I love it here!
I want to say thank you to all of you who support us. Whether it is financially or with prayer, we know that it is because you love us and believe in us that we are able to live in this amazing country.
Work has been great so far and I know that many of our postings have been about life activities and different things, so I wanted to take a minute to tell you about the WORK that we are doing.
As many of you know our first project was to get involved with a chicken hatchery and feed mill in Nampula. I am so thrilled to report that we have made our first "investment" to the project and last week I received a phone call from Andrew that the first ton of locally produced feed was milled. This is the first feed that has been produced in Nampula for over 25 years. Please continue to pray for this project and that the funding will continue to come. We need $150,000 to complete the project and to see the 200 small scale farmers started.
Another amzing opportunity existis within a little village called Manhica. This town has been transformed from the huge investment of a South African sugar cane mill (around $60 million USD). This, however, has left the local land owners with empty fields while many of their neighbors are getting jobs and receiving a fair wage from the mill. We are looking at providing capital infrastucture to help these farmers begin to plant sugar cane on their land. I can tell you that the people are ready to work, but have had very little opportunity to do anything with what they have. The first opportunity is to get 42 hectares (1 hectare is 1.5 acres) planted, fertilized and irrigated. This project needs $40,000USD to get it going. The great thing about sugar cane is that it yields a very consistant crop for a minimum of 8 years and the mill will buy all that the farmers can produce. When I visited this village a few months ago we spoke through a translator in Shangana. These farmers told us that have heard of World Relief and the programs that we do, but they have not been involved yet. This economic project would be a great way for us to introduce HIV/Aids education, child development programs and our pastors network training.
Are you tired of reading yet? I have more.
I want you to know about Samuel. He is a young African that I have gotten to know from church. One night in October over dinner we began to talk about what he was doing and where he worked. He informed me that he is working part time for an NGO in Maputo but also owns a small grocery store in the city. I was intrigued by the grocery store and had him tell me about it. He shared that he had started it in August with $200 dollars that he saved. (by the way he makes $250 per month as a salary) He told me how he negotiated the rent with the landlord and how he had paid her for 2 months to cover the first months rent. He then launched his store with $50 worth of inventory. As he received more money he bought more stock, and then some more. So I asked him how he thought it was going. His response was so African. "It's going very well, but when we get electricity it will be even better." What? No electricity. He informed me that the previous renter had run up a $385 bill and has never paid. The electricity company had no sympathy and they wont turn it on without pay. Lets just say that the bill got paid. So as things progressed Sam approached me about getting him a loan to gear up for the Christmas buying season. I put him in touch with World Reliefs micro finance operation and explored the possibility of him getting a loan. They needed colateral, which he doesn't have so I signed a guarantee for him. I am pleased to say that he has already paid back his $1200 loan and FCC is willing to help him more. By the way this little grocery store that is smaller than a one stall garage employs 2 other workers. One of whom is starting college on the 14th of February. I will end this story with this. One day as I was at the store just hanging out I started talking to Sam and Tecco about marketing and profit and such. I then stopped and said one day you will tell me to go back to America and to shut up. He was dead serious as he looked at me and said, "you are the only person who has ever been interested in me. I would never say that." Needless to say I was humbled.
I will tell more later about the coconut opportunity, the Mangos and Papayas. The distribution center and the grocery home delivery concept.
May God continue to richly bless you all. Please know that you are appreciated and missed incredibly. Thank you for believing in us.
Separado mas Junto (seperate but together)
Work has been great so far and I know that many of our postings have been about life activities and different things, so I wanted to take a minute to tell you about the WORK that we are doing.
As many of you know our first project was to get involved with a chicken hatchery and feed mill in Nampula. I am so thrilled to report that we have made our first "investment" to the project and last week I received a phone call from Andrew that the first ton of locally produced feed was milled. This is the first feed that has been produced in Nampula for over 25 years. Please continue to pray for this project and that the funding will continue to come. We need $150,000 to complete the project and to see the 200 small scale farmers started.
Another amzing opportunity existis within a little village called Manhica. This town has been transformed from the huge investment of a South African sugar cane mill (around $60 million USD). This, however, has left the local land owners with empty fields while many of their neighbors are getting jobs and receiving a fair wage from the mill. We are looking at providing capital infrastucture to help these farmers begin to plant sugar cane on their land. I can tell you that the people are ready to work, but have had very little opportunity to do anything with what they have. The first opportunity is to get 42 hectares (1 hectare is 1.5 acres) planted, fertilized and irrigated. This project needs $40,000USD to get it going. The great thing about sugar cane is that it yields a very consistant crop for a minimum of 8 years and the mill will buy all that the farmers can produce. When I visited this village a few months ago we spoke through a translator in Shangana. These farmers told us that have heard of World Relief and the programs that we do, but they have not been involved yet. This economic project would be a great way for us to introduce HIV/Aids education, child development programs and our pastors network training.
Are you tired of reading yet? I have more.
I want you to know about Samuel. He is a young African that I have gotten to know from church. One night in October over dinner we began to talk about what he was doing and where he worked. He informed me that he is working part time for an NGO in Maputo but also owns a small grocery store in the city. I was intrigued by the grocery store and had him tell me about it. He shared that he had started it in August with $200 dollars that he saved. (by the way he makes $250 per month as a salary) He told me how he negotiated the rent with the landlord and how he had paid her for 2 months to cover the first months rent. He then launched his store with $50 worth of inventory. As he received more money he bought more stock, and then some more. So I asked him how he thought it was going. His response was so African. "It's going very well, but when we get electricity it will be even better." What? No electricity. He informed me that the previous renter had run up a $385 bill and has never paid. The electricity company had no sympathy and they wont turn it on without pay. Lets just say that the bill got paid. So as things progressed Sam approached me about getting him a loan to gear up for the Christmas buying season. I put him in touch with World Reliefs micro finance operation and explored the possibility of him getting a loan. They needed colateral, which he doesn't have so I signed a guarantee for him. I am pleased to say that he has already paid back his $1200 loan and FCC is willing to help him more. By the way this little grocery store that is smaller than a one stall garage employs 2 other workers. One of whom is starting college on the 14th of February. I will end this story with this. One day as I was at the store just hanging out I started talking to Sam and Tecco about marketing and profit and such. I then stopped and said one day you will tell me to go back to America and to shut up. He was dead serious as he looked at me and said, "you are the only person who has ever been interested in me. I would never say that." Needless to say I was humbled.
I will tell more later about the coconut opportunity, the Mangos and Papayas. The distribution center and the grocery home delivery concept.
May God continue to richly bless you all. Please know that you are appreciated and missed incredibly. Thank you for believing in us.
Separado mas Junto (seperate but together)
posted by Sniders in Africa at 2/01/2006 07:19:00 AM
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