One on One with Nonto Sibanda- 1st year appy

Getting to know Nontobeko Sibanda

M.M: Tell me about your background?
N.S: I live with my grandparents and my sisters in Zwehamba village which is under Marko ward. My mother died in 2005 and my dad dies in 2001. I am the 2nd born. I have 1 older sister and 3 young sisters. I am 18 years old. It take me about 3 hours by car to get to my home.

M.M: What do you enjoy the most about Ebenezer?
N.S: I enjoy farming, learning and sharing jokes with my friends. I like praying and worshipping God.

M.M: What is the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
N.S: Mpunzi (wild animal that looks a buck)

M.M: Have you faced any challenges at Ebenezer?
N.S: Shortage of water and my plants were affected by disease.


M.M: In 5 years time what do you see yourself doing?
N.S: I’d like to be back in my community and be a successful business woman.

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

By Molly Manhanga

One on One with Tryphine Moyo- 1st year appy

Getting to know Tryphine Moyo

M.M: Tell me about your background?
T.M: I live with my parents in Mapane. It takes me 5 hours to walk home from Ebenezer. I am the 2nd born and I have one older sister and 3 young sisters. I also have 1 young brother. I am 20 years old.

M.M: What do you enjoy the most about Ebenezer?
T.M: I enjoy farming, fishing in my spare time, making friends and learning Agriculture and spiritual lessons.

M.M: What is the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
T.M: I haven’t eaten anything weird

M.M: Have you faced any challenges at Ebenezer?
T.M: The water problems have caused some of my plants to be stressed. I also don’t like eating cabbage.


M.M: In 5 years time what do you see yourself doing?
T.M: I’d like to teach others how to farm.

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

By Molly Manhanga

One on One with Moreblessing Moyo- 1st year appy

Getting to know Moreblessing Moyo

M.M: Tell me about your background?
M.M: I live with my mother in Silozwe. My father is in South Africa. We are 10 in our family. I have 4 young brothers and 3 young sisters. I am the oldest in my family. I am 18 years old. It take me about 1:30minutes to walk home from Ebenezer.

M.M: What do you enjoy the most about Ebenezer?
M.M: I enjoy farming, making friends and learning Agriculture, Business and spiritual lessons.

M.M: What is the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
M.M: Soya chunks

M.M: Have you faced any challenges at Ebenezer?
M.M: The water problems have caused some of my plants to wilt and die


M.M: In 5 years time what do you see yourself doing?
M.M: I’d like to work in an office like you.

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

By Molly Manhanga

One on One with Ntombi Mahlangu- 1st year appy

Ntombizodwa Mahlangu

M.M: Tell me about your background?
N.M: I come from Silozwe village. I live with my father. My mother died in 2006. I have 4 sisters and I am the 3rd born. I am 19 years old. It takes me approximately 30 minutes to walk from Ebenezer Training Centre to my home.

M.M: What do you enjoy the most about Ebenezer?
N.M: I enjoy farming and learning Agriculture, Business and spiritual lessons.

M.M: What is the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
N.M: I haven’t eaten anything that I’d consider to be weird.

M.M: Have you faced any challenges at Ebenezer?
N.M: Nothing

M.M: In 5 years time what do you see yourself doing?
N.M: I’d like to be back in my community farming and teaching everything that I learnt at Ebenezer.

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

By Molly Manhanga

A few minutes with Nigel Ring

Nigel Ring

M.M: What is your favourite quote?
N.R: “To the whole world you might be just one person, but to one person, you might be the whole world.” Bill Wilson.

M.M: What are you passionate about?
N.R: Family life and the poor

M.M: What is the weirdest food you’ve eaten?
N.R: Reindeer (Sorry Rudolph!)

M.M: Who is your favourite Bible character?
N.R: Other than Jesus, Stephen. I also have a “soft spot” for Nehemiah

M.M: Who has influenced you recently?
N.R: Other than my wife and family, Terry Virgo.

M.M: What is your current favourite album?
N.R: “In Christ Alone”, a CCK album. Also an old (60s) album - Hoffnung at the Oxford Union (Hilarious!)

