The Grand Rapids Press
Saturday, March 01, 2008
But Nunez, the mother of two young children, has found a way to make friends that satisfies both her love of cooking and her interest in learning about people from other countries.
In a storefront-turned-kitchen space in Urban Family Ministries' on the city's Southeast side, a small group of women have bridged ethnic, cultural and religious differences through the communal task of preparing and sharing food.
What started nearly two months ago as an outreach effort aimed at teaching cooking at the ministries, 543 Eastern Ave. SE, has turned into an opportunity for the women -- half of whom are relatively n+ew to the U.S. -- to nourish their sense of community.
"We thought we were going to be teaching them to cook, but they have so much to share," said Mary Besteman, who is co-facilitator of the program with Betty Mollhagen.
So far, they have cooked dishes such as samosas and sweet bread, chili and baked chicken. On Tuesday, a heaping bowl of seasoned ground beef was the centerpiece for a build-it-yourself taco salad.
The women -- three African-Americans, two from Somalia and Munez -- identify themselves as Pentecostal, Muslim and Christian.
Bible study does not play a role in the cooking class.
"It's not our objective to smash faith down people's throats," ministries director Scott Vogel said, "but through our actions and our relationships, to show others that we do this because God has called us to."
The group has started an outreach of its own as a result of the class.
The women recently prepared a meal of Somalian and Spanish fare for a ministry gathering.
Source: Grand Rapid Press, Mar 01, 2008