Life after Ebenezer with Cuthbert Dube

Cuthbert Dube

You’ve been at Ebenezer for almost two years now and you’ll be graduating this week. What have been the

Highlights:
1. I’ve learnt how to farm
2. I’m equipped spiritually
3. I know how to start a business

Challenges:
1. I didn’t find anything challenging at Ebenezer.

Tentative Prospects for 2011:
I’m hoping to make it into the graduate programme. If I don’t, then I’ll go home and rewrite my O levels.

By Molly Manhanga

Life after Ebenezer with Mcebisi Ncube

Mcebisi Ncube

You’ve been at Ebenezer for almost two years now and you’ll be graduating next week. What have been the

Highlights:
1. I’ve learnt how to worship God
2. I’ve learnt how to be a serious farmer
3. I enjoyed playing games

Challenges:
1. Farming was really hard especially when I started at Ebenezer.

Tentative Prospects for 2011:
I want to go home and continue farming. I have a piece of land and a well where I can draw my water.

By Molly Manhanga

Life after Ebenezer with Mbongeni Nyathi

Mbongeni Nyathi

You’ve been at Ebenezer for almost two years now and you’ll be graduating next week. What have been the

Highlights:
1. I’ve learnt many things especially spiritual
2. I now know how to farm seriously
3. I can now relate well with my peers

Challenges:
1. Water shortages have been a challenge as my crops wilted.

Tentative Prospects for 2011:
I’m hoping to join the graduate programme and continue farming. If this doesn’t work out, I’ll go home and continue implementing what I’ve learnt at Ebenezer.

By Molly Manhanga

Stresses at Ebenezer.......

So many great things have happened at Ebenezer this year but, we’ve also had a full quota of stresses…….. Here are some that we are facing at the moment

1. Wild animals having a field day with the green maize in the fields. Wild pigs, baboons and bush buck are the main culprits here. One of our graduates, Simangaliso Ndlovu, had a beautiful field of green maize and three quarters has been wiped out by wild animals. That is really discouraging for her and the other apprentices who are now on “high alert”. Some have resorted to guarding their fields at night.
2. Our water problems continue….. the apprentices planted about 25,000 tomato seedlings after having put chicken manure as a basal fertiliser. Needless to say, without adequate water, about half the tomato plants have burnt and died.
3. Snakes…..It’s that time of the year when a variety of snakes show face. There are many venomous snakes around Ebenezer particularly the black mamba. Fortunately or unfortunately, the beauty of a snake is the last thing on anyone’s mind at Ebenezer. A snake means a dead snake and a discussion follows after it is lifeless – normally a worst case sceranio! (Sorry to all the snake lovers!)
4. Marketing of produce…….Transport and communications continue to be stressful…….

Again, amidst all this we are looking forward to our second graduation ceremony which is on the 15th December, we are continuing to harvest the tomatoes, onions and maize, the buildings continue to go up, the research and development plot continues to take shape…….so, alls well that ends well!

By Molly Manhanga

Meet Prosper Nguruva

Prosper Nguruva

M.M: Tell me briefly about your background?
P.N: I was born in Harare and did my primary and secondary schooling there. I worked with an Intercrop company for a year. After my parents died, I did some indigenous work. We are 2 in my family and I am the eldest. I started volunteering for Operation Joseph and for the Faithful Stewards Programme. I joined Foundations for Farming in 2007.

M.M: What work do you do at Ebenezer?
P.N: I’m doing Research and Development.

M.M: How is it going so far?
P.N: So far, so good. Communication is the main problem. I’m Shona speaking in an Ndebele community.

M.M: Yes, that can be difficult. How long will you be serving at Ebenezer?
P.N: I’m not too sure.

M.M: What are your impressions of Ebenezer?
P.N: There is potential.

M.M: How have you enjoyed your stay so far?
P.N: I haven’t quite enjoyed my stay. I’m sleeping on the floor – a mattress on the floor and the menu is rather basic. I'm sure with time I'll adjust and things will improve!

M.M: Thanks Prosper for doing such an amazing job in the Research and Development fields

By Molly Manhanga

Selection Camp at Ebenezer

Apprentices having ‘Q & A’ time

The Selection Camp has come and gone and we are expecting 30 new apprentices in 2011. It was a packed weekend of fun, lessons, creativity, morning run, tests, watching a DVD and so on.

