February 15th – 19th

by Souper | Feb 19, 2016 | Summer Staff

It’s the time of year where things take a little turn in the soup plant and work switches over the bagging trail mix. Ingredients were measured into buckets, lined up, and then combined in a mixer. After that, an assembly line bagged and packed the trail mix, not unlike the soup packing process.

On Thursday during chapel, we were blessed by the chance to hear from missionaries that have been living in China. Their stories were both encouraging and invigorating. God is moving in China! We also took time to intercede and rejoice on China’s behalf at the end of the service.

Construction has begun on the new fumigation tunnels for the soup plant. The foundation is almost completed. After breaking up the ground, clearing away the unneeded soil, and setting up the rebar, we are able to pour the concrete today. We’ve had many helpers throughout the week, working hard to see this project through.

February 8th – 12th

by Souper | Feb 15, 2016 | Summer Staff

A lot of new developments have been taking place!

The foundation work for new fumigation tunnels is underway. The old tunnel posed several problems in size and maneuverability. These new tunnels will be larger and more efficient.

With an inspection ahead of us, much work needs to be done in the peach plant. The machinery is being deep cleaned and repainted. The contrast between the new and the old is incredible! It’s beginning to look like a new plant.

February 1st – 5th

by Souper | Feb 5, 2016 | Summer Staff

It already February! Not only that, but the first week of teams is already an event of the past. That’s not to say it’s no longer significant. Quite the opposite. A major theme lately has been talking about and reflecting on the value of time; time is a ruler for the great things God has done and is doing even as you read this.

The value of our volunteers is extensively indescribable; there is no way around it. The trays that need repairing for the summer season would remain broken. Fewer people in the world would have a warm quilt to wrap around themselves. Millions of people would have no chance at surviving life without the soup and peaches, prepared by the volunteers hands.

A large portion of our volunteers this week came from all over the country under the umbrella of the organization Young Enough to Serve (or YES!). Their name reflects not only their attitude, but the attitude of pretty much everyone else here. Were people ready and willing to scoop soup hours on end? Yes. Did anyone step up to help paint the soup plant? Yes. How about hands steady enough to sew quilts or reassemble fruit trays? Yes!

That interjection could also reflect the excitement surrounding the truck we saw off to Guatemala. While every truck is meaningful, this one was very personal for the staff, as well as several of our volunteers, both long- and short-term. The container was full of soup for Hope of the Nations, a feeding ministry started by Eric Rivera, our former director of procurement and distribution at Gleanings. Yes! Transformation is taking place in this world.

January 25th – 29th

by Souper | Jan 29, 2016 | Summer Staff

After ten days of absence, our Haiti Outreach team returned at two o’clock on Tuesday morning. Although it has been taking time for them to readjust to the time difference and such, they have enthusiastically shared their experiences during one on one conversations and gave a presentation during the Thursday night Love Feast. The room was filled with laughter at funny stories and as well as respectful and attentive silence during heartfelt moments.

By Friday morning, our volunteers packed approximately a million and a half servings of soup! We also sent off two trucks this week; one is headed to Moldova and from there the contents will be distributed to several additional European countries. The second truck is going to Cuba.

As always, we appreciate all your prayers, covering our work at Gleanings, abroad, and over the containers and their recipients. God bless you all!

January 11th-15th

by Souper | Jan 15, 2016 | Summer Staff

A home school group from Bakersfield came this week. Several of the students were young men of high school age; they were a huge help when it came to moving some heavy lifting that had to be done.

Two containers were sent out for Israel on Wednesday. The load was originally planned for departure before Christmas vacation, but due to several factors, the timing had to be changed. The containers are now in transit, carrying an abundance of soup and many boxes of quilts.

On Thursday morning, everyone gathered together at the end of chapel to pray for the team headed off to Haiti. The team from Gleanings consists of Fritz Meier, the Bruce family, Randy Erickson, Jesse Montgomery, Cierra Bellisomi, Dan and Marylou Barthold. They will be meeting several more team members from the LA area at the airport today and will be gone January 25th.

January 4th-8th

by Souper | Jan 8, 2016 | Summer Staff

The first full week of the year came with torrents of rain! It was a rain occurrence when you could step outside without a lot of downpour and stepping through major puddles. We are grateful for this rain; the California valley is in much need of it!

It’s amazing how a few weeks of vacation for the Christmas season can bring such a freshness to the daily grind. The much needed rest has put a new bounce in people’s steps.

We had a very special treat for our first Love Feast of the year; recently-wedded former Discipleship Training School student, Lety, shared her testimony with the group. Her dynamic personality kept everyone tuned in and intrigued!