Getting to know Sithabiso Thsuma

Sithabiso Tshuma

Q: Tell me about your background?
A: I am 19 years old and I live at Natisa with my older brother. Natisa is a 14k walk from Ebenezer. I also grew up at Ethandweni Children’s Home. Both my parents have passed away.

Q: How did you hear about Ebenezer?
A: Selection Camp forms came to White Water Secondary School – the high school that I was attending. I filled in the forms and attended Selection Camp. I enjoyed the camp especially being with my peers.

Q: What has been your greatest challenge at Ebenezer?
A I haven’t faced any challenges yet since coming to Ebenezer.

Q: What has been your greatest joy at Ebenezer?
A: I enjoy working in my plot. I also enjoy the lessons especially the spiritual lessons with Stephen Manhanga. I enjoy co-operating with other people and discussing my future.

Q: You have planted a new tomato and cabbage crop. How are the crops doing?
A: Generally, very well but cut worm has affected my crops. I’ll spray karate to kill of the worm.

Sithabiso checking on her cabbages

Q: Who is your role model?
A: God is my role model. Everything he does is good. He has no favourites and he loves everyone.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
A: In 5 years time I’ll be having a farm and I’ll be very successful.

Thank you Sithabiso. May you be blessed as you continue to impact your community.

by molly manhanga

Getting to know Sikhathazile Moyo

Sikhathazile Moyo

Q: Tell me about your background?
A: I’m turning 20 years old and I come from Silozwe which is a 2 hour walk from Ebenezer. I live with my parents and my brothers and sisters. We are 11 altogether and I am number 7.

Q: How did you hear about Ebenezer?
A: I saw the Selection Camp forms at Silozwe Business Centre. I filled them in and attended the camp. I really enjoyed the camp especially the games.

Q: What has been your greatest challenge at Ebenezer?
A Stumping trees has been my greatest challenge at Ebenezer.

Q: What has been your greatest joy at Ebenezer?
A: I enjoy sharing interesting stories with my many friends at Ebenezer and I’ve really enjoyed the spiritual lessons with Stephen Manhanga.

Q: Who is your role model?
A: Abel – Adam and Eve’s son from the Bible. He did everything God’s Way and that is why he is my role model!

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
A: In 5 years time I’ll be back in my community, running a farming business growing tomatoes.

Thank you Sikhatha. May you be blessed as you continue to impact your community.

Interviewed By Molly Manhanga

One on one with Ntandoyenkosi Ncube

Getting to know Ntandoyenkosi Ncube

Q: Tell me about your background?
A: I come from Lushumbe Village and I live with my mother. I haven’t met my father. Of 3 siblings, I am the last born and I am 18 years old.

Q: How did you hear about Ebenezer?
A: My brother told me about Ebenezer. I missed the Selection Camp but I went for an interview with the Ebenezer staff and I was accepted.

Q: What has been your greatest challenge at Ebenezer?
A: Stumping trees (cutting the tree down and taking the roots out of the ground) and clearing my plot has been my greatest challenge. We worked as a team so I really enjoyed it when my friends helped me clear my plot.

Q: What has been your greatest joy at Ebenezer?
A: My greatest joy at Ebenezer has been learning life skills, making new friends and the spiritual lessons with Stephen Manhanga. I really enjoy the atmosphere at Ebenezer.

Q: Excellent. Who is your role model?
A: My role model is my friend Mkhululi Ncube. I really like the way he shares the word of God. He is passionate about God.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
A: In 5 years time I’m aiming to be a successful business woman in my community. When I am financially stable, I’ll think about marriage. I also want to train my community to Farm God’s Way.

Thank you Ntando. May you be blessed as you continue to impact your community.

interviewed by molly manhanga

One on one with Constance Ncube

Getting to know Constance Ncube

Q: Tell me about your background?
A: I am 20 years old and I come from Lushumbe village. This is approximately 4 hours walk from Ebenezer. I live with my parents. I am the third born in a family of 9.

Q: How did you hear about Ebenezer?
A: My father told me about Ebenezer. I collected forms for the Selection Camp and filled them in. I was unable to attend the Selection Camp because I was ill at that time. I however attended an interview with the Ebenezer staff and I was accepted.

Q: What has been your greatest challenge at Ebenezer?
A: I haven’t faced any challenges yet since coming to Ebenezer.

Q: What has been your greatest joy at Ebenezer?
A: I’m enjoying working in my field as well as helping others who are behind in field preparations. I’ve made many new friends since coming to Ebenezer. I enjoy all the lessons being taught particularly the spiritual lessons with Stephen Manhanga.

Q: Who is your role model?
A: Very good. The staff at Ebenezer are my role models. They really inspire me. They teach me different life skills and I am able to approach them when I don’t understand something. Most importantly, they teach me to live a Godly life.