As the prospective apprentices arrived at Shalom camp site and registered, they were shown their accommodation, had a light snack before getting into games. Volleyball caught the attention of the apprentices and some of them did pretty well for a first time. When the majority of apprentices arrived early evening, they played other games with the staff. Much laughter was heard as games are a sure winner as ice-breakers.

After supper on the first evening, the volunteers and Ebenezer staff were introduced to the apprentices. Mr Nyamayaro shared on the expectations of Ebenezer. The apprentices were put into teams and they had to come up with team names and a war cry. The teams were Hot Stuff, Hunters, Bulldozers, Macho Ostriches and Mombe cows. The war cries were hilarious and points for originality.

One on One interviews

Saturday morning the apprentices went for an early morning run from Shalom to Ebenezer. The run was led by Adam Landreth Smith – he opted for this as a “new” experience……… All the apprentices managed to make it to Ebenezer and when asked how the run went, some said it was just TOO FAR. Adam commented that he had to encourage and motivate himself by giving himself small targets. He also said he won’t do that again in a hurry. Well done to Adam for finishing the run!

Hunters (Scary!!!!)

The devotional and tour of the fields went really well. It was during the tour of the fields that the prospective apprentices really opened up and asked a lot of questions. They enjoyed the “arty” business session on camp of the egg drop as well as the 30 minute lessons on Business, Spiritual and Agriculture. Their listening skills were put to the test as they sat down in the afternoon for a short test on Business, Spiritual and Agriculture as well as English and Maths. Some did really well while others not.

The one on one interviews were great as it gave the volunteers and staff and real opportunity to get to know the apprentices and a bit about their background. “Faith Like Potatoes” was the DVD shown in the evening.

Apprentrices walking the fields

The selection process this morning went well as 29 out of the 32 prospective apprentices were selected. They are due to join the Ebenezer family on January 4th 2011. We look forward to that.

By Molly Manhanga

Progress on the bridge

A most welcome development in Kezi.....the bridge

What a wonderful site seeing the bridge between Pumula(main house) and Ebenezer being built especially seeing as we have entered into our rainy season. It was quite an adventure having to drive through this river when the rains were in full swing.

By Molly Manhanga

On the ground.......at Ebenezer........

Maize crop at Ebenezer

As the year is drawing to an end, Ebenezer continues to be a hive of activity….
1. We are preparing for our Selection Camp this weekend and we are hoping to chose 75 new apprentices who will begin in January 2011.
2. Solar Panals are going up at Ebenezer thanks to Adam Landreth Smith
3. The bridge linking Ebenezer to Pumula (Rest) is under construction.
4. The roads linking Ebenezer to Crossroads Community Church and out to town have been graded and are a pleasure to drive on. Trucks coming to Ebenezer to pick up produce have easy access.

5. Tomatoes are being harvested and sold.
6. Cabbages are being sold to the local community.
7. The maize is looking great.
8. The 2nd years are preparing for Graduation which is on the 15th December 2010.
9. The countdown to the end of year final exams is on

Adam putting up the solar panals

Busy days ahead of us…..

By Molly Manhanga

Leadership by Pastor Mark Macklin

Pastor Mark Macklin sharing on Leadership with the apprentices

What a fantastic session we had this morning with Pastor Mark Macklin, senior Pastor of Christian Community Church, Hounslow, London. He spoke to the apprentices on Leadership. This is what he said…..

Leadership. What is it? Am I a leader? Is leadership for special people only? Everyone of us is a leader and there are different levels of leaders. You can have leaders in a church, in government, in different departments, at Ebenezer and so on. Leadership starts with me. I have to lead myself and lead myself well. If I can’t lead myself, then it will be hard to lead anything else. The younger we start, the easier it will be to put things in place.

