Weeds, Laundry, and Prayer

 

While I considered having Cory do a long post on the irrigation project it is still on going so he's very busy so that will come later.

I'm writing this on a Saturday afternoon. So after getting up, breakfast, and my devotions I worked on the school schedule for next week. 

Once I get it worked out Cory joins me to double check and pray over the next week's lessons before we print out the copies for myself and Fritz.

Then I did the dishes so they could be drying on the rack before heading out to weed the nursery trees in bags. I could hear the children who attended this week's children's conference getting ready to leave for home as the different trucks and vans came to transport them back.

I prayed not just for their safe travels but that all the truths that they learned this week will find good soil, grow, mature, and bring forth a strong faith that grows throughout their lives. I pray they will change the world wherever the Lord sends them and advance His Kingdom. That they will be able to fight the good fight and avoid temptations and distractions. Lord bless each one of them.

Can you see the dragon fruit?

Knowing that the water would be more available I washed 3 more of the guest linens. Generally Cory does our wash during the week and Fritz does his owe. Hand washing like weeding gives one time to think and pray. 

Seeing the dirty water even though there were no visible stains or odor reminds me of how our lives can look good on the outside while things can be dirty and messy in our minds, emotions and hidden parts of life. Lord bring those hidden things into Your healing, cleansing, purifying light! Bring things to light in our supporting churches, in organizations, families, as well as in my life and the lives of family and friends. Help us know how to change and deal with each issue according to Your will. Grant wisdom and courage to confront those needed changes and challenges so that no further harm is done. 

After I hung those on the fence and refilled the water buckets I returned to weeding. 

The transplanted aloes by the house look so-so with some thriving and others struggling. Isn't that like us as well...some deal with change very well and with enthusiasm while others mourn, loose parts of themself and just look horrible making folks wonder if they will be able to recover or not. Thankfully for us the Lord is present and active. He's strong enough to support us no matter what happens or doesn't. I found myself praying for those in transition times: graduations, pregnancy, natural disasters, man-made conflicts, new relationships, change of jobs, health issues...and more.

Next I moved on to the dragon fruit plants. Now this one takes some planning as the weeds are high and it's a bit out of the way. I grab a machete to attack big weeds and push them out of my way when walking because I don't want to step on any critters. I remembered my bucket to sit on but needed to return to the house for my leather gloves. 

As I cleaned around the prickly plants my thoughts again turned to life. How easily and rapidly fears, pride, sin, LIES can crowd out and distract from the good things in life: the Lord, peace, hope, truth, joy and gratitude. Like the dragon fruit branches underneath the weeds they remain- often unseen, not growing, not appreciated. Lord help us to regularly put up and deal with the negative patterns and habits in our lives that are negatively impacting our maturity, growth, impact, and interactions with those around us. 

On the last one I didn't complete weeding around because a bee found me [was fairly close to the been hive at that point and it also happened the last time I weeded that plant] and I know better than to ignore them. 

These African honey bees are very tenacious! So I retreated into the house. I plan to go back and finish this afternoon. [Time will tell because last time I didn't return to finish weeding making more work this time around. One of the students was stung today while slashing weeds for Cory] [Update I did finish!]  

Lord, I, we need wisdom to know when to change plans, to delay a plan and return later or to stay the course even when things get hard or dangerous. Give us the wisdom to know what plan of action is best or if we should wait. Thank You for being there for us in each and every situation.

I think my morning was much more philosophical because I did not listen to music or an audio book. No one was talking to me.

 I think we've lost mostly this type of thinking time because of the 'noise' in our lives. I think that in the past and still in cultures where jobs like shelling peas, weeding, sewing by hand, plowing by walking behind a ox or chopping wood with an ax are done over and over allow one to think deeply and pray while only part of the mind pays attention to the task at hand.

In my world where technology either removed the need for such tasks, significantly changed how or how fast they are done one needs to be intentional to find repetitional jobs where thinking can be done at the same time. In addition to carefully choosing labor that allows thinking and processing of ideas one needs to reject the temptation to talk, sing, listen to a podcast or book in order to provide the quietness needed to stimulate the brain.

May you find some quiet thinking time in your day and week. Courage!

Field Trip to See Farming God's Way, By Cory

Thursday the 12th at 6:50 I departed with the Bible College students and teachers to Overland Mission to see their Farming God's Way gardens and hear  their experience. 

The 62 passenger bus was nearly full. I have been suprised how enthusiastic the students have been before and during the field trip. 

I enjoyed the singing of the students, (they take turns serving as the college choir for student chapel twice a week) and  I'm sure the high school bus driver also enjoyed these passengers more than his usual passengers.

We stopped in Pemba to pick up lunch that we reserved for take out to eat later at the mission.  

The bus drove slowly and safely which was fine but with the stops at the restaurant, for tire air and missing the mission driveway due to the road being recently paved, we arrived an hour late, close to 10am.

Corn and peanut fields

Several of the Overland staff taught a summary of what is normally a two day course. They offered to come to Jembo to do a second day which was enthusiastically accepted, the principal saying early next term will be good (next week is finals for this 2nd trimester).

The 3 foundational requirements of Farming God's Way:

1. Biblical principles 

2. Technology 

3. Management

The three are integrated for high yield agriculture. 

So principles from the Bible and nature are used with technology and the resources God has provided and the work is done at the right time to high standards.