Q: Your parents attended the Parent Day event not so long ago? What did they think of your field and Ebenezer as a whole?
A: It was a memorable and very enjoyable day for my parents as well as for me. They enjoyed being at Ebenezer and listening to the Vision. When they visited my plot, they were so happy with the tomatoes. They encouraged me to continue working hard.

Constance weeding her plot

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
A: In 5 years time I will be back in my community being very successful in farming. I also want to teach my community to farm God’s Way. I am hoping to be married by then.

Thank you Constance. May you be blessed as you continue to impact your community.

Interviewed by Molly manhanga

Parent Day for 1st Year Apprentices

Parent Day for 1st year apprentices

1st year apprentices

The 1st year apprentices officially joined Ebenezer Agricultural Training centre on the 3 November 2008. As a team they cleared their plots and have worked well in preparing their fields. They have planted their 1st tomato crop and we are hoping for a bumper harvest.

The apprentices are being equipped in Spiritual, Agriculture and Business.

They also have time for fun and games as they play volleyball, chair-ball or soccer.

1st year tomatoes

We invited the parents of the first years to Ebenezer as well as the community leaders. We shared vision, expectations, introduced the team, had a tour of the fields and so on. The turn out of parents was really good and the atmosphere was pleasant. The parents especially enjoyed the song and dance from the apprentices and the drama. The tour of the fields was very exciting for the proud parents who saw the potential and possibilities that their children have been given. One community leader recommended that we make the parent day into a huge community gathering so that we can show the community what we are doing. A GREAT thought to consider!
After sharing a meal and building stronger friendships, the proud parents went their way. All in all, it was a brilliant day.

Apprentices enjoying their song and dance

By Molly Manhanga

Intern Visit To Ebenezer

A visit from 2 of the Farming God’s Way interns

Zulu Dube, Jorge Moreira and Arun Jani

Zulu Dube from the Faithful Stewards programme, came down to Ebenezer to visit the local farmers as well as monitor and evaluate the site. He traveled down with two Farming God’s Way interns who are based at River of Life Westgate Church in Harare, Zimbabwe. The interns were Jorge Moreira from Nampula, Mozambique and Arun Jani from Massachusetts, United States of America. It was very interesting talking to them both and finding out more about their time in Zimbabwe.

Jorge Moreira: I come from Nampula, Mozambique. I have been part of the Farming God’s way training internship for the last 4 months. The training is very good and an excellent tool for Evangelism.
I really enjoyed my visit into the community. The people are friendly. They work very hard and are doing their best to put things in order. The outlook is positive and the farmers can only improve.
Ebenezer is a beautiful place and the dam is a miracle. It was my first time to see ostriches and I find them fascinating.
I will definitely come back and visit Ebenezer.

Arun Jani: I come from Massachusetts, U.S.A. I was working in Senegal with the Peace Core as an Agricultural Extension Agent. I came across Farming God’s Way in 2007 and started implementing the principles with cowpeas, okra, tomatoes and maize. Based on our experience, Farming Gods Way really works. We saw fertility build up in soils and we are looking forward to continuing to promote it.
I am overjoyed at Ebenezer’s existence. It shows that Farming God’s way can work anywhere. It is a joy that Ebenezer is so close to the villagers who can have access to see what is happening. The end result for the apprentices is that they will have commitment and go back to the community and train others. There is a lot of potential.
Visiting the farmers in the community was good. The people are very welcoming and generous. They share the little that they have. The farmers are hard workers and their participation good. I wished they would grow more millet in this area but the farmers who do have said that the birds come and eat their crop. It looks like sorghum would also do well in this area together with the other variety of crops grown.
Ebenezer is beautiful.

Jorge and Arun at the Ebenezer Dam

Thank you so much gentlemen. I wish you well as you finish your Farming God’s Way internship and head back to your countries to train and equip others.

Written by Molly Manhanga

Planting Season at Ebenezer

Apprentices heading to their plots to plant the tomato seedlings

Ebenezer is a ‘hive’ of activity as the apprentices are very busy in their fields. Yes, it’s planting time again and they received 40,000 tomato seedlings and 10,000 cabbage seedlings. Tomatoes take approximately 12 weeks before harvesting and 8 weeks of reaping the rewards. Cabbages take 12 weeks to harvest time. Smiles are evident as the work progresses.

What actually happens when the apprentice receives a plot?

1st year apprentices clearing the fields

1. They need to clear their plot.
2. Check the slope of the plot.
3. Measure the correct spacings for the crop in rows and between rows.
4. Dig holes.
5. Apply a basal fertiliser.
6. Mulch the plot.
7. Spray the plot before hand to kill any bugs and pests and to prevent diseases.
8. In the case of tomatoes, have the anchors ready, straining wire and stakes to support the tomato plant.
9. Plant the seedlings.

It’s a lot of preparation and hard work but our apprentices are doing it. They are hoping for a bumper harvest this season.

Planting in progress.

Prayer requests
That the Lord of the harvest will give 100 fold to these crops
Faithfulness with little
Diligence
By Molly Manhanga