There are 3 things to put in place:
1. The significance of leadership. Everything rises and falls on the leader.
2. There is a shortage of good, biblical leaders. God use me!
3. Be the best that you can be. Don’t copy someone else but be an original, a masterpiece of God. It’s all to easy to look at someone else

We looked at 8 characteristics of leadership. Jesus is our ultimate model of what a leader is but we focused on Nehemiah. Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem.
a) Compassion – Love. Nehemiah was filled with compassion and love. He had a vision to do something about the walls of Jerusalem. Mark encouraged us to build a foundation in our hearts of love and compassion.
b) Prayer. Great leaders are people of prayer. What we do in public, let’s do in private. Let’s develop a prayer life. Nehemiah prayer for many days. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that the plan God has for us are not to harm us but to give us a hope a future. In times of prayer, God will show us these plans. During difficult times as leaders, let’s pray.
c) Cheerful person. In Zimbabwe, it seems like the people are friendly and cheerful. Nehemiah 2:1. Be cheerful, upbeat and encouraging. The gospel is good news and it changes people’s lives. John 10:10 “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.”
d) Concentration or focus. Remain focused on what you are doing. Don’t be distracted but keep focused on the goal. Nehemiah was a focused leader.
e) Incredibly creative. Have a plan. We won’t always have everything we need. We will have a lack or need. God is a creative God – just look at creation or look at each other. Look to God for creativity, wisdom and a plan to move forward. Nehemiah was creative.
f) Courageous. Nehemiah said, “I am going to do what God has called me to do.” Courage is faith. Take a risk. Peter walked on water. He had faith to risk taking a step out of the boat.
g) Clear conscience. Nehemiah was a leader with a clear conscience. He was a man with integrity, honesty and did not do the wrong thing with the hope of covering it up. “Doing right is always right.” God always honours leaders who show integrity and have a clear conscience. God is looking for openness and honesty. Nehemiah didn’t let success take over him.
h) Conviction. God called Him to do something. There are lots of things that will come our way and try and take us away from what God has called me to do. Don’t let people take it away or distract me. Lots of people make a great start and get tired half way. Don’t give up. Let’s be good starters and great finishers. The key to finishing strong is conviction in my heart.

Pastor Mark Macklin

Mark finished off by reading one of my favourite scriptures that I hold close to my heart; Isaiah 41:10 "Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”

Summarised by Molly Manhanga

Business Presentation by Sikanyiso Matshalaga

Sikanyiso Matshalaga, better known as Skha

Biblically based business…
What is business? Business is a person or group providing a service product for profit. This is very different from no profit organisations. As apprentices come, they’ll be given calculators for business and taught how to run a business.

In business, you have your capital – money – save/invest for your business to continue, your raw materials – put into your business to service your business, tools/repair – set money aside for equipment and tools, salaries – for business owner and workers and the customers – determine price, quality, quantity, market share etc.
In the rural areas people can save money by purchasing livestock. Skha then presented a skit where 3 different “business” proposals were presented and we had to chose the best one.
1. Build an orphanage
2. Want to grow vegetables to supply to the vendors
3. Buy bicycle parts and expand business.
Number 3 was the best business idea.

The business presentation was good and interactive. Some tweaking will take place to make it more suitable and easy to understand for our prospective apprentices.

Skha’s “business” display

By Molly Manhanga

Titus 2 Ladies with Ann Rowsell pt 4

Ann Rowsell

It was great having Ann Rowsell from East Grinstead sharing with the young ladies at Ebenezer on Titus 2 Ladies.

Titus is a letter written by Paul in the New Testament.

Self-Control
Self-control is saying No to things we sometimes want – our desires. It isn’t fashionable these days to say No to things we want. People can have what they want, do what they want, say what they want. The reason we have self-control is to be holy. The enemy will want to rob us of self-control so he’ll bring bad things into our lives. When we live in a mess or being untidy, the enemy is finding a way into our lives. We are not content. We can get upset with our lives or we may have condemnation. This is where we need self-control. These thoughts are not from God. We need to change our mindsets in these areas:
1. How we use our bodies: Good eating, drinking, exercise, keeping away from wrong sexual activities
2. Time: It’s bad to do too little or too much. Write a list and choose the important things first. Get a good routine so that everything gets done.
3. Money: Be thankful for what we have and use it well. Don’t waste it on “silly” things.

Ann having a fun moment at Ebenezer

Summarised by Molly Manhanga

Titus 2 Ladies with Ann Rowsell pt 3

Ann Rowsell

It was great having Ann Rowsell from East Grinstead sharing with the young ladies at Ebenezer on Titus 2 Ladies.

Titus is a letter written by Paul in the New Testament.

Young women – Be kind!
We are kind because we show the love of God. Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”

Our kindness should always be looking to help others. e.g. Jesus our greatest example – he was friends with people that no one liked, he healed people, he served others, he was easy to talk to and so on. We can do all these things. Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” It’s important to be kind. We can look at Mother Theresa who helped the poor or Jackie Pullinger who helped the drug addicts. Let’s be kind and bring God’s love and light to others.

