COVID-19 lockdowns have paralyzed nations around the globe. In Third World nations where people are dependent on what they bring in daily from their shops to feed their families, the mandatory shutdowns have been particularly devastating—and sometimes deadly.

At breakfast on day 3 of the trip, I had the opportunity to share the S.O.A.P.S. Bible study method with Joseph, Oni and Agitha. After that it was time to relocate to Oni's home. At first I wasn't sure where we were because we had pulled into what looked like a compound. But I found out very quickly this was unlike many of the compounds for missionaries that I've seen.

At our FGW summit meeting in Malawi in 2018, Joseph and Oni shared with me how they had been reaching out to one of the most underserved and undervalued people groups in Zimbabwe, the deaf community. They invested 8 weeks in learning sign language so they could communicate with this vulnerable population and train them in Farming God's Way. I was eager to learn more.

This was a short but incredible trip. This was my first time visiting Zimbabwe, but it gave me the opportunity to see the quality of ministry Joseph and Oni are doing there.

I knew this would be a 3-day marathon traveling with Joshua, our Ugandan trainer. After all, I felt like we touched every corner of Uganda visiting farmers with him in 2017!

In my previous trip update I shared with you about the trip I just returned from in Africa, where I joined our incredible Farming God’s Way team for vital team building and ministry visits to God’s Love Groups that are transforming their nations one farm at a time. I also shared how, back in 2017, our entire team fully embraced the concept of God’s Love Groups.

I wish you could have been there! I just returned from Africa with some great news at a time you could probably use some! (U.S. borders were shutting down while I was away, but praise God I was able to get home on March 20!)

So often we tell you about farmers being able to feed their families and make a profit utilizing Farming God’s Way methods. But we also want to show you the tremendous impact, both spiritually and practically, of having farmers work together in GLGs (God’s Love Groups).

Imagine with me for a moment that you have been employed and doing a particular job for years. You were taught how to do this job by family members and people you highly respect. You do it just like everyone around you does it. Then one day, some complete stranger walks into your workplace, analyzes the operation, shakes his head in disappointment, and then looks you dead in the eyes and says, “You’re doing it wrong.”