Spring Update: New training farm and trip to Uganda and Rwanda

 

New training farm and trip to Uganda and Rwanda

Good afternoon friends and family! We're excited to let you know about some new and exciting things that are happening with our work under Equip Canada. Before I continue though, I want to say how great it was to see many of you in Saskatchewan at various speaking engagements and in Abbotsford at our dessert night in early May! It's always nice to see you, our partners, face to face! We love you and thank God for the various roles you all play, not only in our ministry but also in our lives! Back in April, I was contacted by a friend who wanted to know if I was interested in a couple of acres of land for farming and community gardening here in Abbotsford - rent free! After thinking it through we jumped at the offer and sensed God's blessing on the concept as another friend quickly offered to give us a "tiny home" office to put on the land. I got to work prepping the land in early May, once I was back from my Saskatchewan speaking trip at the end of April.

Jorge (from Nicaragua) and Michelle (co-founder of Amparo) helping to put in a garden at our new training farm.

It worked out so well to have this piece of land under foot by early June as I had a team going to Nicaragua coming for training -- how great to have our own place to showcase and train people in Farming God's Way. The group is part of an organization called Amparo and is looking at Kingdom transformation of a village through careful and intentional work, focusing on education and a couple of strategic projects. It's wonderful to work with new friends on the same glorious mission! The team included two Nicaraguans so I know the impact was very direct! I will be working on getting about half of the land into cropping production -- all of it is planted at the moment but I need more of "God's blanket" (mulch) to cover the land properly! We have a demonstration and learning area and then a larger area where we have dill, potatoes, pumpkins, squash and dahlias and a little sweet corn and some "pearl" corn (multicoloured). If you'd like to see first hand how Farming God's Way looks in the field, now is your chance. We're happy to host you! In fact, we'll try to plan a grand opening in the fall when there is some corn and potatoes to roast! Keep your eyes open for an invite towards the end of summer!

The other exciting news we have is that Jane and I are planning a 3-week trip this summer to check on work and family in Uganda and Rwanda. It will be great to see our boys and I'm especially looking forward to reconnecting with Peter and Venuste in Rwanda! They have been doing such a good job of following up with farmers and continuing on the journey of growing as trainers! The above photo is of the compost training that Peter and Venuste ran at ATN. I have received many great encouraging updates of increased yields and improved lives at home! Our farmers are a shining light in their communities! Forgiveness and reconciliation play such a big role in Rwanda as farmers move intentionally towards seeing God's shalom in their families and on their land! The spiritual fruit is the best to harvest! It was clear to see, when I visited Rwanda last, that "our" farmers were growing in love and trust and were gaining their God-given dignity as farmers! Below is one of the farmer's bean fields -- what a beautiful crop! Bottom -- the joy of living God's way -- restored joy through learning Farming God's Way!

Prayer points - we would continue to value your prayers and support as our ministry grows both here in Canada and in Africa. Please pray for Chris to be able to make good connections with various Bible schools and missions in Canada and the USA so that we can start a Farming God's Way internship program next spring here in Abbotsford. The proposed concept is to train people here with skills and then send them overseas to our partners to use Farming God's Way as an outreach tool. Please pray for our trip to Africa: Pray for safety and health and for really good connections with key people who can continue reaching their communities through Farming God's Way Pray for fruit -- we want to see many come to Christ and to equip believers for a closer walk with Jesus! Pray for finances -- flying in the summer is expensive (but Jane's only option) and we also need additional finances to set up our demo farm and office here in Abbotsford. Chris is also hoping to be full-time with Equip by next year so this needs more monthly supporters to join our team! For more info or to donate just go to our website: sperlingsinafrica Thanks again for all your love, prayers and support! Chris and Jane and kiddos!

 

East Africa Trip

 

