The power of a muffin

It is no secret that I like to bake. I have been baking for as long as I can remember. It started with box cake mixes and just went from there. Now, I just prefer to bake from scratch. There is also something about a food made from scratch; so much more time and effort is put into it, you really have to invest to produce it.

When I moved to the Dominican it took a while to adjust and gain my confidence in baking again. Switching to a propane non-convection oven was hard. I had to learn all over again and figure out when to rotate food that I previously did not need to rotate, figure out temperatures, because all I have is a dial that says 1, 2, 3 and 4, and so on. But, as I practiced, I got better and now I bake at least once a week, sometimes more.

“Okay, cool. So you like to bake. What does that have to do with anything? Is this another blog post about you?” To answer the last question first, no…and yes. I started making muffins at night so that Jonathan and I would have something for breakfast the next day. Trying to cook and get my husband and baby out the door in the morning was impossible (I also make bread or coffee cake but muffins are a good go too for me). I would make about a dozen and Jonathan and I would only eat a total of 4-6 of those. So, I would pack one for Amos, include one for Grecia and then give the rest to the people who we give rides too in the morning.

One thing about the Dominican, people do not bake here. Often they don’t even know how to use their ovens and they are used for storage rather than baking. So homemade baked goodies are not a thing. If you want muffins or bread or anything you go to a bakery or the grocery store.

Well, one day I decided to make a double batch and bring muffins to school for the teachers there. They were well received so, ever since, I try to bring in muffins as often as possible.

Now, at our school there are also maintenance and security people. The students usually ignore them and most teachers just have a very short, artificial, conversations with them. However, when they learned that the muffins were not only for teachers, but for them as well, they got excited (normally, if there is food at the school the rule is teachers first and they can have whatever is leftover). Now, the teachers talk to each other and the maintenance people more.

Now, driving into the school there is this older man that is at the gate to help with pulling in and out because it is very hard to see around the column supporting the gate. Jonathan and I always wave at him when coming and going and he waves back. A few weeks back I had some leftover muffins and unsure if he got any earlier in the day, I asked Jonathan to offer him some. He accepted and I thought that was that. We continued with our normal morning and afternoon waving, and if he was in the building, talking with him.

Well, earlier this week there was a school event that required us to be on campus past dark. We were pulling out of school and were doing our normal waving when the older man asked us to stop and roll down the window. He just wanted to thank us for always showing him respect and sharing the muffins with him. He was very appreciative since most parents and students do not acknowledge him and we make an effort too. It was a truly humbling moment.

After the conversation Jonathan and I talked about the “power of the muffin”. Not only was this sweet older man blessed by a few minutes of baking, but there is also a stronger community amongst the teachers and even with the maintenance people. But what is of even more importance, is that now the students see teachers engaging with each other, and people that are “not as important”, but treating everyone with the same respect. The students are watching and learning and are starting to value what these people do.

All because of some effort and time shown in the form of a muffin. Truly, ministry comes in many forms. And often times the most effective, is around a table over some food.

Until next time, may Adonai bless you and your homes.