The Wittz End: Finishing up year 2023

My man getting ready to place the water pump into the river. (Photo credit:Kary's)

Loading the pick up with Maize flour. Every household got 12kgs.

Cooking oil. Every household got 3 liters of oil and 5kgs of beans.

In my last post I wrote about the major impact that the flooding from El Nino had on those living in Gtown. A huge answer to prayer is that the road into Gtown, that brings in produce and supplies, has been restored. Now everyone is still dealing with the aftermath of the foods. The floods ended up changing the shape of the rivers path which caused so much damage. The flooded river erroded more of the land near the farm's water pump so the pump had to be moved away from the river. A lot of the pipes that bring the water to the farm got exposed and they are supposed to be underground. This meant that the vegetables were not able to get watered for more than a week. When the road was restored and Jason was finally able to drive to the farm (We were cut off from getting to the farm because the road got washed away) he organized for hundreds sandbags to be filled and those were used to cover the pipes. He used the backhoe to cover the sandbags and pipes and put the pump back in the river so the farm vegetables could get watered. We realized that all vegetables would die during this time and there was nothing we could do about it. We are thankful that things are back to normal for the most part and trusting God for the harvest in the upcoming new year.

As a team we were able to give out relief food to a village that had all their homes and belongings destroyed by the floods. These people are now staying under tarps in an IDP camp (Internally Displaced People). So many of our partners and loved ones gave money for us to purchase food and we are so grateful for you! Overall everything went very smoothly and we were able to do a small program for all the children that were in the camp while the food was handed out.

Here are some dolls, baby rings, necklaces, and matchbox cars that Jason and Righteous brought back from their trip to America.

On Christmas we once again celebrated at the farm. We slaughtered a cow (we certainly does not mean me) and invited the surrounding village over for a meal. As a team we performed several skits, sang The Star Spangled Banner, and did a craft of the nativity. Jason and Amos were able to share the gospel about Jesus's birth, death and resurrection. The audience listened attentively when they did so and we are hopeful that an interest to search after truth will begin in hearts. On Christmas Eve we got together to wrap up presents for the farm workers families but before doing this we read through a few Old Testament prophecies about Christ coming and then read the New Testament scriptures on their fulfillment. I have been meditating on the verses after Adam and Eve's fall in the Garden of Eden. It is astonishing to me that God had a plan right from the beginning- to re establish man (and woman's) relationship with God through His son. In Genesis 3:14-15 here is God's response immediately following Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit:

"So the Lord God said to the serpent,

"Because you have done this,

'Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals!

You will crawl on your belly

And you will eat dust

All the days of your life.

And I will put enmity

Between your offspring and hers;

He will crush your head,

And you will strike his heel."

Indeed this was fulfilled upon Christ's birth- as was told in Isaiah 7:14 "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel ' (which means God with us").

In Hebrews it focuses on Jesus's humility by becoming human, taking on flesh and the sins of all mankind when He died for us "so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death- that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." Hebrews 2:15 We can have assurance of where we will go when we die by our faith in Jesus. This good news is for you , me, everyone. Whoever is feeling low, lost, overwhelmed this season please take comfort of what Jesus did for you. In Hebrews 3:17-18 it says "For this reason He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted." Jesus turned aside God's wrath for us sinners and died as our substitute. Now we can enter into the presence of the Most High God when our time on earth is done. Oh what a glorious day that will be!