East Africa Trip Above: training of trainers on Monday before we head out to train at IFM Uganda. Below: half of my "Riverside" team heading to Bujagali for outreach. We took two boats over each morning and back in the evening I've just got back from more than three weeks in Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. Thanks so much for your prayers -- I could sense God's peace and hand on my time in Africa. I had a great time in each country connecting with many great trainers and farmers alike! My goal was to continue to cultivate relationships and grow new ones for the purpose of spreading the Good News through Farming God's Way in Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. First off was a week in Uganda devoted to In Field Mentoring where trainers from all over the world gathered to reach out to three local communities, meanwhile developing our trainers "in the field" as they teach the rural farmers. It was great to meet old friends and make new ones in the great Farming God's Way family. Southern, Western and Eastern Africa were represented as well as North and Central America -- it's amazing to meet people who are reaching people all over the world! I was in charge of a team in a community called Bujagali which is actually one of our own communities where Isaac works - Isaac did a great job of getting our community ready. Our outreach coincided with a celebration of witchcraft in the same village -- it was a spiritual battle but we know Who is winning! Pray for these people in Bujagali who are captive to evil spirits and jealousy. Pray for our farmers to implement with courage and to share their knowledge with their neighbours. We already have a number of farmers who have seen the great difference following God's ways makes! One young man has enough (dry) beans to feed his family for a whole year! Each day of our outreach started with a nice peaceful boat ride across the Nile to our site. I really enjoyed getting to know our team over the week! At the end of the week we were able to accredit 5 new trainers; Jesse, working in Central Uganda, Deo working in Western Uganda and DR Congo, Paul working in Liberia and Nicaragua, Denis working in Central Uganda as well as Joel working in East and Central Uganda. These are the most accredited trainers that we have ever had at an In Field Mentoring event. This is a testament to the great work done by Klint and the rest of the Uganda team! Exciting times -- we can't wait to see how things will unfold in the future! We were able to see 14 people come to the Lord during the week! Pray that these people will carefully tend to the seed of the gospel and grow in their faith. While in Uganda, I was able to see Tugume and Andrew which was good! Tugume is busy at second-year university and Andrew continues to work in Kampala. I also spent my last day in Uganda with my good friend Bill who is reaching out to DR Congo. It was good to have time together like we used to when we both lived in Jinja. He dropped me at the airport in Entebbe where I left for Rwanda six hours late, after a cancelled flight.

Uganda Top: Jesse giving a practical lesson to students Middle: Praying before we make our "Well Watered Garden" Bottom: Our ministry team "Riverside" amazing group of people! I was really looking forward to the Rwanda part of the trip. I feel quite at home in Rwanda which I think is a product of Jane being Rwandan, having family there combined with the more orderly way of life. Also, the roads are good, there is almost no garbage anywhere and they drive on the right so I feel like there are some similarities with Canada. I can understand much of the language but have never been really good at speaking as all of my Rwandan relatives can speak Luganda. I was also looking forward to engaging with Peter and Venuste who are great men whom I first met in 2019 at a previous Uganda IFM. Together with Peter and Venuste, we organized a national training in Nyamata, a town just east of the capital Kigali. Peter and Venuste have been working with ATN, a local NGO, for a number of years teaching their communities Farming God's Way and putting it into practice themselves with astounding success! These guys have so much potential! Their impact on their communities can be easily seen in tangible ways! With ATN's help, we put on a three-day workshop in Nyamata which had over 50 people in attendance! A great turnout -- including the local agriculture agent. People from all over the country came, including some Buruindians sent by my childhood pastor Ray Bale who has worked in Burundi and DR Congo for many years. After the second day, I was able to visit a few nearby farmers whom Peter works with and then after the third day, I drove with Venuste all the way to the southern part of the country to stay with him for a couple of days and visit his family and a few of his farmers. Farmer follow-up is one of my favourite things to do -- we were able to witness amazing changes in people's lives as they worked faithfully implementing Farming God's Way. One man, Anaclet, who is a government teacher is getting more from his tree tomato plot each week than he gets from his government teaching job per month! That doesn't even take into consideration that he has enough food for his family from planting maize and beans and cassava! These Rwandan farmers under Peter and Venuste have very quickly moved from attaining food security to economic freedom in a matter of 3-4 years! Another lady, Betty, testified that she went from weighing 50kg as a poor and stressed out conventional farmer to now weighing a contented and healthy 80 kg after switching to Farming God's Way with her husband Philipe. These people are so eager to share Christ and their new-found path to prosperity with their village friends despite jealousy and theft from their fields. They have gone from being despised and overlooked for their poverty to being people who are sought after for their knowledge. One of the reasons these people do so well is that Peter and Venuste are such inspiring examples themselves! Please pray that this marvellous work in Rwanda will continue. My time in Rwanda solidified my relationship with Peter and Venuste and ATN's leaders and thus we look forward to growing a great training and trainer development network in Rwanda through our established connections Another bonus to my time in Rwanda was meeting my newest niece Precious Kalera who was born while I was there ! What a great time seeing friends and family and growing our Farming God's Way network there!

