One of the things we are very intentional about is exposing our children to new things—whether it be people, places, experiences, or food. Swazis have a very limited diet, mostly due to poverty, but also due to lack of exposure. A typical Swazi would eat their staple of maize (cooked like grits without the salt and butter… or shrimp 😊), tomatoes, emasi (sour milk/porridge), and greens when available. Chicken is reserved for special occasions.
During Camp Canaan this year, we had a very special guest come—our first “Celebrity Chef,” which is another program that we are getting started. Chef Khalil Kinnarath from Ontario, Canada, traveled with the June trip and did some cooking classes for our kitchen staff and kids, showing them a new way to cook pasta with our farm-fresh milk, eggs, and cheese. Then he made marinated chicken that left everyone asking for more.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and now we are ready for more chefs to come and help us expose our children and staff to new and interesting foods. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “Celebrity Chef,” but you have a favorite meal or baked goods that your family loves, I would ask that you consider joining one of our trips and heading into the kitchen to roll up your sleeves.
Another person who did just that is our young friend Mack McLeod, who is a celebrity in his own way, making exquisite cakes and baked goods in Alpharetta, Georgia. For anyone on Instagram, please check him out at @mack.bakes, and you will be blown away by the talent of this 17-year-old. This was Mack’s fourth trip to Project Canaan, and once again, he jumped into the kitchen and shared some of his cake-decorating tips with our kids. Everyone LOVED it—but then again, who doesn’t love a good cupcake that is perfectly iced?
We had our first “Kiwis” join the June trip, and it was fun for our children to learn a bit about New Zealand and be exposed to a new English accent. All of these things help our children be stretched into better global citizens, and we are thankful to everyone who travels on these trips with us and helps us introduce our kids to the bigger world—without even leaving our gates.
There were some children who did not get the same exposure, though. No creamy Alfredo pasta, no baked chicken, no cupcakes. Those were our little ones. They were tucked in their homes being loved and cared for by their Aunties. They were having their diapers changed and bottles warmed, followed by long naps with full bellies. In order to keep that circle going, we need more diapers—and YOU can help us with that by clicking on this link and buying diapers for our little ones. This annual Amazon drive is how we get more people involved and keep our babies in good health. All you have to do is shop, and the items will be sent directly to our warehouse. Will you join us today? (Please?)
Janine