As the cover photo shows, today was finally the day that we welcomed chickens onto the farm. Thomas picked up 100 "layers" (as opposed to "broilers") from an international company headquartered in Wes Des Moines, Iowa. We flew 9,000 miles only to buy birds with genetics designed in Iowa. You might've noticed that I sound a bit like a poultry expert, lol; that is because I sat through our first egg production training class with Dr. Curtis Youngs. Honestly, in only 90 minutes I was able to clearly see how his training over the coming years can elevate tousands of families out of poverty. It is truly amazing how God has connected us simple Iowa folks with world class experts...first to uplift the local maize growers, and now to do similar with those raising animals.
And by the way, I have been asking farmers all around the Eastern Region this past week how their corn yields were this past season. And to a single man, they have all reported something close to a "double" yield from any farmer's field that was diligent to utilize the techniques that ZIAP taught them last year. And by the way, did you know that S2S worked with ZIAP to train 7000 farmers? Can you imagine the difference in a local economy that sees 7,000 farm fields produce twice as much harvest from the prior year? Well, that is what our groups are doing in Zambia.
And now, we are gonna do it with chickens...and hopefully goats. If I get my way, I am going to flood the Eastern Region with dairy goats. That is something that isn't seen much in Zambia, but I believe the economics of it are outstanding. And I don't think there is a single 0-3-year-old kid that I have come across here that is gonna ask me if the milk they are drinking came from a cow or a goat. When we told Dr. Youngs that S2S/ZIAP trained 7,000 maize farmers last year, he said, "That is a miracle." Let's see if God only gave us corn as an appetizer and is intending to move on to eggs and milk.
Yes, I think the good doctor is correct. Shoulder 2 Shoulder is working hard; we have a big vision. And Tracy and Curt are incredibly knowledgeable and skilled, they are both gonna "knock it out of the park" in Africa. (have I told you that I love teaching my Zambian friends our unique Iowa quips). But our God is out of this world. Or better yet, He is the owner and sustainer of this world. There isn't anyone on this earth that wants these beautiful people to eat and flourish physically more than their God does. And if God's Spirit fills and directs a few Iowa folks...and He also uses a couple of Iowa agriculture experts that He has steadily allowed to become expert in how their little corner of God's creation works...and then He surrounds us with friends who are simply willing to give up a little bit of their surplus...and He muliplies the seed (2 Corinthians 9:10 & John 6:11) the way He likes to do...I believe we could see Him do something that eyes have never seen before.
But before my eyes get too big... For today, I'm just thankful for the christening of our first ever S2S Animal Demonstration Farm in Chipata, Zambia. I can't wait for them to put up the sign and announce to the world that our God is now on the move in this place.
Now about tomorrow, I will be traveling for the first time to a church in Kasenengwa, an area west of Chipata that I have never visited before. I know only a handful of pastors there, guys who normally come to spend time with me when I've been in Chipata..., and then there are another 20 S2S pastors who I will look in the eyes for the first time. This will be my final of 4 feast days. You can be in prayer that God will complete the work that He has sent us to do in this regard.
Until then, I will need to see if I can duplicate last night's 7 hours of sleep. Thans for praying for me specifically in that regard, prayers were answered last night.
Here we go...
