The “Organics 4 Orphans” course I attended in February with two of my
Malawian counterparts, in Kitale, Kenya, was not just a great experience
overall, but the course content provided a wealth of life-changing
material. The organic bio-intensive
farming training is proving to be directly applicable to everyday life here at
Hope Village. The natural medicine
course has also been a phenomenal blessing, as we have been using the
information learned with almost every patient we help.
One of the most fun parts of the month-long course was just
living amongst Africans from five other countries. I also lived without indoor plumbing, or
other modern conveniences. I had to take
bucket baths, help cook outdoors with chopped wood, wash my clothes in a bucket, and use the “long
drop” (toilet – hole in the ground). I got a real sense of what its like to live as a villager in
a village home. My fellow students were so
helpful to me, and it felt as though I were living with friends I’d known for a
long time.
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| A simple hole in the ground is affectionately called the "long drop" |
With the information we learned from the organics farming
training, we at Hope Village are starting a community garden right here in our
midst. Plots of land at Hope Village
will be lent out to our staff to farm.
They’ll learn how to do organic bio-intensive farming. We’ll also teach which vegetables, herbs, and
trees to plant to improve their nutritional intake, and how to use their food
to be their medicine—and how medicine can be food. Whatever they farm will be used for their
personal use, and there should be plenty left to sell as well; thereby, adding
financially to their efforts.
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| Our first community garden has proven to be a blessing for many widows and others facing severe poverty who find their way to Hope Village. This widow is able to pick enough rape leaves to feed her 5 children a meal on this day. |
We’ve also started a research project to track three patient
groups that consume two plant-based medicines called moringa and neem:
- Malnourished children and adults
- People with chronic cases of malaria
- Adults and children with HIV
 |
| This malnourished 6-month old baby is now receiving moringa from our clinic. |
In
addition to all of this, we’ll grow our own medicinal plants to use in our
clinic.
Thankfully, we have a great
staff to help with these projects.
And
what is making it all possible is our trust in the Lord.
We have seen His hand at work here at Hope
Village.
And we’ve seen Christ’s
compassion living in those who have helped financially and with prayer, to make
this all possible.
I’m daily in awe of
our God, as I observe how he ministers through and to people; especially the
least of these.
(If you'd like to make a donation to assist with our organics 4 orphans farming practices, our community gardens, or our plant-based medicinal programs, you can donate online by clicking on this page:
http://www.hopeforthenations.com/champion/champion.aspx?asset=2591).
