I’ve been looking forward to writing this post all morning because I get to share with you the impact that YOU – friends of Forgotten Voices – have had on what’s happening among our partners in Zimbabwe right now.

Just over a month ago, we presented you all with a critical need to raise $7000 for farming training, seed and fertilizer in Zimbabwe. Through generous gifts, including a donor who offered a matching gift challenge, we raised over $7000 to support agricultural initiatives to proactively address the challenges of food security, malnutrition and self-sufficiency in the communities where we work.
We’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again – THANK YOU TO ALL WHO GAVE.

So would you like to see what those funds helped us do?

Check it out – seeds of promise (and more specifically of corn/maize) carefully planted and watered and surrounded by mulch!

This photo and those that follow were taken last month during a training on the Foundations for Farming method of cultivating crops. 40 representatives from 14 churches received training and resources to in turn share with families within their congregation who could most benefit from the opportunity to start their own 10×10 garden plot.

Stephen, a wonderful trainer with many years of experience in both agriculture AND church ministry facilitated the intensive learning and preparation.

The classroom-style training was followed by hands-on demonstrations.

He’s really getting into it now! Stephen’s passion for farming and for ministry was encouraging to all.

Teaching the precise methods for preparing the soil…

…and measuring out the seed and fertilizer

After the training was concluded, church representatives returned to their respective communities to start working with families to prepare their garden plots for planting. And then, just this week … these same church leaders gathered again, this time to collect the seed and fertilizer you helped fund which will go to these families as they finish preparing their plots for planting. It will very soon be time to plant and this is a very busy season of preparation…and of prayer for rain.

Thank you again to all who helped make this training and the distribution of seed and fertilizer a reality through your gifts to Forgottten Voices. Please continue to pray for rain in Zimbabwe, and in Zambia too, where we also are funding and facilitating similar  farming efforts! Now is a time ripe with potential and opportunity and we are so encouraged by the efforts of our partners and the families they are serving as they work hard to make the most of this time. Pray with us, as farmers do all over the world, that God would orchestrate the many factors necessary for a bountiful harvest next year.

Blessings,

Ellen Shaffer, Director of Project Management

Tags: agriculture, church, community, farming, prayer, rain, zimbabwe
Filed under: General Blog