Am I focused too much on the training that is now happening all over Zambia? Possibly. But this training may ultimately make as much positive difference for our struggling brothers and sisters as any other single activity currently happening in the country. Sound like I went too far? Let me put it in terms Americans can likely understand. Money. Let's say your business was REALLY struggling to provide for your family. Or your 9-5 job. And let's say someone offered you some training that could DOUBLE or TRIPLE your income. Would that make a difference in your life? I think it would. A BIG difference.
That is what we believe is happening in Zambia at this very moment. In fact, the cover photo I chose this week is from one of our trainers, who was busy YESTERDAY, on his BIRTHDAY, training our brothers and sisters in mays that may well DOUBLE or TRIPLE the yield of their small maize fields.
Credit for that effort goes largely to Tracy and ZIAP, a sister non-profit organization. It was their vision that had Tracy in Zambia for four months of the growing season a year ago. And it is the small group of leaders he trained during that time that are now passing that knowledge along to as many 10,000 growers this season.
So where does Shoulder 2 Shoulder come in? A few ways. First of all, we partnered with Tracy and ZIAP a year ago to get them started. Secondly, it is the distribution system created by the 124 churches with whom we partner for our monthly feeding program that gives us the space to conduct all of this training.
Finally, and maybe most importantly from an S2S standpoint, let's go back to our American example and say you have this opportunity for training that could DOUBLE or TRIPLE your income. You took the training but couldn't come up with the $100 that you need to actually implement the training you just received. S2S is poised to help with that by providing seed and fertilizer to the poorest of our poor brothers and sisters who are taking these classes.
Oh, one more thing that I was reminded of as I listened again this week to a fun podcast Rog and I did with Brandy, the new missions director at Prairie Ridge Church in Ankeny: people LEARN more when they aren't STARVING; and HUNDREDS of the people in these classes are able to attend and learn with some food in their bellies because we have provided them with some food.
Who is S2S? Well, that's simple. It's ALL OF US! As a leadership team, we believe this life is best lived when we are SHARING with one another. When we live in a place that allows us to amass a SURPLUS, it can be such a beautiful thing to SHARE with someone who doesn't. It not only changes the life of the one being lifted out of that deficit position, but it can also change the life of the one doing the SHARING.
If you are living with some SURPLUS - a little or a lot - we would love to have you be a part of US in one of two ways:
First of all, if you think to yourself, "I have a little bit extra coming in regularly and could be an ongoing blessing in someone else's life" - then become a monthly recurring donor. How do I know hundreds of those receiving training are less hungry than they might otherwise be? Because we are currently impacting around 3,400 households within our 124 churches on a monthly basis. And many of those people are receiving the training. We can do that to a large extent because we currently have 31 friends and family members sharing something with us monthly on a recurring basis.
Secondly, if you think to yourself, "I may have more SURPLUS stashed away than I need" - then please consider a one-time gift during this season that will help us to provide INPUTS to some of the poorest of our brothers and sisters who are receiving this training. We believe we are trading FOOD for FAITH. If that sounds crazy, ask us about it and we can explain where that belief comes from.
Believe it or not, I can count on one hand the number who are doing BOTH of those things. And yet SO MUCH is being accomplished. It is a beautiful, FAITH BUILDING thing to be a part of. That such a small number of people with SURPLUS can have such a huge impact for a large number of people living in deficit.
Thanks for considering these requests.