Read more on Self – Control……..

Summarised by Molly Manhanga

Titus 2 Ladies with Ann Rowsell pt 2

Ann Rowsell

It was great having Ann Rowsell from East Grinstead sharing with the young ladies at Ebenezer on Titus 2 Ladies.

Titus is a letter written by Paul in the New Testament.

How do we love our children?
Why do we need to learn to love? How we treat our children might not be love and it might be out of fear and being over-protective.
• We become frightened and want our children to like us, so we become over indulgent. Fear might make us angry mothers because we don’t want to be failure.
• We can be dominating mothers and order our children around and be bossy.
• We also may be lazy mothers and not guide our children.
Real love is selfless, self-giving. We need to ask ourselves what is best for this child and not what do I feel like right now. The Bible says “Behold, children are a gift from the Lord.” Psalm 127:3 “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,” C

hildren are a gift. When we are looking after God’s gift, we won’t be perfect and we’ll be exhausted. We just need to be the best mothers we can be and love the children for ourselves and not to prove anything to ourselves.

Ann Rowsell at Ebenezer

In the letters to Timothy, Paul says don’t forget the teachings of your mother Eunice and your grandmother Lois. We know them because they looked after Timothy. Eunice and Lois – God says that they trained Timothy so well that he came to be a church leader. They taught Timothy to be a good man of God. When you raise children, you are serving God by training them to do good things.

Summarised by Molly Manhanga

Titus 2 Ladies with Ann Rowsell

Ann Rowsell

It was great having Ann Rowsell from East Grinstead sharing with the young ladies at Ebenezer on Titus 2 Ladies. Ann is married to Dave Rowsell.

Titus is a letter written by Paul in the New Testament.

How to love our husbands
Falling in love is easy. Staying in love takes effort. It’s very important to tell your spouse that you love them. It’s important to show it to. God showed us His love through Jesus Christ. There is a difference between God’s love and human love. God’s love is not based on how clever we are or how good looking we are. We cannot do anything to make God love us more. Human love can change – but, our pattern should be God’s love.


When we get married, we should look for:
1. Companionship: be a friend to our husbands and share our hopes, dreams, thoughts and feelings. We should manage our house and finances. We should be his helper and make life easier for him. Have fun together. It should be a partnership of husband and wife – partners working out God’s plan for us.
2. Commitment: When a man and wife marry, they separate themselves from their parents to each other.
3. Create a family: Wives support your husband in his role of authority in the home and by fulfilling a caring and mothering role. Be careful not to neglect your husband while caring for your children.
4. Respect in marriage: This is important as it is easy to treat men patronisingly, with tolerance or with hostility. How do we show respect to our husbands?
o Listen to him
o Give way to his opinions
o Let him know his opinions are important
o Don’t make decisions and tell him later
o Ask for his advice
o Talk through things with him
o Don’t put him down
o Make decisions together

You may say your husband is a weak man and you are stronger. Pray for him, respect him and it will help him grow in confidence and self-esteem.

Read more on Titus 2 ladies with Ann Rowsell

Summarised by Molly Manhanga

East Grinstead Team at Ebenezer

East Grinstead Team praying for an apprentice who isn't feeling well

Team looking at the tomatoes

It was great having a team from East Grinstead come out and visit Ebenezer Training Centre, together with Mbonisi Malaba. Simon and Gwen Elliot and David Rowsell had a tour of Ebenezer and saw what the apprentices were doing in their fields.

East Grinstead team looking at the bricks at Ebenezer

Impressions from David and Ann Rowsell:

Ann: Ebenezer looked so tidy and clean. It was impressive.

Dave: Ebenezer was great. Really enjoyed it. Good to see first hand. Had heard about it and Foundations for Farming. Great that it incorporates business and spiritual. Seeing lives change is great .

By Molly Manhanga

Keys to building team by Steve Hunter

Steve Hunter and Ebenezer apprentices about to row a boat

It's just been great listening to Steve Hunter, leader of Weymouth Family Church, share on Building Teams this morning. This is what he said....


The best role model of what a team leader is Jesus. Jesus had the disciples and they were his close friends. He was with them for 3½ years – going to different towns and working with them. At the breaking of the bread at the Last Supper, Jesus said “Do this in remembrance of me”. In the context of team, we are to do it. We are to model team to one another.

