TOLUQUILLA, Mexico—While walking through the streets of Toluquilla, Mexico, one day several years ago, medical missionary Lee Baggett noticed two types of children.
Most were lethargic, with thin hair falling out, potbellies, swollen legs, blotchy faces and blank stares, he said. Others were ruddy-faced, alert and active. Their hair was thick and strong, and they had no swollen bellies or legs.
One essential dietary component made the latter group of children more healthy-looking, he recognized—a daily tablespoon of alfalfa concentrate. The children’s parents likely had it processed at the local community center before feeding the leftover alfalfa grass to their animals.
Alfalfa concentrate can be used in recipes and as a juice. It provides a high level of protein, vitamin A, calcium and magnesium, and therefore becomes a cheap and sustainable dietary supplement.
Now serving as executive director of Hands in Service, Baggett helps raise awareness and resources, such as equipment to make alfalfa concentrate, in order to help families have healthier and longer lives. Hands in Service receives funding from the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering through a partnership with Amarillo Baptist Association.
Baggett’s ministry also seeks to fight malnutrition and hunger-related illnesses through education. Hands in Service teaches people to build outhouses, decontaminate water, budget their expenses, select nutritious food options for their diet, grow gardens to produce vegetables and fruits, and raise small animals for meat.
Through Hands in Service, Baggett has seen an improvement in people’s overall well-being due to their healthier lifestyle choices.
“They are not as sickly as before,” he said. “They are able the think more clearly. They develop a community spirit as they work together to improve the health of their own communities.”
Many doors have even been opened for local Christians to share the gospel, he noted.
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“The brothers who direct the program earn their confidence by working with the community on the project, which gives them an open door to share the Good News with many families,” Baggett said.
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