One on One with Ndumiso Ncube: 1st year appy

Getting to know Ndumiso Ncube

M.M: Tell me about your background?
N.N: I live in Lushumbe which is a four hour walk from Ebenezer. I live with my parents. I finished form 4 at Solozwe Secondary school. I am 18 years old. I have three sisters and three brothers. My older brother has died. I am 4th born in my family.

M.M: What has been your greatest challenge since coming to Ebenezer?
N.N: I haven’t found anything difficult as yet since coming to Ebenezer.

M.M: What has been your greatest joy at Ebenezer?
N.N: Making new friends. I also enjoy the lessons, especially spiritual.

M.M: How did you hear about Ebenezer?
N.N: I heard from Nyosie who works at Masiye Camp site – approximately 28km from Ebenezer.

M.M: In 5 years time what do you see yourself doing?
N.N: I would like to drive and be a farmer. Although I have no specific place at the moment, I’m sure by then I will have found something.

M.M: I really hope you do well at Ebenezer and be blessed as continue to impact your community.

By Molly Manhanga

One on One with Vusani Dube: 1st year appy

Getting to know Vusani Dube

M.M: Tell me about your background?
V.D: I live in Mapane which is a three hour walk from Ebenezer. I live with my parents. I learnt at Simbumbumbi High and finished form 3. I am 17 years old. I have three sisters and two brothers. I am 5th born in my family.

M.M: What has been your greatest challenge since coming to Ebenezer?
V.D: I haven’t found anything difficult as yet since coming to Ebenezer.

M.M: What has been your greatest joy at Ebenezer?
V.D: I learn something new daily. I also enjoy the lessons, especially spiritual.

M.M: How did you hear about Ebenezer?
V.D: I heard from one of the graduates – Mkhululi Ncube.

M.M: In 5 years time what do you see yourself doing?
V.D: I’ll be either a farmer or a businessman – depending on my situation. I may find land in another area and not back in my community.

M.M: I really hope you do well at Ebenezer and be blessed as continue to impact your community.

Interviewed By Molly Manhanga

The Graduates start harvesting their maize

Brilliant Khoza holding his largest maize cob

The crops are looking green and it’s amazing to see how the first crop of maize has done at Ebenezer. The graduates have started harvesting their crops that will go to the market today.

Brilliant Khoza, has worked hard in his field and he showed me the smallest cob from his field as well as the largest. He has done really well.

Largest and smallest maize cob from Brillian Khoza's field.

By Molly Manhanga

Up Close with Lance Edwards

Lance Edwards

Lance is the Operations Director of Ebenezer Training Centre. These are his thoughts on 2009…..

M.M: What would you consider to have been the most significant events of “09?”

L.E: Not a particular event but clarity that came in 2009 and a peace that Ebenezer was at a place where God wanted it – equipping young people for life in Christ. We got through to the apprentice hearts through adversity and difficulty but seeing the transformation is beautiful. It was the realization that Ebenezer starts small in number but is deep in character. 2009 was learning about contentment and satisfaction and not so much about agriculture. 2010 will bring agriculture and the heart together: doing agriculture with excellence. Knowing it had to happen in this sequence is good for future Ebenezer’s.

M.M: Great! What faith challenges or “stretching” did you have in “09?”

L.E: Remaining positive and strong in faith in and amongst the chaos. Feeling like I have to build people up and encourage them when I was feeling low and helping people keep their eyes fixed on the vision and not circumstances.

Renee Cunningham and Lance Edwards revising "systems" at Ebenezer

M.M: What are you excited about for 2010?

L.E: 2008 and 2009 have been foundational years. I feel that in 2010, we’ll build above the ground. We’ve had glimpses of the incredible potential and in 2010 we will start the journey of achieving that potential.

M.M: Give me a brief summary of how your family life has been in 2009?

L.E: Family life in 2009 has been good. My children Katy and Ashton are settled. They’ve become Zimbabwean and this is home. They love their school; they’re doing well and are happy. We’re all settled.