Aspects of what makes a good team: The 3 C’s: Character, Competence and Chemistry

1. Character. This is the most important. What is going on in your heart? Don’t confuse character and personality. God wants t work on our character. Am I humble, teachable, reliable, have a healthy work ethic, willing to do what you are asked. These are good indicators of character. WARNING: The absence of Godly character can often lead to the breakdown of a team.
2. Competence. Being able to do the job. Some people do a great job but don’t have a Godly character. Jesus looks at character first then is the person able to do the job. God has given us specific gifts.
3. Chemistry. How we get on with people. Some people irritate us, upset us or say untrue things about us. As a team, how do we handle it?


How do we use people? When someone offends us, do we go around telling others – telling stories, starting rumours, talking behind a person’s back, gossiping etc. We can’t afford to be a tank, a volcano or a gossiper. How do we respond when conflict comes? We need to love people unconditionally and ask God to help us. We need wisdom and we need to be in a good relationship with God. Words hurt. How people see us hurts. We need to come to God and ask him to help us. Be honest with people. If you do that, your team will be well.

Good leaders set the pace. Right throughout the Bible we have teams working together. It’s important how I relate to my leader. It’s a heart condition. Can we serve our leader with all our heart? King David’s army followed him. We need to be able to follow a leader because our heart is for our leader.

Summarised by Molly Manhanga

Steve Hunter, Mick Richardson & the Ebenezer Team

Steve Hunter leading us in a time of worship

We had such an excellent evening last night with Steve Hunter and Mick Richardson, leaders from Weymouth Family Church, U.K as we shared a meal together, chatted and laughed. It was great for the Ebenezer team to socialise and "kick back" with Steve and Mick.

This morning was just amazing as Steve Hunter put aside his planned motivational talk with the team and felt God stir his heart for us to pray together. He led us in an amazing time of worship before we prayed for each other. Steve felt that God wanted to "strengthen us in our inner being".

Steve Hunter, Mick Richardson and the Ebenezer men praying together



Prayer is so encouraging and such a spirit-lifter.

By Molly Manhanga

Keys to a life of satisfaction in God by Mick Richardson

Mick Richardson

Are you satisfied with how things are? Are you satisfied with what you have? God has so much more that he wants to give. Will you find your satisfaction in God? Paul is speaking to the Philippians in Philippians 4:11 – 13 “Now I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Don’t settle here. God has so much more for you to enjoy.

Psalm 103:1 – 22 This is a stirring and wonderful scripture. Being satisfied with good is a benefit of being in God. Remember these benefits:
1. Forgiven all our sins and iniquities. Sense of knowing we can be forgiven. Jesus provides that for us. Jesus forgives us all the time. This is the entry point to finding satisfaction.
2. Healing. God can heal all our diseases. Let’s come for inner and external healings. Come expecting and believing.
3. Ransomed and redeemed. God has ransomed and redeemed our life from the pit. Not bound from hell. The pit has no hold on us because of Jesus.
4. Crowned. God has crowned us with love and mercy. We are being treated like royalty. It is a crown of love and mercy that is forever….from everlasting to everlasting. God knows Kezi and Ebenezer. He isn’t impressed by external appearances. Its people that matter to him. It’s where His people are that matter to Him.
5. Satisfies us with good. Where am I finding my satisfaction? He satisfies us with good.
Come before God and He will strengthen us. We’ll feel alive in Him and satisfied in Jesus.

What came before the benefits? Bless the Lord, oh my soul. There is a sense of praise, of blessing to God that comes in the beginning. Bless him; praise him with all our being. Be thankful and have hearts of gratitude. Tell one another what He done. Tell yourself what God has done for you. Help each other see how good God is especially when we are down. We need someone else to help lift our arms e.g. Moses

Summary
• Bless
• Remember
• Forgiven
• Healed
• Redeemed
• Crowned
• Satisfied

Summarized by Molly Manhanga

Meet Brett Mills

Brett Mills

Brett comes from London and he is serving at Ebenezer/Crossroads for 2½ months.

