Training, Thrifting, and Traveling 

September 11, 2014 


TRAINING

Last month in Chinhoyi, the 100 families we serve gathered for a refresher training session on planting a plot of corn. There were other families present as well to learn for the first time how to effectively plant corn. They witnessed the good yield our families experienced this year during harvest, so they wanted to get the training as well!

In the training, we also wanted to cover issues that may have prevented our families from a better harvest. Most harvested 4 months-worth of corn meal and we hope to get them to a 6 month harvest. In the urban setting of our ministry there is not enough available land for a 1 year plot. The families are planting wherever there is open land but more and more land is being claimed. Please pray that the families will find available land upon which to plant their plot of corn.

Mr. Chigwida teaching farming methods

Widow demonstrating fertilizer and lime application

Families gathered for Foundations for Farming training

THRIFTING

I would also like to report that the Overflow Thrift Store that opened in Ames on July 25 has had a successful start. The profit from the store is benefiting mission projects like LTLA that care for vulnerable people. This month LTLA will receive the first monthly contribution from the store. Thank you to all who have donated items, shopped and served at Overflow Thrift Store!

Click for newspaper and TV news stories, showing the positive attention that Overflow has received. And please visit the Overflow Thrift Store website to learn more.

I would like to encourage those of you who live around the Ames area to volunteer at Overflow Thrift Store. That is the biggest need the store has. The store is living up to its name as it is "overflowing" with donations and needs volunteers to process all of it. This is another way for you to support the work of LTLA. Thank you for considering.


TRAVELING

Tomorrow, Sept 12, I leave for a 3 week trip and covet your prayer support in the following ways:

• Sept 12-21: Encouraging the ministry team in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe. They have been holding up well without our key leader Arthur Nhau for the past 18 months but are anxious for his return in early November. 
• Sept 22-28: Visiting with Arthur & Mildred Nhau in Nigeria, where they have received excellent ministry training. Jonathan Govero, chairman of the LTLA-Zimbabwe board, will join me. We will pray and establish ministry plans for Arthur's return to Chinhoyi in early November. (We will be far from where Ebola is present in Nigeria, but do pray for our protection.)
• Sept 29-Oct 2: Visiting Life to Life Ministry headquarters in Orlando, FL where will meet with 2 young ladies who desire to minister with LTLA in Zimbabwe by opening a home for street boys in Bulawayo. I will also meet with a couple who are preparing to minister with LTLA in Uganda, ministering spiritually in the context of their work with a British humanitarian agency.