KRB Update #2170 Food for Life Keith R. Brinkman Sierra Leone September 12, 2011
Greetings from Sierra Leone, West Africa.
As we did on the Caribbean Mercy, there are many projects and activities off the ship. One I would like to share with you about is the Food for Life – Agriculture Training. The goal of this project is to increase capacity of local organizations to contribute to improved nutrition and farming incomes for farmers by training in holistic agriculture concepts and organic farming methods. Four local organizations participated: Heifer Sierra Leone, Hope of Glory, City of Rest and Sierra Canadian Humanitarian & Development Organization. Sixteen participants from these groups were involved in the training over four months.
Their training started with a Bible study, then lecture and practical application. Jean Claude from Congo Brazzaville was our agriculture facilitator. He has a passion for training others. I have watched him sharing from Genesis in the Bible with the participants to going out and getting his hands dirty in the earth in practical demonstration.
Bambay Sawaneh joined the program with his wife and baby despite a physical disability he suffered during the war. Rebel soldiers chopped off both his hands. A compassionate nun arranged for him to have a surgery that split the stubs of his arms to allow him to grasp things. Without that surgery, farming would have been impossible. His dedication to farming comes from a family history in agriculture. In comparing the Food for Life methods with the traditional ones, he said, “Through this form of training, I came to learn that we have been wasting our time and wasting our energy. It’s like we’re working like an elephant and eat like ant…We destroyed everything out of ignorance.” If you would like to read more of his story, please let me know and I will send you the whole article.
On July 9th, it was graduation day to celebrate with their completion of the course. I had the privilege to be the MC for our gathering as we honor these participants in their achievement. At the same time, reminding them that they have been trained to be trainers (the Training of Trainers – TOT method). The Mercy Ships Food for Life Graduation Ceremony symbolically marked a new beginning, bright with hope for the future. In a country suffering a shortage of food and high import prices, there must be a radical change in food production. The Food for Life Program has the potential to develop the nation agriculturally as the trainees become trainers in their communities. In Victor Tamba’s words: “God gave this to me. I never dreamed of it. Now I’m an agriculturist. I know my future will be very good now. I can never, never forget it!”
Prayer Requests: **Application of the biblical principles and agriculture principles they have learned to be shared with others in this nation. ** For the follow up taking place now with the new trainers.
Serving Together,
Keith
Email: keith.brinkman@yahoo.com www.KeithBrinkman.com
Mail: Keith R. Brinkman, Mercy Ships, P.O. Box 2020, Lindale, TX 75771 USA
Schedule: Sierra Leone Field Service February 27 – December 8, 2011
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