M.M: What is your favourite meal?
B.M: Roast dinner. This consists of roast lamb, potatoes, vegetables and Yorkshire puddings

M.M: What is your favourite drink?
B.M: Coke vanilla

M.M: Who is your favourite Bible character?
B.M: David

M.M: What is your favourite film?
M.M: Batman Dark Knight

M.M: What is your favourite book?
B.M: Northern Lights by Phillip Paulman

M.M: What did you think of the service at Crossroads Community Church?
B.M: A complete privilege. God really spoke to me as I was preaching and showed me that the liberty that exists at Crossroads is becoming a rarity in churches and t is refreshing to see such freedom in the service. It was also an honour to pray for the woman who came to the front after I had finished preaching.

M.M: How has your time been in Kezi, Zimbabwe so far?
B.M: It has been a challenge. I think it is very difficult to mentally prepare yourself for the complete change in culture. There is however no words to describe the experience so far as every day allows God to show me more of his glory and more of his might. I look forward to the amazing things God has in store for me in the rest of my time here.

M.M: What an honest answer. I really hope you enjoy your time with us in Kezi and that God reveals many things to you while you are with us.

By Molly Manhanga

A minute with Steve Hunter

Steve Hunter

What is your favourite scripture?
Ephesians 2:8 - 9 "God saved you by grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."

Who is your favourite Bible character?
Nehemiah

What's your favourite meal?
Roast chicken, potatoes, carrots

What's your favourite drink?
Coffee

What are your hobbies?
Football and baseball

A minute with Mick Richardson

Mick Richardson

What is your favourite scripture ?
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever belives in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."

Who is your favourite Bible character?
Elijah

What is your favourite meal?
Eggs, chips, beans and crusty bread

What is your favourite drink?
Beer (Young's bitter)

Meet Adam Landreth-Smith

Adam Landreth-Smith

Adam comes from Camberley, Surrey and he is serving at Ebenezer/Crossroads for 2½ months.

M.M: Tell me about your background?
A.S: I’m the eldest of 4 children to Mark and Beverley Landreth-Smith. I have seen the Beacon Church grow to 300 since 1994 from 2 families. I became a Christian in 1996. I studied civil engineering in 2007 – 2010 in Chelmsford, Essex, U.K.

M.M: What do you enjoy?
A.S: I love football, films, the Bible and my mother’s cooking

M.M: What is your favourite film?
A.S: Batman

M.M: Is this your first time to Zimbabwe?
A.S: Yes

M.M: ….and you’re serving in rural Zimbabwe! What are your impressions after your week out here?
A.S: Rural Zim is very sparse, lots of space, lots of heat. The people are very friendly. Jesus is here. The buildings are very interesting. I look forward to seeing the crops.

M.M: Who is your favourite Bible character?
A.S: Daniel

Adam concentrating real hard!

M.M: What’s your favourite drink?
A.S: In the morning – OJ. In the afternoon - milkshake. When it’s hot – coke and when it’s cold – tea.

M.M: Interesting! A drink for all occasions. What did you think of the service at Crossroads Community Church?
A.S: It was my first time in a rural church. It’s incredible how people live out here. I am very impressed. The worship is very enjoyable even though I don’t understand the songs. People don’t have much but they have big hearts, big smiles and make the most of everything else. Unkulunkulu Muhle.

M.M: Go Adam! You’re picking up Ndebele quickly. I really hope you enjoy your time with us in Kezi.

By Molly Manhanga

Envisioning the graduates

Graduates watching a powerpoint on Changing Africa

It was excellent having Peter Cunningham stir and motivate the graduates yesterday. The key phrase for Africa is “Trade, not Aid”. Africa is changing and the race is on. Africa is a great continent and it is poised for change. It is the people of Africa who will unlock Africa’s resources. The resource that needs unlocking is farming. The future of Africa is farmers and production. It is the people of Africa who will unlock the change.

Discussion in progress

God is sovereign and he desires heart change. Once there is heart change, we will express our relationship with him through our work i.e. farming and have great produce. The key is to have role models. In Acts 4 we see how the disciples rocked the world. Jesus chose 12 ordinary men who turned the world upside down. Start with a vision, have heart change and leadership filled with authority and power to farm and to set up good families. Our prayer is to set up families to show God’s way. We need men and women of purity. Production and purity go hand in hand.

By Molly Manhanga

What's happening at Ebenezer pt 2?

Stephen (left), Adam (far right), Brett (right)

Stephen is having breakfast and planning the day’s activities with Brett Mills from London and Adam Landreth - Smith from Surrey.

The apprentices are also harvesting their potatoes and wheat. Some of the potatoes are looking great. The maize is really struggling with bollworm but we hope to contain it soon.

