Waiter, there's a smile in my soup

Often on Saturdays, we do some kind of baking or cooking as way way for people to learn something new with results that they can eat themselves or use to bless their friends and neighbors. Typically, these are more western kind of foods which not everyone appreciates, because they are so different from their local Isaan foods.

So, at the beginning of last week, I suggested something different to Ngok, one of the women from our church. I asked if there was something we could make and give away to show love to their neighbors in Ban Kae (the name of their village). Ngok said she would think about it.

It so happened that during that week, several people in the village came down with COVID and were either isolating at home or, if their cases were severe, being treated in the hospital. Ngok contacted the Village Public Health Agent (who lives next door to her), and suggested making food to bring to the families.

Ngok decided to make Chicken Tom Yum. Tom Yum is a kind of soup that supposedly has many heath benefits. I guess in that way, it is kind of like chicken soup we make in the US, which is supposed to beneficial if you are sick. The name Tom Yum is comprised of two words. Tom means to boil. Yam (pronounced more like "yahm") is a type of spicy-sour salad they make here. So is it a spicy-sour soup with herbs and vegetables. The standard ingredients include galangal (a type of ginger), lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, garlic, lime juice, fish sauce and chili peppers. There are also typically shitake mushrooms or straw mushrooms. It is usually garnished with cilantro. Other ingredients may be added as well such as tomatoes or scallions. The first three ingredients are often sold in packs, along with cilantro, in markets or grocery stores. Often it is made with shrimp (tom yum koong), but it can be made with fish or chicken. The galangal, kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass are not eaten, but are left in the soup to add flavor.

Cutting up straw mushrooms

Ngok was nice and used celery instead of cilantro, which meant that I could eat it. (I'm allergic to cilantro).

Finished Pot of Soup

Straw Mushroom with a Smile

To go with this food, we prepared a bag of other food items to give away to the families affected with COVID.

Food Items to Hand Out

Because of its large size, Ban Kae is subdivided into two administrative sub-villages; each has its own Public Health Agent. They had identified ten families as being affected with COVID, and they led us around on a motorcycle with sidecar to deliver the Tom Yum and food items.

Ngok with Publich Health Agents on Sidecar

Traveling Around the Village

Some families had family members that were COVID-free and we were able to hand the items directly to them.

Handing Out Food

In families with no COVID-free members, we left the items in a chair or table for them to pick up.

Leaving Food for Families

Special thanks to View (in the blue t-shirt) who helped make and package the soup and who took a bunch of photos for us.

A few days before we gave out the food, Ngok's brother was asking about Matthew 5:13, which he had been reading.

Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. (The Message)

I asked Ngok's brother if they liked bland food. He said that they didn't. I told him that this verse means that, like salt, we are to bring flavor to the world around us by being a benefit to the people around us.

This week we had the opportunity to bring flavor to the community by delivering savory food.