THE HEARTBREAKING REALITY
OF MUD COOKIES
by Ed Schwartz, LSM President
Imagine being so poor that you have no choice but to eat dirt. Unfortunately, many impoverished children in Haiti wake up facing that scenario. To stop hunger pangs, these children eat “mud cookies” – dirt mixed with salt and oil and then baked in the sun. These cookies may stop their hunger, but they cause numerous health issues.
Loving Shepherd Ministries has worked in Haiti for over 17 years serving vulnerable children and we have seen first hand the heartbreaking reality of children eating mud cookies. Before coming into our Homes of Hope, over 85% of our children suffered from significant malnutrition but now they are provided with 3 meals a day. Having enough food is often taken for granted in the U.S., but it is a luxury in Haiti. Below you’ll read the story of Jesulah, who suffered from terrible stomach pain caused by intestinal worms – a result of eating mud cookies. Life changed forever when she joined her Home of Hope!
For many of us, it is unimaginable that children have no other option than to eat dirt. Haiti continues to face significant challenges, which have drastically increased the price of food and cooking fuel. We have an urgent need to help cover these additional costs for our current Home of Hope children. Would you prayerfully consider a first-time donation to help us provide vital nutrition to these children entrusted in our care?
A generous donor is offering a 2:1 match for anyone who makes their first-time gift to Loving Shepherd Ministries to help children like Jesulah, up to $7,000 in donations. This rare opportunity means if you give $25, it becomes $75 or if you give $100, it becomes $300. This is a remarkable opportunity to help when one considers that it only costs $200 to feed 2 children for one month.
HUNGER AND HOPE: A PERSONAL STORY
OF EATING MUD COOKIES
Sixteen years ago, under the shade of a tree in Haiti, the life of a little girl changed forever. She had been abandoned by her father, and her mother had recently died. She was living with her grandma in extreme poverty.
Ed Schwartz, LSM Founder shares: “I vividly remember on January 11, 2008, when God brought a little girl, Jesulah, and her grandmother to meet me. LSM was building our 2nd Home of Hope, and we were looking to select 12 extremely vulnerable girls to become part of this new family.
Jesulah and her elderly grandma timidly approached me. I asked if Jesulah had any health issues. Her grandma replied, “Yes it’s always her stomach…because she eats dirt”. Surprised, I asked why would she eat dirt? Her grandma sadly shook her head at my ignorance and said, “Don’t you know anything about Haiti? Children eat mud cookies when they are hungry to get rid of their stomach pains.” I was humbled.”
Due to extreme poverty, Jesulah had no choice but to eat mud cookies which resulted in terrible stomach pain from parasites and worms. We praise God that on May 25, 2008, Jesulah no longer had to eat mud cookies when she joined her new Home of Hope family! She was extremely thankful to receive not only love and care but to eat three meals a day. Over time, she began to heal from the parasites that had caused her terrible stomach pains. A few months later, she shared, “I love learning how to cook and eating meals with my Home of Hope family!”
Because Jesulah personally knows the pain that comes from eating mud cookies, she is passionate to help others who are suffering. Would you prayerfully consider a first-time gift to LSM to help make this transformation possible for other vulnerable children?
For many of us, a plate of rice and beans may not be something that inspires us to praise God, but for Jesulah this was a lifesaving gift. With over 85% of the children in our Homes of Hope having suffered from malnutrition, they all understand the importance of food. Would you help LSM continue to care and feed others like Jesulah? Because no one should have to eat mud cookies.
