My June 2012 newsletter contribution about my beginnings working with The Simon Poultney Foundation:
Greetings!
For the past several weeks I’ve been getting to know our
community and its people. I’ve been meeting beekeepers, farmers, schools,
clubs, and cooperatives to understand what activities are already happening,
their successes and challenges. Gordon and I have been fostering connections
with organizations and companies who share our vision for empowering people in
community. We’ve been sharing ideas and getting advice.
At Sungula School, we’ve started planning to use
conservation farming on the school’s field. The teachers responsible for the
Production Unit will work with lead conservation farmers to train the pupils
and teachers. This is a great opportunity to teach this simple and effective
technology to the younger generation and generate some income for the school
from the crops. The school’s field failed for the past 2 years so we’re hoping
to turn things around.
Conservation farming is also known as farming God’s way.
With both the school and conservation farmers in the community, I will
incorporate teaching on spiritual principals, like faithfulness with God’s
gifts, with the technical training already taking place.
We are also considering options to empower our local
beekeepers to improve honey production, quality and market access. Please pray
with us that we would earnestly seek and do God’s will for our beekeepers.
There is much opportunity in this area, so please pray that we would embark on
programs that will truly have positive impact in their lives and in the
community. Many a beehive has been given out in rural Zambia, only to end up as
food for termites instead of an income generating home for bees.
And my favorite thing—trees! I’m excited to plant tree
nurseries with Chilunga Community School and others in the area. Tree planting
offers environmental education, beautification, reforestation, and future
income generation. That beautiful new classroom block at Chilunga will
hopefully be surrounded by lovely shade trees and nutritious fruit trees in a
few years.
Next week I’ll be heading home to Missouri for my first
visit in 2+ years. I’ll be away for about a month but then I’ll be back to
Kakulu, hopefully refreshed and ready to roll.
Mushale no mutende,
Stay in peace and
good health,
Blair
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