Harvested potatoes from a 2nd year apprentice

By Molly Manhanga

What's happening at Ebenezer pt 1?

Apprentice house at roof height

The apprentices dorms are being built at the moment. We have 6 that are on the go from foundation level to roof height. Time is ticking by as we try to beat the rains and be ready for our new intake of apprentices in 2011.

Apprentice house going up

Foundation for apprentice house

By Molly Manhanga

Meet Rodney Spencer

Rod Spencer

Rodney is from South Africa and has come to serve Ebenezer until December, but potentially until March 2011.


What is your background?
Marketing

What work are you doing in Zimbabwe?
Ebenezer programme consolidation, Marketing of vegetables, volunteer recruitment

What is your favourite film?
Brave heart

What is your favourite drink
Horlicks milkshake

What is your favourite meal?
Indian food

What is your favourite Bible verse?
As iron sharpen iron, so man sharpens one another.

By Molly Manhanga

Hearts ready to serve

Brett Mills

It’s really great having Brett Mills and Adam Landreth-Smith coming out to Zimbabwe to serve at Crossroads and Ebenezer for 2½ months. Brett was part of a team that came out to Kezi last year, while this is Adams first time to Zimbabwe. Read on and get to know these gentlemen a little more…….

Adam Landreth-Smith

By Molly Manhanga

Marlene Poe gets going.......

Ebenezer girls making some biscuits

From buildings, to crops, lessons to presentations, we are now back to baking again as Marlene Poe gets going with girls at Ebenezer. Yesterday they attempted to make peanut butter cookies. The girls simply love cooking and baking. They have learnt so much since Marlene started teaching them how to make biscuits and they have been doing so well baking them in wooden ovens.

By Molly Manhanga

Buildings in progress at Ebenezer....

Staff house coming along nicely!

Another staff house is going up pretty rapidly at Ebenezer. It's great to see. Hopefully it will be finished soon and we can get going on another...... Watch this space...

Buildings in progress...

By Molly Manhanga

"Spiritual" Presentation on "The Life of Joseph"

Stephen telling the story of Joseph

We had a great time on Tuesday this week as we watched Stephen Manhanga do a 30 minute presentation to the staff on Spiritual. This presentation was in preparation for our Selection Camp which is on the weekend of the 12 – 14 November 2010.

2nd years singing a song

We had an interesting time doing the set-ups which turned out beautifully. Stephen liaised with the 2nd year apprentices who will be graduating on the 15th December this year, to present a song and skit. They did an excellent job. Song, dance and drama seem to come very naturally to the apprentices. Their skit was on how being at Ebenezer for 2 years has changed them. It’s really interesting and quite hilarious.

Skit on life at Ebenezer

Stephen then shared the story of Joseph from God’s word highlighting the 4 “P”’s: Joseph in the Pit, Potiphars house, Prison and finally in the Palace. The story of Joseph is an all time favourite and the discussion questions that followed were great. We were each given a sweet – as encouragement – for getting our answers correct.

What an excellent presentation! We look forward to presentations on Agriculture and Business next week Tuesday.

By Molly Manhanga

"Situational Leadership" with Bob Kuest

Bob Kuest

Situational leadership – meeting the people where they are. True leadership is taking who we are and meeting the followers where they are. We make the adjustment to their situation e.g. Jesus met Simon where he was.

“Leadership style is how you behave when you are trying to influence the performance of someone else.” Ken Blanchard

“There is nothing so unequal as the equal treatment of unequals.” Ken Blanchard

Situational leadership is based upon the interplay between a leaders ability to discern two components of each follower’s need.

Directive behaviour:
1. How much guidance and direction does each person require?
2. How much time should the leader spend spelling out responsibilities?
3. How much support and encouragement does each person require?
4. How much emotional support should the leader provide for the task?
5. This determines the amount of energy spent in two-way communication: explaining, listening, asking and praising. It is important to allow the follower to express ideas and concerns.
The amount of each behaviour is determined by an assessment of developmental readiness of the follower.

Commitment: is a joining of willingness, motivation and confidence
Competence: is bringing knowledge and skills together – experience to action.
Don’t confuse competence with talent and potential.

There are 3 responsibilities that a leader cannot delegate:
1. Vision
2. Creating ownership of the vision (influence)
3. Aligning people with the vision (empowering)

Summarised by Molly Manhanga