Zimnews 7 MAY 2008

Jubilee Project:

We have just returned from Zambia where I was coordinating the biannual Agric training. We had 35 students from all over Zambia. Some familiar faces but mostly new students. An Agric. ministry official as well as two police officers responsible for the police farm attended. A big thank you to Anton from Tulbagh (Management) Frans (Poultry) and Jaco (Fruit tree management and production). For the first time one of our old students - Christina, a vegetable farmer from Luansha helped us with the vegetable training.

A highlight for the students was a walk in the surrounding villages to meet some of the Jubilee project members,see there crops and hear there testimonies.

We ended the training with the annual Jubilee show. Many Jubilee members brought there produce and Anton and Elise had a difficult job judging the exhibits. The best exhibit by one producer had 14 different kinds of produce. Each Jubilee field worker nominated his most faithful farmer in their Jubilee group and they received prices. Beatrice, a single mother growing two ha of excellent maize and lots of vegetables from Makula village was crowned Jubilee farmer of 2008.

John Tukumana was acknowledged as Jubilee Transformer of 2008. This is always such a thankful time in the  lives of those serving in this community to see and experience what God is doing.

We are challenged to focus on the vegetable and meat production for our Training Centre kitchen as the number of students are ever growing. Please pray with us as we seek His wisdom for a sustainable solution to meet this need.

Makesure remained in Masaiti to encourage the Jubilee farmers to carry on weeding through out the winter. He will also visiting Kalungu to encourage the Jubilee group there.

Bach at home, the elections had come and gone but the food, medicine shortages and suffering is ever increasing. Rural areas where the opposition made inroads are facing the brunt of this security forces as they carry out a campaign of voter education they called it "realignment". The area where Mahesure comes from is one of these areas, please pray for the protection of the Jubilee group there including Martha and the children.

Makesure was chosen as the Provincial small scale farmer of the year and a big field day was held in his village. His reward was 150ha farm in Mangura area - a much better farming area. He declined the offer saying that he was called by God to make a way for the people of the area where he now is. (Isaiah 62: 10) and not to money to another place to enrich himself. For 4 years he and his family experience total rejection and persecution by the community in spite of wonderful harvests. Only now a break through as he just continued to lift the banner of freedom higher (Isaiah 62: 10)

Other Jubilee farmers are busy reaping with Lason reporting 816 kg of Soja from half a ha. The Jubilee group with Makesure have a manual oil press with which they are pressing oil from soja and sunflower. There is a great demand for cooking oil in the rural areas and this venture is adding a lot of value to the rotation crops. We are in the process to buy two more presses so that group can generate its own income.

Zimbabwe:

A dear friend send me Isaiah 26 and I can so identify with vs 16 "Lord they come to you in their distress when you discipline them, they could barely whisper a prayer" A feeling of hopelessness and despair is among the people as the struggle to survive gets worse.

Pray with us vs 3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trust in you" as we are struggle to keep our minds focused in a time like this.

Thank you for all the encouraging e-mails, SMS`s and prayers.

Greetings in the name of Jesus, the name of ultimate victory.

Boet, Celia and team.