Old MacDonald's Farm

I started off June at OMF in Lusaka. As usual plenty of things were happening and building developments are continuing. The house for Mr Banda, their long term worker, is making good progress. It’s at the roofing stage and hopefully in a few more weeks Mr Banda and his family will be able to move in. Down on the farm we were also building, This time an extension to the piggery of three more pens to provide space for the increasing production of piglets. They enjoy being outside but do not grow sufficiently fast enough and are more prone to illness. The production of pork will hopefully be the main source of farm income, and along with the sale of eggs, eventually become enough to fund the rest of the farm production which mostly goes to feed the boys.

We are also producing coffee which is dried in the sun before shelling to get the beans and then oven roasted and ground. The red things at the front are birds eye chilli’s which we grow for chilli powder (very hot!) and we also pulp some to make a ‘chilli’ insecticide for spraying on the vegetables.

Visitors

The highlight of June was the visit of my parents and my brother Paul and his wife Paddy. After six years of being out in Zambia I really didn’t think Mum and Dad would make it out here but plans were made in January and we praise God that health was maintained and their visit was possible. We took the time to see the beauties of Zambia as well as the various projects I’m involved in. Here we are seen relaxing on the African Queen sunset cruise on the upper Zambezi enjoying the amazing sunset. 

The Victoria Falls are spectacular at this time of the year, just after the rainy season and water proof clothing is necessary, especially for the elderly!! From Livingstone we went back to Lusaka to OMF and then onto Petauke. As usual I was fully loaded; amongst their luggage we had two bicycles for Pastors in the area and two ducks for the farm at Covenant College!

On the Sunday we went to my Zambian home church, Petauke Grace Baptists. The congregation welcomed my visitors and made them feel at home. After a few days at Covenant College we left early one morning (5 am) to travel east to Chipata and then north on 100 kms of dirt road (it’s  a bit bumpy which was confirmed by the noises from the back seat!) to Mfuwe and the South Luangwa National Park. We had some excellent game viewing including lions on a buffalo kill. Dad has some fantastic pictures of leopards!

Prayer Points

• Praise God for the continued development at OMF
• Give thanks for Mum, Dad, Paul and Paddy and their safe visit to Zambia
• Pray for the team of 14 coming from Hesketh Bank Christian Centre to spend two weeks in August with the boys at Old MacDonald’s Farm

Thank you for your continued support,

Love Phil

Farming God's Way

During April we taught FGW at various venues. In the picture we were at the Farm Training Centre in Petauke where we had planted a demonstration plot of FGW maize. At their Open Day, attended by many local farmers, we had the opportunity to explain the details and encourage many small scale farmers to take up FGW. Bilison (centre) makes an impact with his enthusiasm and the field itself spoke volumes. Pastor Lovemore Banda has been practising FGW now for three consecutive years on the same field and is really seeing the long term benefits of the soil improvement. At Pastor Eric Shumba’s church in Chipata we taught FGW on May 8^th. Eric a graduate of CC has been faithful in following the FGW method and has become a great ambassador in his area. At Covenant College it was a time of administration preparing for the Annual Trust Meeting, reports, accounts etc etc! I suppose it’s necessary but I prefer being in the field!

Two Ladies

In April a very good friend of ours, Nisi Tembo, passed away. We knew her and her husband, David very well when they lived in Petauke. He was the District Commissioner for three years and a great help to us at CC. Nisi also helped with the ladies meetings. She passed away suddenly of a stroke at the age of 56 after a severe bout of malaria. The burial took place in David’s home village outside Chipata. She also leaves behind a son and daughter in their 20’s.

Early May we visited Dorothy, widow of the late Matthew Sakala who used to work with us on the farm at CC. Together with her children she is living back in her father’s village 40kms from CC. We took various groceries, school uniforms and shoes. Maggie (rhs) is 16 but only in grade 6 at school. She desperately wants to reach grade 12 so that she can become a teacher. It will be a real struggle for her and the cultural expectations on her to get married will make it even more difficult but it would be wonderful if she were able to achieve her aim.

Good Friday!

We headed off to our usual church in Petauke but on the way received a call to say the Pastor was unable to take the service so it had been cancelled. Instead of turning back we went to a nearby Baptist village church. Here we received the blessing of witnessing the baptism of six new believers. This took place in a pond close to the church and afterwards a service was held under a large tree.

PTI Chipata Conference

During April we held the third and final PTI conference in Chipata. Pastor Peter Seccombe from the UK came over again to do the teaching. Over the three years it’s been good to get to know the Pastors from the Chipata area and a few of them will be coming to Covenant College for extra studies. www.pastor-training.org

Prayer Points

• Pray that even more hearts will be moved by the Spirit to follow FGW.
• Pray for the pastors that they might faithfully preach the Gospel.
• Remember David Tembo and his children, Rebecca and Caleb, as they come to terms with their loss.
• Pray for Dorothy and her family, especially for Maggie in her ambition to become a teacher.

Thank you for your continued support,

Love Phil