M.M: Thanks so much Lance. We are looking forward to the journey of achieving our potential in 2010.

Interviewed by Molly Manhanga

Dam spilling again!

On Saturday December 12, the dam started spilling again. It's early days yet as we expect more down pours of rain during the next 2 months.

God is so good!

By Molly Manhanga

A minute with Scott Marques

Scott Marques

What do you do to relax?
Bird watch. I like to walk in the forest and look at birds

What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Roasted mouse

What is your favourite quote?
Winston Churchill “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never.”

What are you passionate about?
God, my wife Claire, my children Kimberly & Stephen, the church and life.

Scott with farmers at Operation Trumpet Call listening to Alan Norton

Encouragement at it's BEST!

A high powered team visited Ebenezer to tour the fields and encourage the apprentices and leaders from Crossroads Community Church. The team comprised of Scott Marques, Adrian Willard, Peter Cunningham, Renee Cunningham, Lance Edwards, Brendon Smith, Stephen and Molly Manhanga.

Part of the converstaions were as follows:

1. Lives are being transformed in the Kezi community.
2. Real discipleship is happening as the apprentices see marriage and family lived out at Ebenezer.
3. Ebenezer is creating an environment where people can learn different things.
4. There is renewed thinking in the apprentices. Parents have seen transformation in the lives of the apprentices.
5. At Ebenezer, we can see production where there once was nothing.
6. The key to unlocking poverty is GIVING: when the poor learn to give.

These conversations are encouraging and motivating.

Summarised by Molly Manhanga

A few minutes with Jill Kingston

Jill Kingston

Jill comes from the Midlands in the U.K. She has spent the last year assisting to lead a church called “All Saints Worcester”. The church was replanted as an Evangelical church 7 years ago. Jill has been visiting Zimbabwe for 3 weeks. She was last over here in 2007 with a very special friend of mine – Lynn Murdoch. Jill passed through the Ebenezer office and I was able to surprise her with a minute interview. This is what she had to say:

What do you do to relax?
Read, walk, pray

What is your favourite quote?
We love because He first loved us

What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Termite ants

What sorts of book do you read?
Novels and biographies

Who has shaped your life?
That’s easy – Jesus

What is your favourite current album?
“No Crown” by Ben Dunnett

A few minutes with Olivia Jackson

Olivia Jackson

Olivia comes from London in the U.K. This is her second time to Zimbabwe. She is an advocate for women and children at risk. She has been doing this for 5 years. Olivia also passed through the Ebenezer office and I learnt a little about her through the one minute questions. This is what she said:

What do you do to relax?
Read, watch films, play tennis

What is your favourite quote?
Dignity and humility are the cornerstones to compassion

What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Flying termite ants

What sorts of book do you read?
Historical and crime novels

Who has shaped your life?
Jesus

What is your favourite current album?
Mozart’s requiem

Freedom Unlimited at Ebenezer pt 5

Winston Nyamayaro addressing the apprentices

Freedom Unlimited have been sharing Life Skills with the apprentices.

They addressed the 1st years about living in Freedom – as free men and women. What is freedom? True Freedom is living the way we are made. Freedom is not about what you have or do not have.

God made, well made: You are valuable and precious. Your life has a purpose and it’s possible to achieve God’s plan for you.

Communication:
1. The power of words: words create or destroy – have life or death.
2. Communication is more than words. It includes body language.
3. The keys to good communication: speak the truth in love, keep your sensitivity, get rid of bitterness.
4. Be imitators of God.

My family is best
Family statues: Are you from a rude family or a kind family? Well, God has a plan for marriage – both men and women are made in God’s image but men and women are however different. Husbands have a special responsibility. With God, we can have the best family. Mabel Morgan said many years ago in “The Total Woman”: “At the heart of a good marriage you will always find two good forgivers”.

