We're still here

Hello, and so very sorry to anyone out there following our blog. I know it's been a while.

Our director's sweet wife was battling cancer last year, and then again when we arrived in SA. She passed away a little over a month ago and it's just so heartbreaking. I haven't wanted to write about it, so I've just been avoiding the blog for a bit. No words I can write will really explain just how special she is. She was bubbly and spiritually in tune and the absolute best listener. You walked away from her feeling like she cared about you, because she genuinely did. Books could be written about how incredible and unique she was. Her presence is sorely missed here.

We have had to step up a bit to manage most things during this time so it's been hectic at times, but God is bringing us through and although he has been waging a fierce battle, we won't let Satan steal our joy and hope.

Ministry has continued as much as Covid lockdowns and exposures allow. In addition to normal outreach, Nick and I have joined a local pastor to bless families in need with chickens and pecans from the farm. We have been saddened by their stories, but filled with hope as we pray together and trust God to move mountains and break chains. We asked our pastor friend to identify people who would really be blessed by some food, so of course that means we started learning about some of the deep hurts, needs, and issues in our community. We can't fix most of these problems, but we serve a God who will work all things together for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose.

We have been blessed to have found a friend who is something of a soil expert. He has come to our farm several times to talk to Nick about the trees, biodiversity, compost tea...and so much more. We're in awe of how God put this man in our path who is willing to help us so much with his expertise and secret compost tea recipe and gifts of random seeds. He's a bit of an out-of-the-box thinker and a go-getter, so he and Nick get along very well. It's been so amazing to have his support. And, he has expanded our nut sales to another neighboring town. God provides!

The chicken business is expanding. Nick has learned some of the set dates when people receive pension money and government grants, so he has arranged to have chickens ready for sale when people are ready to buy. I believe he will be selling some in just a few days--please keep that in your prayers!

We are in the process of preparing fields for grazing sheep, which will be another source of income and biodiversity here soon!

We had a huge fire burn up the mountain behind us and then back down recently. The winds pushed it over our fire breaks. We are so thankful for our neighbors on both sides who joined Nick and the guys to put the fire out before it reached any buildings or Mac trees. God was surely there keeping the farm safe, while also teaching us that our "wide" fire breaks weren't really big enough. Now the rainy season has begun, and it's incredible how quickly things are getting green. God is forever making beauty from ashes.