Changes in the Air

A letter from Charles and Melissa Johnson serving in Zambia

September 2016

As we enter the month of September change is in the air—no, not fall, but new duties, the duties we were called to do here. Yes, the weather is changing, but it’s getting hotter, not cooler. Remember, Lundazi is located in the Southern Hemisphere, and the seasons are the opposite of those where most of you reading this live. Even hotter weather is expected once October arrives. But there always seems to be a good breeze, and it is comfortable even on warmer days. Our house is without power for long periods most days now. Even now, as we write this, we have no electricity. Charles has gotten into the habit of jumping out of bed each morning to get the coffee going before the power goes out, and this morning his efforts were successful.

With our focus changing to include other work besides language studies, we are beginning to meet with people with whom we will be working in Lundazi. Recently Charles met with Horrace Daka, the Senior District Coordinator of Profit+, to learn about that agency’s work facilitating the relationships between agro-dealers and local farmers. That work includes ensuring good access to markets, with regard to agricultural inputs, such as fertilizer, seed, and other supplies, as well as markets for outputs—crops. During their meeting Charles learned about two organizations that work with farmers to help them market groundnuts (peanuts) and red onions. The first organization, Share Africa-Zambia, works with farmers to grow groundnuts and provide a market for the farmers; the organization has a factory that makes peanut butter. A news update on Share Africa’s website mentioned that its manufacturing operations had to be suspended recently because of a shortage of groundnuts.

Upper left, clockwise: (1) Charles checks the GPS location of the tree serving as a landmark, (2) The satellite image shows the area of the entire agricultural IGA tract, (3) A small metal grain silo sits in front of a house on the road between Lundazi and Chasefu, (4) This satellite image shows the area that has been cleared, and the area that will be cleared next, to yield a tract totaling 8 acres, .5) The image in the middle shows Charles and Rev. Gertrude Banda locating one of the waypoints for the IGA tract.

The other organization, Cross Border Network Africa (CBNA), is working with farmers to grow red onions. Charles learned that a farmer can become a member of this program for a K250 fee (about $25.00 U.S.). For that, the farmer receives onion seed and fertilizer. To be eligible, there must be water available for irrigation, which Chasefu Model Farm has. CBNA purchases the onions locally, which helps with the challenges of transportation. Charles plans to learn more about these programs with the hope that both can be incorporated into the agricultural income-generating activities at Chasefu.

Charles also met with the local representatives of the Conservation Farming Unit (CFU) to learn about their work. The CFU provides training to lead farmers, who in turn provide training to numerous farmers below them. This sustainable agriculture training focuses on soil preparation, nutrient application, and the seeding of crops and seed management. Many of the same practices taught by the CFU will be utilized in the agricultural operations at Chasefu.

Several days later we traveled to Chasefu to meet with Rev. Gertrude Banda, who until very recently served as the manager of the Model Farm. Charles, with help from Rev. Gertrude, plotted the land designated for Income Generating Activities (IGA), using GPS and Google Maps.

Charles will begin designing a drip irrigation system to take advantage of water available from the borehole on the tract. One thing to remember—Rev. Gertrude said there are a lot of cobras in the area.

On September 1 Melissa began working with the CCAP Health Department and Department Head, Richard Willema. She is very excited to serve in this capacity. During her first meeting with Mr. Willema she learned about the clinics, which are the main focus of the CCAP Health Department. CCAP’s vision includes having a clinic in each of their 15 presbyteries; currently there are only two. Two more are in various stages of construction, and another village has created a committee to start planning a new clinic.

It was impressive to learn that CCAP employs a participatory community development approach in working with villages to build new clinics. In a community where a new clinic is desired a committee is formed by the villagers, who then make bricks and build the foundation. Once CCAP and the community have completed the clinic building and housing for healthcare workers, the government will then assign the healthcare workers and pay their salaries.

We recently visited Pharaza, where the community has begun molding bricks and collecting materials for the foundation of a new clinic. We were pleased to see they had already finished construction of one healthcare worker house and were renting it for income until the clinic is complete. Next week Melissa will be visiting the two existing clinics in Egichikeni and Ndaiwala.

Education will also play a big part in Melissa’s work. She will be helping to build the capacity of the department by partnering with others to develop programs that increase knowledge and understanding of basic disease prevention and proper nutrition. To better understand local needs and challenges Melissa will be meeting with the Director of the Ministry of Health in Lundazi and other agencies that provide healthcare.

From upper left corner, clockwise: (1) The children watch closely as The Lion King story begins to unfold, (2) Melissa and Judith Mwanza provide some context for the story, in Tumbuka, during one of several power outages, (3) The children watch as Mustafa dies at the hands (paws?) of the evil Scar, (4) The excitement of the movie proved to be too much for this little girl.

We are also getting to know the children at our church, David McConaghy Congregation. On Saturday, September 10, the children joined us there for the first of what is hoped to be many movie-watching gatherings. Approximately 100 children watched The Lion King, ate popcorn, and participated in a short worship service after the movie. There were a few challenges, such as intermittent power, a cantankerous generator, and speakers that weren’t loud enough, but despite all that everyone had a great time. It is hoped that such gatherings will occur every two or three months.

As we approach the fourth quarter of 2016, we thank you for your prayers and support. We ask that you consider supporting our work in Zambia further, by making a donation to help us reach our goal of being fully funded in our first year as Presbyterian mission co-workers (we’ve got a way to go). Thank you.

Peace and Grace,

Charles and Melissa Johnson

Please read below for an important note from Hunter Farrell:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah 43:1b-2, NRSV)

Dear Friend of World Mission:

Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support of Charles and Melissa Johnson this year, and any previous year. I know from my 15 years as a Presbyterian mission co-worker that your prayerful financial support has meant the world to them.

Even as I thank you, I want to let you know that this is a critical time for churches and individuals to commit themselves to support Charles and Melissa. Our global church partners greatly value their service and you well know how important this ministry is in building connections between the body of Christ in the U.S. and Zambia.

We have historically relied on endowment interest and the general offering from churches to sustain the vital work of all of our mission workers. Those sources of funding have greatly diminished, and it is only through the over-and-above gifts of individuals and congregations that we are able to keep Charles and Melissa doing the life-giving work God called them to do. A year ago, in May of 2015, for the first time in recent history, we had to recall some mission workers due to a lack of funding. We communicated the challenge to you and you responded decisively and generously. Through your response, we heard the Spirit remind us, “Fear not!”.

Today, I’m asking you to consider an additional gift for this year, and to increase the gift you may consider for 2017. Sending and support costs include not only salary but also health insurance and retirement contributions, orientation, language training, housing, travel to the country of service, children’s education, emergency evacuation costs, and visa/passport costs.

My heartfelt thanks for your prayers and support of our Presbyterian mission co-workers. In the coming season, we will celebrate God’s sending of the Christ child, the source of the good news we share. May you experience anew the hope, peace, joy, and love that are ours because “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18).

Thank you for saying “yes” to love.

With you in Christ,
Hunter Farrell
Director, World Mission, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)