Rwanda Top: Peter training in the garden Middle top: With one of our farmers husking her maize crop -- what joy! Middle bottom: Phillipe with his well-mulched maize plot Bottom: Pastor Anaclet with his tree tomato crop and coco yams

My last stop on my trip was a stop in Kenya for almost a week to help run the first Kenya National Training in some time. There has been a lot of Farming God's Way activity there over the last 15 years or so but we needed to consolidate our network and bring new life to the existing relationships. Kenya is in great hands with a great team of trainers and implementors; the goal now is to make these relationships strong and intentional with a move towards coordinated training and follow-up. Antony and Griffin were able to join me for the training with Antony having done a massive amount of work to get the workshop organized. Thanks to Karen Community Church for hosting us so well! We had over 70 people in attendance which was a great way to start off this new era in Kenya! With people coming from all over the country we look forward to great reports of God's Kingdom advancing. Thanks, everyone for your prayers and financial support for our work. I'm hoping such strategic trips will be the norm going forward. Your faithful prayers and giving really make our work possible.

Kenya Top: Learning about teren ropes with Griffin Top middle: some well-dressed farmers learning in the Well Watered Garden Bottom middle: Griffin teaching in the garden Bottom: Prayer: the foundation of humility -- where it all begins! We continue to need your financial support, your prayers and even your moral support! A donation, a prayer or an email with an encouraging word go a long way to extending the work we do! Thanks so much!

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Hibiscus Close-up

"Hybiscus close up"

The Shot: One of our favourite places to go as a family near our home town of jinja is called Kingfisher Resort. It's just across the Nile and situated at the shores of Lake Victoria that narrow down to the Nile. We often go in the late afternoon. The kids jumpo in the pool and jane and I set up our mats and Canadian camping chairs under the shade of some nice trees in the gardens below. At some point I will get out my phone and start takng pictures of the beautiful planst and flowers in large garden area that leads to the lake. Here is a variagated hybiscus in the gorgeous afternoon sun.

Pray for Chris' trip to East Africa

 

Chris will be in Africa for over three weeks from the end of January to mid-February, helping to build strong trainers and strong training networks around the Farming God's Way resource in Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya. Strong networks and strong trainers mean that the Gospel of the Kingdom will be taught with heartfelt conviction and many will be led to walk in God's ways in both word and deed! This is a spiritual battle -- the darkness of witchcraft, ancestral worship, jealousy and fear is being exposed and pushed back through the teaching of God's word in this powerful and practical way. We need you to pray for this time to be effective and transforming.

First up -- Uganda! In Field Mentoring Please pray for everyone traveling from all over the world to this major event -- pray for safe and timely travels in the air and on the road. Pray for negative COVID tests for those who need them to enter (and leave Uganda. Pray for safety on the roads -- Ugandan roads are crazy! Pray for the up-and-coming trainers who are looking to become accredited; pray that they would put much effort into preparing their hearts and minds for this event. Pray for the communities around Kyando, Mayuge district where the outreach will be. Pray that hearts would be softened so that they may repent and turn from their own wicked ways to God's ways. Pray against the strongholds of witchcraft and ancestral worship which bind so many people in darkness! Pray for good weather and pray that nothing would hinder the local farmers from coming to the village trainings that will be the culmination of this great event. Rwanda National Training In Rwanda, I'll be helping a small team put on the first-ever Farming God's Way national training. Please pray that we will get the word out ahead of time so that the people who would benefit from the training can hear about it and have time to plan to come. Please pray for Chris and his two Rwandan friends Pierre and Venuste to be able to plan a well-organized event that will help impact many. Also, pray that God would add to us key people who will be willing to get this message out with sacrificial commitment. Again pray for safe travels for myself and others who will be traveling to this event just outside Kigali. Pray for many enthusiastic attendees who will return home eager to implement what they have learned and share it with others.

Kenya National Training The last leg of my trip will be a few days on the outskirts of Nairobi helping a great team of trainers run a national training. This will be another great opportunity for many to encounter Farming God's Way for the first time and many to brush up on their knowledge and skills and get connected with a great network of farmers and trainers. Pray that possibly another accredited trainer could join me for this time to help share the training burden. Please pray that this event would help relationally link the many trainers and farmers from all over this large country. Pray that people will encounter the Holy Spirit as they attend the training and be convinced to walk in God's ways. Pray that there would be a solid unity among the trainers as we build a forum of men and women who want to see many reached for the Kingdom with this powerful tool. Central Africa Focus Our work in Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya are all part of a strategic thrust into Central Africa to build relational networks as a foundation to good trainings and strong trainers. Please pray that God will direct as we move ahead and consider countries like Burundi, Tanzania and the DR Congo. We need good connections with people who love their communities and nations and are willing to put effort into serving in such practical ways.