super hard to do and since we don't ask for any money we just can't justify all the cost and time involved with becoming 501 c-3. If the need ever presents itself in the future, we'll just cross that bridge when we get there. We do have a budget we've created and keep an exact record of money spent towards supplies.

How do you buy stuff? 

Just like you go to the store and buy stuff.  =) We are getting all we can in bulk at Sam's along with the to-go containers, food handling gloves, etc.

How do you cook it? 

What we've served so far we've cooked on the stove top. Tomorrow is Chili, if I had a big enough crock pot I'd make it in there but I'll have to use the stock pot instead. I am starting to think I need to look into getting a big roasting pan.

Will it always just be meals for older people? Well, as far as the delivery part, yes. (I think) And who knows, we might have to split it up into two different days if we continue to grow because our huge cooler can only hold so many items and as our family grows I can only fit so many coolers in our mini-van. = ) But, we pray the "name" as a whole can take on lots of different rolls in peoples lives.  Something Daniel said at the very beginning that spoke to my heart in such a huge way was, "We need to remember to continually pray that Eleos would be not of our flesh but of God's spirit." I covet that prayer. We're praying he'll make a way for us to do whatever he wants us to do and that others would want to help or see that they can do things in their own neighborhood. 

Where did it come from? 

It is a little strange, I know, especially to our friends and family because nobody knew we were getting ready to do something. Our family found out when the paper hit the stands, and our friends found out when I did the first post about it on our blog. We just finally said, "That's it, if we don't start somewhere, we'll never start." and we ran with it. It was a total God thing.

It's not a big deal, really. That is why we didn't tell anyone. We're just getting back to who we are, without collecting a pay check for it ; ) All the while, begging, pleading,  praying  =) God will continue to provide what we need and prepare our hearts for obedience and complete surrender.  Trusting that we are defined in Him and he has made us new. How can that not make you wanna go CRAZY on some people with love?! He has made you new!

Tomorrow is week three! Pray, please that God's love would be a reality in these peoples lives and they would find joy in Him and Him alone because that joy is contagious! 

Remember, God has created you to do something too! It all starts with the fruit my friend. 

Loves,