Chicken or poultry "tractors" are mobile cages.

When I first started reading about Farming God's way I was suprised to learn it started not far from here in western Zimbabwe.

I have always liked using mulch but here in Africa the termites are aggressive and eat up mulch quickly. 

 Apparently it isn't a big problem since usually the crop plants mostly cover the ground by the time most of the mulch is gone.

In the afternoon before we left we toured the farm and gardens. 

The mission is only about 6 years old. 

When the land was purchased from the chief, the local people laughed because the land was overgrazed and degraded. 

Where there was some grass it was only a few inches high. 

People are moving out of the area to more fertile areas because after about 4 years the land is no longer fertile.

Soaking bean beetles to make
 spray to kill bean beetles

The first year the 3.5 acre corn field gave only 2 110 pound bags of corn. 

2nd year 7

3rd year 28 

4th year 52 

5th year the worst drought "ever", 20

6th year 101

Each year on the same field (or at least the same size field, I think the corn and peanut would be rotated, according to the Farming God's Way teaching) and they hope to have higher yield this year. 

It is an open pollinated local corn variety and only using manure and ashes. 

101 bags per 1.5 hectare works out to about 53 bushels per acre, which is about 1/4 USA yields but it is without plowing and just local inputs and thier own saved seed, so the only expense is labor.

Almost all the corn fields in their area failed in the drought year but they had a modest harvest.

I assume this is because they prepare the fields in the month or two before expected rain so when rains come the seeds can be quickly planted. 

Grass is cut from surrounding fallow fields as mulch which helps conserve moisture. 

The mulch also reduces weed germination.

Their soil was nearly black instead of the usual grey or brown of soils in this part of Zambia.

There is a farming God's way website that has the details and also tells how it was started by a tobacco farmer when he realized he was harming peoples health.  https://farming-gods-way.org/

A common Zambian meal.
Corn is usually white and
prepared like a thick version of grits.
The corn is used to scoop up the chicken
gravy and greens

Mid- February ! Thoughts about blessings.

 How can each day feel long while the months of 2026 continue to zip right along?

In only 4.5 weeks those of us below the equator will transition into fall. All and all the summer temperatures here have not been bad as the continued rains cool things off along with the cloudy weather. 

The maximum temperature we have reached in the house is 84.7˚ F. 

Now with this blog, e-mail updates and the Epistle site I'm wondering how to continue to share information. Should the blog be 'extra' information or repeat from the other sites? 

I'm going to try to post at least once a month. This is my goal!

Please share your opinion should you have one. I would like to know your thoughts.

As the other two methods lean more to shorter bits of information I'm leaning to this being more about longer topics, more photos, or more about thoughts... pondering if you wish.

Often life here feels a bit like juggling...in order to have drinking water Cory runs water from the kitchen sink through a UV filter. We have three 5 gallon jugs, one large Coleman cooler, a smaller jug and some pitchers.

So about once a week he works to fill these. A few weeks ago we lost electricity for a few days when due to the rains two large metal electric line towers fell over. 

Without electricity we don't have running water. We have several 5 gallon buckets in the kitchen to use when the pump isn't working. 

While we could pour the water though the filter with some difficulty it wouldn't make sense without power as the UV light wouldn't be functional (we do have limited solar electric but avoid using it for sensitive electronics).

So need power, need running water, need time to process the water. Then I think of those who walk miles for dirty water and have no way to filter or clean the water before drinking...I am blessed.

Then I think of how often I showered in water good enough to drink while growing up and I wasn't thankful. Didn't even think of it. This makes me sad. It also makes me wonder at all the blessings I'm not thankful for in my life now? How many things do I take for granted on a daily basis? 

Lord, open my eyes to the multitude of gifts that You bless me with daily. May I not only notice but acknowledge them with gratitude and a thankful heart. Amen.

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January Update

Only one week remains in January! While the days individually may feel long, all together they continue to  pass rapidly.

The field planting is winding down as we're in the middle of rainy season. The rains have been more than average, encouraging the growth of crops and trees.

Cory's been grafting both mango and avacodo trees as time and budwood maturity allow (the new varieties of mango are still small trees).

Fritz and I also completed the milestone of being half way through 9th grade!

The Bible students returned and started second trimester classes.

Post-holiday routine adds some predictibiltiy to our days, however having gone 3.5 days without elecricity or running water, followed shortly by the pump going out and no running water again for two days, one must remain flexible.

Cory drove a few hours to Zimba on Thursday to tour the Africa Wesleyan University College grounds with a group of church district overseers led by Dr. Henry Smith and Bishop Juden.  He also discussed landscaping plans with Dr. Smith.

Library

As Cory passed through Choma he took advantage of the oportunity to shop and also pick up our new internet system. The internet provider we used in the past hasn't been as reliable this year so we've upgraded to assist in school, Kris' continuing medical education needs, and communication. 

I will try to post here a couple times a month for those accustomed to following the blog. 

Should you wish to see short videos and updates you can still sign up for Thede Seed at Epistle. On Wensdays I'm posting a short update video for the week and prayer requests. Then at other times I may post something I think folks may find interesting. 

We've received positive comments and it also allows us to 'chat' back and forth with personal messages which is fun. Cory and Fritz have both helped me post a couple of 'taste testing' videos.

You can sign up here: https://the-thede-family.epistle.org/subscribe