Sarah And The Chocolate Factory

Sarah and the Chocolate Factory

Sarah Johnson had never seen a homeless person. So during a family vacation to Southern California in 2009, the ten-year-old was shocked to see people sleeping on the street and holding signs that said, “Need Food.” Sarah didn’t know what it was like to go hungry. Her life was filled with sweet things—literally. She lived with her parents in central Pennsylvania, where her dad worked in the chocolate industry. For the rest of the vacation, Sarah had a hard time eating at restaurants because all she could think about was the people without food. During most meals, Sarah asked for her food to be wrapped up so she could give it to somebody on the street.

When Sarah returned home, she wanted to do more. So with her dad’s help, she built a chocolate house. No, not a candy house made of chocolate. She turned her family’s house into a gourmet chocolate factory. Using her dad’s business connections, she ordered forty pounds of cacao beans from Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic. Then she roasted the beans, ground up the yummy nibs of the bean, and slowly mixed in sugar and cocoa butter. Making the chocolate wasn’t easy, but she wanted it to be special because the money would go to help special people. Once the chocolate hardened, Sarah wrapped it in colorful foil to represent what country it came from. Then she set up an online auction where people could buy her chocolate. All the money went to Water Street Mission in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. When the auction was over, Sarah had raised $7,000 to help homeless people. And she had learned a couple of things . . . how to make chocolate and how to make a difference!

Daddy-Daughter Time

God wants us to make a difference for him. The money Sarah donated may have changed a life forever. In the Bible, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matthew 25:40). In other words, when you help someone who’s sick or give somebody clothes or something to eat or drink, you’re directly serving the King.

During this Easter season, look for ways you can help King Jesus by serving the less fortunate in your area. You don’t have to make chocolate, but think of something sweet that you can do.

What’s The Word?

The King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”   Matthew 25:40