By Molly Manhanga

The story of Abraham & Isaac with Peter Steffens

Peter Steffens

Peter started by telling the Ebenezer team that the Old and New Testaments belong together. The Old Testament speaks about the Lord Jesus, including the sacrifices. It connects with the New Testament. This is a summary of what Peter said:

The story of Isaac
Genesis 21: 2 “…..at a set time….” In Hebrew its Moed meaning time set by God. God has a plan and His time is specific. The Greek word kairos means appointed time of God, fullness of God, planned by God.

There are many parallels between Isaac and Jesus. In Hebrew, Isaac means “He will love” and it has to do with joy, gladness and laughter.
V33, Abraham lived in Beersheba and called on the name of the Lord. “Ger” means living as a stranger. The Bible tells us we belong somewhere else. We are sons of the Lord Jesus. We have Hid DNA and we are His ambassadors.

Genesis 22:2 First time “testing” is mentioned. Take Isaac and go and sacrifice him….
The Hebrew word Nisa or Nisi means banner. Banner is God’s name. Jesus is making a connection about Himself. Nisa is to “test” in Hebrew and this is relating to the Cross. In difficult circumstances, ask Jesus to show me the Cross.

When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they went into the desert. In Hebrew, desert is MDBR. If you remove the “M” and are left with “DBR”, it means WORD. In Greek, “lagos” means WORD. God revealed His WORD in the desert. Revelation and exile come from the same root. In difficult circumstances, God speaks. He creates light out of darkness. When things are tough and difficult, it gives God an opportunity to do a miracle. God is able to do miracles at Ebenezer. He chooses things people won’t choose.


The Bible shows the model/prophetic line about Isaac. He went to the region of Moriah – Mount Moriah. The Bible explains itself…. Mount Moriah is the same as Mount Zion – the mountain of the Lord.

Sacrifices were done as burnt offerings. The Hebrew word for burnt offering is “olah”. The “holocaust” which the Jews experienced means to burn something totally. Leviticus 18:21, Jeremiah 7:31, Jeremiah 19:4 – 5 and Jeremiah 32:35. It never entered the heart and mind of God to sacrifice a child. The Hebrew word heart also means mind. We think of Isaac as a little boy who was going to be sacrificed but he wasn’t. Sarah was 90 when Isaac was born and she died aged 127. That means that Isaac was 37 years – an adult – when he was going to be sacrificed. Isaac went with his father by free choice.

The story of Abraham is talking about Jesus who is the “olah”. Jesus is the lamb that Abraham is speaking about. The first five books of the Bible – the Pentateuch is prophetic. They tell us about Jesus.

God called Abraham his friend. They had a strong relationship. Abraham even bargained with God and he was able to do this because of their relationship. When sin came into the world, it broke God’s heart because of our relationship with him. Lamentations reveals the pain in God’s heart. We impact people through relationship.

We can use the story of Isaac to teach the principles of God and see how precise the plan of God is.

Summarised by Molly Manhanga

A few minutes with Mike and Liz Schippers

Mike & Liz Schippers

It was excellent meeting Mike and Liz at Ebenezer and listening to their encouraging words. I managed to catch them for a few minutes and this is what they said:

M.M: Tell me briefly about your back ground?
M & L: We used to farm in Mashonaland but we felt God was telling us to go to England. We have been working with a small church there as well as working for a living.

M.M: What are you doing now?
M & L: We are waiting to hear what and where God is leading us.

M.M: What do you feel God is saying about Ebenezer?
M & L: We feel that God is saying the Ebenezer will be bountiful and abundant and that amazing crops will be produced here. This is the first of many successful projects!

M.M: What is the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
M & L: Tripe and mupani worm

M.M: Great chatting to you

By Molly Manhanga

A few minutes with John Wardill

John Wardill

How wonderful meeting John Wardill who serves on the eldership team from The Coign Church and he is also part of David Devenish’s team. He visited Ebenezer Training Centre and I managed to chat to him for a while.

