"A Taste of Africa" brings unique flavors and a mission to Kennett

KENNETT, Mo. - Most of us here enjoy our fair share of ethnic foods.

We have a few restaurants that serve our favorites, from Mexican and Chinese cuisine to Greek and Japanese flavors.

A one-of-a-kind, two-hour-only event is on tap for Saturday, March 15, when churches in the area sponsor a fundraiser to aid a Liberian ministry.

"A Taste of Africa" offers guests a singular opportunity to dive fork-first into "mother of mankind's" culinary delights at Kennett's First Baptist Church Family Life Center, in conjunction with Ely Baptist Church, said Kennett Chiropracter and missionary Chancellor Wayne.

"This weekend we had our second preparation meeting for 'A Taste of Africa'," Wayne said Tuesday. "We're gathering various churches to help with this fundraiser for Calvary Love Ministries."

For those who sometimes wonder where their offerings land, "A Taste Of Africa" ticket sales are dedicated to supporting the ministries' mission, Wayne said.

"Most churches around here give to the International Mission Board," Wayne noted. "They give to the North American Mission Board.

"But you never know exactly where that dollar goes," he added. "Our ultimate goal is to raise enough funds for Joel and Jemima Caulcrick, A.C. Caulcrick's parents, to move to Liberia, to the Calvary Love Ministries campus, and support the children's ministry and school there full time."

The couple started a children's home and education facility outside of Buchanan, Liberia, nearly a decade ago, Wayne explained.

“Nine years ago,” he said. “There are 35 children that live on campus.

“They run the only free school in Grand Bassa County,” he added. “Pretty sure it's the only free school in Liberia itself. There are several schools inside of Buchanan, Liberia, but they are private schools.”

The Caulcricks "work two or three jobs apiece, and they count on donations from churches, individuals, organizations, and companies to help them" operate the entire campus, Wayne explained.

"And they do that for approximately $4,000 a month," he noted. "That's teachers, that's food and everything else."

And there are times when special projects require funding, and now one need is transportation.

"They do have a very old van with well over 200,000 hard miles on it," Wayne said. "They now run into town, pick up some of the teachers, and they pick up students on the way.

"Some of these kids walk five miles to school," he continued. "And it's the only school in the county. Joel sent out a picture a few weeks back with 35 people packed inside a 15-passenger van."

Wayne emphasized the need and said, "right now, we're trying to gain support"

"For this children's ministry, he said. "Donations are important, and one, you know exactly who that dollar is going to."

And two, for those who wish to travel to Africa and serve, "all you have to do is join one of the groups that's going over," Wayne said.

The Wayne's trek there for the fifth time this autumn, he explained, and it's always a worthwhile journey.

"My wife and I are going to lead another group November 20-28 during Thanksgiving because that's their dry season," he explained. "If we go in the summer, that's their wet season and they'll have days and days of constant rain."

But at Kennett in mid-March, those who want to experience "A Taste of Africa" have exactly that chance.

"You're going to have some traditional American food," Wayne said. "So you'll have a full dinner.

"Then you're going to have some traditional African-style food," he added. "Typically, at these events, you'll have some Jollof Rice, a couple of different flavors of rice bread, one is usually nutmeg, and another is ginger, and they're both really good. Joel, the morning of, will make some root beer, but it's ginger beer, which is very much an acquired taste. So everyone will get a communion cup because you really either love it or hate it."

And more is in store, he noted.

"We'll do fried plantains and Challah Bread," he explained. "A yeast bread that they make quite a bit over there. You fry it, then you dip it in pepper gravy, which is a pepper sauce made from very hot peppers fried in oil, and it's one of their seasonings that they put on top of rice and cassava.

Both silent and live auctions are planned, and donations for those fundraisers are invited, Wayne said.

"Hopefully, over the next few weeks, you'll have a representative coming from area churches and asking, 'Hey, could you possibly donate something for this?'" he said. "Drop off donations at Ely Baptist Church or any of the churches around here. Let us know, and we'll come and pick it up."

This unique occasion, "A Taste of Africa," Calvary Love Ministries' fundraising event, is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center, 1090 Southwest Dr., Kennett.

Tickets are $25 each, and space is limited, but tables of six are available, Wayne noted.