Sex: Song of Songs puts this beautifully.
We can talk about sex. The Makers plan was that sex is delightful. Our sexuality is not a mistake. God said go and multiply but sex is exclusive to marriage. It’s a gift which has been trashed. Sex outside of marriage is a disaster but is it possible to say NO? It is. Joseph is our example in Genesis 37 onwards. Sex is delightful within marriage. 1 Corinthians 7: 2 – 5, Proverbs 5: 15 – 19. What should we do? We can change and God will forgive. Let’s remain pure – flee the evil desires of youth. Worship God. Let’s pour our energies into positive activities and lets be accountable – tell someone about your decision.

HIV and AIDS:
HIV and AIDS is real and the statistics in Sub-Saharan Africa are high. Knowing one’s status is good as it enables us to make informed decisions. However, we need to know that stigma and discrimination are real too.
The keys to hope are forgiveness, find meaning to life and relationships and deal with your eternity.

The free gift of God:
There is so much that is wrong with the world and only God can set us free.

Freedom Unlimited at Ebenezer pt 4

Onlookers as chairball is played

Freedom Unlimited have been sharing Life Skills with the apprentices.

Gender, Culture and HIV

WHY?
1. Social Factors: Women who carry condoms are seen as being “loose”. It is acceptable for men to have more than one partner and they rarely use condoms with their wives. Society says “good girls” should not know much or ask for information about sexual matters. Society places pressure on girls to remain as virgins while the same pressure is not put on boys and myths.
2. Cultural Factors: Women are socialized to get married and be submissive. Condoms rarely used to prevent pregnancy. The importance of childbearing leads to unsafe sex leading to infection. Due to lobola, women are seen as husband’s property and it’s hard for the women to refuse the husband sex. There is wife inheritance and widow cleansing during burial.
3. Economic Factors: Many women are economically dependent on men or selling sex for money.
4. Biological: It is difficult to see sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) and other problems.

Gender and culture are therefore largely related to the spread of HIV. HIV is a gender issue (a gender issue is a problem or concern arising from discriminatory attitudes and treatment due to unequal social and power relations)

"and ACTION".........Chairball

What can we do?
1. Do away with practices, thoughts and behaviors that make men and women vulnerable to HIV. Sensitize our peers about the relationship that exists between gender, culture and HIV because…………..
2. In the end, no one wins. We all die: those with power and those without power.

Freedom Unlimited at Ebenezer pt 3

Drama pt 1

Freedom Unlimited have been sharing Life Skills with the apprentices.

Gender, Culture and HIV
What is culture? Culture is a way of life. People’s values and norms are passed down from one generation to another because they are believed to be important for holding a society together.

Drama pt 2

Culture………………
1. Embraces us all: no one exists outside one or another culture
2. Is not static: it is dynamic and changes
3. Is not natural: it is a social product

4. Is learnt through socialization
5. Is different for different people, groups and times

What is gender?
1. It is related to how we are perceived to think and act as women and men because of the way society is organized.
2. It is the socially and culturally constructed differences between men and women.

Therefore
1. Gender and culture are related
2. Gender is a cultural product

Statistics:
1. In Africa, women comprise two-thirds of those infected with HIV
2. HIV prevalence among women is 21.1% while among men it is 14.5%.

Read WHY? in part 4……

Freedom Unlimited at Ebenezer pt 2

Apprentices being very attentive with the Freedom Unlimited team

Freedom Unlimited have been sharing Life Skills with the apprentices.

When should we start talking to our children about sex and HIV?

Interesting question! People usually mention different age groups and give various reasons for their responses. What is important is highlighting that sex and sexuality is not just talking about the ”birds and the bees”.

Fun and games amongst the training

Sex education starts when we teach our children things like how to accept themselves as boys and girls. In this world where there is increasing confusion about people’s sexuality this is very important.

Issues like how to maintain good hygiene as boys and girls and issues like that are very important issues. All these are addressed consciously and unconsciously from birth. Of course there comes a time when we have to talk about the birds and the bees and this has to be approached at all times in an age appropriate manner.

