Learning to help others

Linda and Bob Webster introduced our Sunday School to the inner workings of the Heifer Project on Sunday, launching what will be a long-term iniative to teach our children about worldwide hunger and poverty.

Linda and Bob have worked at the Heifer International Farm in Alabama and on Sept. 21, they described their experiences to the children of our Sunday School while sharing a video presentation, reading a book about how a Heifer project can be a success, and even offering the children the opportunity to taste goat milk, goat cheese and goat yogurt, all products from Heifer projects.

The Heifer Project was introduced to the children on Sunday because throughout the school year, a collection will be taken from Sunday School participants to purchase a goat or flock of chicks, honey bees, llama or perhaps even a heifer.

The purchase and donation of these animals go to the Heifer Mission, which distributes them to families in poverty throughout the world, helping them to become self-reliant through the gifts they receive.

For example:

• Goats can produce up to a ton of milk a year and give birth to twins or triplets.
• Heifers can produce a calf every year and up to four gallons of milk a day.
• Honey bees can supply beeswax and honey and improve crop yields through pollination.
• Chickens can supply up to 200 eggs a year.
• Llamas and alpacas suppy wool and carry loads where other animals can’t.

The Sunday School children learned all of this from Linda and Bob through their own experiences with Heifer International, but also when Linda read the group the story “Beatrice’s Goat.”

“Beatrice’s Goat” is a true story based on Beatrice Biira from Uganda, whose life was transformed when she received the gift of a goat from Heifer International. As a result of the goat and the milk it produced to sustain the family, Beatrice was able to attend school. She eventually went on to graduate from Connecticut College. The story was documented by 60 Minutes in 2005.

After hearing about Beatrice’s goat, the children on Sunday were given other projects connected with Heifer International.

The children had questions about how their dollars and coins could go toward the purchase of an animal. Linda and Bob explained the process and a collection was taken.

Through Heifer International, the cost of some of the animals:

• Heifer: $500
• Share of Heifer: $50
• Llama: $150
• Goat: $120
• Share of Goat: $10
• Honey Bees: $30
• Flock of Chicks: $20

Ckick here for more information on Heifer International: Heifer

Since 1944, Heifer International has helped 18.5 million families in more than 125 countries.