M.M: tell me briefly about your background?
J.W: I lived in Deli, India until I was 5 years old. I came back to the U.K and lived in the South of London. I became a Christian as a teenager through Billy graham. I married Anne and we are now married for 40 years. We have 3 children and 9 grandchildren. We are a multicultural family as my two daughters married men from Zambia and Trinidad.

M.M: Wonderful! What do you do now?
J.W: For the last 20 years I have been pasturing a Church. I used to work as a Personal Director and God called me to work full time in the Church. I am part of the Eldership team in The Coign Church. Coign means Cornerstone. Over the last 10 years I have travelled a lot and I am part of David Devenish’s team.

M.M: Is this your first time to Zimbabwe and what are your impressions?
J.W: Very hospitable. I have been welcomed everywhere we’ve been. In 5 days I have met lots of people and they have been friendly. I feel at home.


M.M: What are your thoughts on Ebenezer?
J.W: I’m very impressed by Foundations for Farming and seeing the apprentices trying it is brilliant as well as them going back to their communities. The huge vision of the project is also impressive. The very simple practical tools implemented effectively does so much. I like the fact that you are training young people aged 17years to 25years.

M.M: What do you do to relax?
J.W: I walk and cycle

M.M: What is the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
J.W: Shark

By Molly Manhanga

A few minutes with Norman Bryon

Norman Bryon

It was excellent chatting to Norman Bryon when he visited Ebenezer. This is what he said:

M.M: Tell me briefly about yourself?
N.B: I taught for 36 years. I met Suzanne when she was running the Scripture Union camp. I am very shy but it has been one step at a time to leading. We have 3 great children which are a blessing. I started my links with Zimbabwe in 1997. I came in 2001 and every year since. In 2005 I took early retirement to come to Zimbabwe for longer periods.

M.M: What are you doing now?
N.B: I have a heart for the people of Zimbabwe. My greatest thrill is working with black Zimbabweans. I enjoyed working in the fields in Umguza. The atmosphere was wonderful. In Harare, I am working with black Zimbabweans which is great and being part of a team. That’s the thrill.

M.M: Amazing man you are! What are your thoughts on Zimbabweans?
N.B: Peaceful, loving people. It’s a shame to see so much suffering!

(Left to right) Suzanne and Norman Bryon with John Wardill

M.M: What are your thoughts on Ebenezer?

N.B: Ebenezer blew us away when we came last May. The vision is great but it is not plain sailing. I’m impressed with the idea of replicating it.

M.M: What do you do to relax?
N.B: I watch DVD’s, reading books and being in my carpentry workshop

M.M: What is the weirdest food you’ve eaten?
N.B: I enjoy food but I haven’t eaten anything unusual.

M.M: What are you passionate about?
N.B: People being treated equally.

M.M: You truly are an inspirational man. Thank you for your time.

By Molly Manhanga

The sprinklers are working...........

Sprinklers in action!

What a historic day for us at Ebenezer to see the sprinklers in the apprentice fields finally working. PRAISE GOD! We have planted 1.5 hectares of sugar beans and tomatoes, 2 hectares of cabbages and 1 hectare of onions. The fields are beautifully mulched and the crops are looking great. We hope for excellent harvests with our sprinklers now working.

By Molly Manhanga

One on One with Nobuhle Moyo- 1st year appy

Nobuhle Moyo

M.M: Tell me about your background?
N.M: I live with my grandparents in Mablauwuni village which is approximately 2 hours from Ebenezer. My father died and my mother lives in South Africa. We are 4 siblings – 2 boys and 2 girls. I am third born and I’m 18 years old.

M.M: Who told you about Ebenezer?
N.M: My aunt told me about Ebenezer. I attended the Selection Camp. I enjoyed it very much especially learning about Farming and about God.

M.M: What has been your greatest joy at Ebenezer?
N.M: Making new friends and the lessons.

M.M: have you faced any challenges whilst at Ebenezer?
N.M: No, I haven’t

M.M: In 5 years time what do you see yourself doing?
N.M: I want to teach my community how to farm and everything I’ve learnt at Ebenezer.

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

By Molly Manhanga