A chicken, the gift to honor one’s guest—and it is an incredible honor coming from such humble farmers
The Good News Keeps Coming!
Jerry’s final trip blog from Africa
Dear Family,
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!
That’s where the similarities ended: This time I noticed new levels of joy, enthusiasm, and optimism amongst the farmers. We visited some of the same farmers, but they weren’t alone anymore because they are now a member of a God’s Love Group. We also visited teams of farmers that were upbeat and working to bring more people into the fold of Farming God’s Way. GLGs have taken root in Uganda.
Here are some of their incredible stories…
Ida is married with 9 kids and 4 grandkids. That’s a lot of mouths to feed. She used to plant maize and her harvest only filled a basin that holds about 4 gallons. BUT…last season, practicing FGW, she harvested 400 kgs! (880 lbs!) She also planted beans, which had always failed before. But this time she harvested 100 kgs (220 lbs.). She sold some, enabling her to buy a bicycle and send her kids to school with food for lunches—and she has plenty left over for her family.
Ida gave thanks to God and her 5-member GLG because without the unity and help of the group, she would be unable to plant and maintain her large garden. She said that together they dig planting stations, collect manure, and collect blanket, making the work easier.
At left, Ida showing the bowl that once contained her entire harvest while surrounded with sacks of maize from the last harvest; at right, Ida with the bicycle she purchased with her profits
Jessica is a widow with many children who has also benefited by working in a GLG. She once planted beans, but harvested less than what she planted. Many people had given up growing beans because of the poor yields. But because of the advice of her son Dan, a new budding trainer, she joined a GLG and gave FGW a shot last year.
This time she harvested 95 kgs (209 lbs), 20 times what she had planted! And because of the low supply, beans sell at a high price, enabling her to buy 18 steel sheets to put a good roof on her house. She said, “Now I can pay school fees [for my children] and have enough food to take me through the next harvest.”
Jessica and her son Dan in front of her home with a new, durable metal roof she paid for with her FGW profits
Paul and Scovina are a lovely couple with 9 children. Their marriage was literally saved because of Farming God’s Way. Paul used to ride his bike and beg people for food to feed his family. It wasn’t for a lack of trying, but from his farming efforts they would have 20 kgs (44 lbs) of maize to eat for a whole year. This put great strain upon their marriage and family. Scovina was ready to divorce him because she kept having babies but had no food.
Paul attended a FGW training and put what he learned to practice by planting 0.25 kg (half a pound) of ground nuts. He was amazed when he harvested 30 kgs (66 lbs)! So he tried this method with 0.75 kg (1.5 lbs) of maize and harvested over 200 kgs (440 lbs).
Then Scovina got on board. This family has now achieved food security and is moving toward a profit. Scovina says with great joy, “Now we can feed our 9 children. I’ve put on weight. I’m beautiful! We were almost dying, but now we have a variety of food.” They are now committed to practicing Farming God’s Way—and each other. They never stop asking others to join their GLG and come learn from them. (Watch a video interview with them here.)
At left, Paul and Scovina are now committed to each other and FGW; at right, a young man named Edrine standing in front of his massive cassava plants, some with 4-foot-long tubers
During one interview a man told me, “Without food, you can’t be rich.” This trip showed me FGW has produced many rich farmers in Africa. At every location we were met with feasts. Their happiness and contentment over having more than enough food to feed their family is something I take for granted in my own life.
What a privilege it is to be used by God thousands of miles away form my hometown to impact the lives of youth in Uganda. This is the work that WE (YOU + ME) are doing. It is because of your support, the time you put in on your job and in your business—and your prayers—that WE are making such a difference. If you missed my first 2 trip blogs click here to read the first, and here to read the second.
Thank you for partnering with us. Thank you for allowing me to share with you!
Grace and Peace,
Jerry Jefferson
Director, Farming God’s Way Ministry