Freedom Unlimited at Ebenezer pt 1

Apprentices being addressed by Freedom Unlimited

Freedom Unlimited have been sharing Life Skills with the apprentices. They continued their talk on HIV with the second years. They focused on the Negative Impact on the family and when we should start talking to our children about sex and HIV.

Negative impacts on the family:
1. children are left as orphans
2. loss of bread winners
3. street children
4. divorce and break down in relationships. These may be between spouses or among family members as people blame each other for the disease.
5. death
6. poverty
7. child-headed households
8. school drop outs
9. lonliness among remaining spouses
10. child abuse
11. siblings being separated
12. property grabbing after the death of a relative

Ebenezer Kitchen Garden

Ebenezer’s Seedling Production Unit

The Ebenezer Kitchen Garden is run by Gertrude Nyamayaro and her team. Gertrude heads up the Catering department at Ebenezer.

Beds prepared to a high standard

Gertrude has started a Seedling Production Unit where she and her team plant a variety of seed like onions, cabbages, green peppers and so on in carefully well planned beds. After several weeks, the seedlings are either given to the apprentices to transplant into their fields or they are transplanted into the kitchen garden.

Gertrude is doing really well.

Hard at work in the Seedling Production Unit

By Molly Manhanga

1st years at Ebenezer

1st years in an English class at Ebenezer

It is just over a month now since the first years joined the Ebenezer family. They are a very active bunch of apprentices who have settled well into the daily routine of the Training Centre. They enjoy working in their fields as well as attending class.

We have 10 girls and 13 boys. It has been an excellent start with the 1st years.

More to follow on the apprentices with their one one one interviews.......

By Molly Manhanga

A few minutes with John Hosier

John Hosier

What do you do to relax?
Read, listen to music, walk, help Sue gardening and visit my grandchildren

What is your favourite quote?
1 Corinthians 5:1, 1 Corinthians 5:21 and Hebrews 10:14

What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Crocodile pate

What are you most passionate about?
The local church

Who has shaped your life?
My wife Sue, Terry Virgo, Martin Lloyd Jones, John Piper

What sorts of book do you like reading?
Lots of Theology books. I’ve read Wayne Grudem’s “Systematic Theology” a few times. I read books that win literary prizes so that I can keep up with what people are reading.

What is your favourite current album?
It’s a Moroccon/French album called Tootya.

A few minutes with Sue Hosier

Sue Hosier

What do you do to relax?
Gardening

What is your favourite quote?
Romans 15:13 “

What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Fufu

What are you most passionate about?
The Lord, the church, my family, discipling younger women and compost

Who has shaped your life?
My husband John

What sorts of book do you like reading?
Traveling books

What is your favourite current album?
Evan Rogers “Devoted”

Maize crop at Ebenezer

Maize crop at Ebenezer

We have planted our first maize crop at Ebenezer and it is doing pretty well. The apprentices are diligently looking after their crops and expecting a good first harvest with their maize.

Watch this space for a follow up on the maize crop.....

The Hosiers at Ebenezer

John and Sue at the compost heap at Ebenezer. One of Sue's passions is compost.

I first met John Hosier almost 10 years ago when he came to Zimbabwe. He visited Piet and Hettie Dreyer who were then leading Kingsway Community Church, in Bindura.

John and Sue Hosier overlooking the maize field at Ebenezer

It was excellent seeing John and Sue again and spending a few hours with them at Crossroads Community Church and Ebenezer Training Centre in Kezi, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

By Molly Manhanga

"Life Change" with the graduates pt 8

Simangaliso Ndlovu

M.M: You are into your third year at Ebenezer. How has your life changed since August 2007?

S.N: Spiritually. I didn’t have faith and I used to be a “doubting” Thomas. Now my faith has increased. I have also received more skills in farming. I know how to handle challenges I face in my field. I am now working harder than when I arrived at Ebenezer

M.M: Well done Simanga. Keep on keeping on.

By Molly Manhanga