If you have ever seen Amma inspect a kitchen, you already know the importance she places on preparing good quality food and on the avoidance of waste. People who volunteer to chop vegetables for the meals served at Amma's programmes are taught to cut carefully, taking out only bad spots, not any of the good food surrounding them, or to peel a potato shallowly, so that the parings are thin and nothing is wasted.

When you watch Amma herself preparing food, you see her putting her teachings into practice.

Amma's Finnish children share these values, and put them into practice, too.

This year, committed to serving organic vegetables but faced with the same problem that plagues everyone-the higher cost of such specially cultivated foods-the Helsinki food coordinators had to find a creative solution. They did.

A group of volunteers spent an entire day on an organic farm, cultivating and harvesting vegetables. In exchange, the farmer donated organic cauliflower and onions for Amma's Helsinki programmes this year. Funds better spent helping the poor through Mother's charitable activities were not wasted on higher-priced food, and still nutritious, organic vegetables graced the tables.

Amma says when we make our best efforts, God's grace is naturally attracted. Thus the wholesome meals served in Helsinki were the fruits of grace and effort.

- European Tour Update