The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. Psalm 145:15-16

There is a happy din and the warmth of the brooder hits my face as I carefully pull the velcro door flaps open. Inside 220 eyes swivel and peer into mine. I have come to bring water and food to my growing young cockerels and pullets. This is a twice-daily ritual of satisfying the desires of rapidly developing birds, which in turn will mature to satisfy the desires of African families in need of wholesome protein for their fragile lives.

This cycle of feeding, watering, cleaning and changing things inside the brooder, of keeping the temperature within a two degree range around the clock makes one pensive about our God, who satisfies the desire of every living thing.

Watching, listening and feeling the pecking on the brooder walls transmitted up through the concrete block below, I am one with my birds. I know their moods by their chorus, I have been with them from first in the morning and checked them the last thing before bed. I reflect on how good our God is, who loves and cares even for these little birds. He clothes them with an elegant stripped Zebra-banded pattern of plumage that makes them comically dapper. He has endowed them with disease resistance, given them speed, agility, antigravity jumping skills. He has made them desirable both for meat and for eggs, especially the latter. As they grow to full maturity, they will complete the cycle which continues that great riddle: What comes first.....the chicken or the egg?

Carrying 110 pound bags of feed to my ratproof  bunker with my middle aged frame, it is all just possible. I have looked to God, and he has satisfied my desires for 46 years. These new creatures are part of the same plan, they also ultimately look to him, and he never disappoints.

Spending time with  a legion of gregarious juvenile fowls is very comforting. Looking through the brooder  vent screen window from a seat outside is what I call “chick TV” It is somewhat addictive after a long day. If the phone rings, they know where to find me.

The great American drought of this summer has pushed up corn prices here in Africa and surprised grain mill operators with the linkage and power of the global market. I spoke with a mill owner yesterday trying to price quality feeds for budget birds, and got the story. I am grateful to be able to heft 110 pound bags of grain for these birds, and that water is available for them to drink and grow on here in Africa where spring is at hand. As Joseph satisfied his brothers and father with grains from Egypt to meet their needs, today his spiritual descendants are providing their African brothers with the means to eat and live. The eyes of all wait upon thee.......... and God has opened his hand and satisfied the desires of every living thing! 

To donate towards the chicken project go to: http://www.internationalministries.org/projects/55