Forging New Futures
Mbakonzadhu and his wife fled their village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo multiple times because of war, and every time they returned home, they had to start over. They were often hungry because they couldn’t afford to buy seeds for farming.
Their 2-year-old son Ovyanda suffered from acute malnutrition and anaemia because they couldn’t give him a healthy diet. “We provided small amounts of food, but it wasn’t enough,” Mbakonzadhu said.
The family was thrilled to meet a Samaritan’s Purse team who gave Ovyanda a therapeutic peanut paste rich in iron, zinc, vitamin A, and other important nutrients that he lacked. Before long, Ovyanda’s health had significantly improved.
Our team not only addressed the child’s immediate physical need but also provided Mbakonzadhu seeds and training to grow produce such as tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, beans, and corn.
“We thank them very much for what they did for us,” he said.
The crops are now yielding a harvest of nutritious food for Mbakonzadhu’s family. They are also selling some of the produce in a local market and using the income to pay the children’s school fees and buy medicine when they are sick.
Samaritan’s Purse has served suffering people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Jesus’ Name for 10 years through efforts such as emergency food distributions, health and nutrition programming, and church construction. In all that we do, we demonstrate God’s love and share the Gospel.
“Samaritan’s Purse has helped us a lot spiritually,” Mbakonzadhu said. “They taught us how to read the Bible and how to strengthen our family relationships.”
We are teaching families how to grow crops, such as potatoes.
YIELDING LIFELONG BLESSINGS
In addition to crop production programmes, our teams worldwide are helping lift families out of poverty and pointing people to the Saviour through livestock projects.
Lang, his wife, and their children live in a village in northern Vietnam defined by rugged mountain terrain, frigid winters, and flash floods that make it hard to find land suitable for raising livestock or growing crops.
The harsh weather conditions, along with a lack of access to modern breeds of livestock and farming practices, have created a cycle of generational poverty that Lang never thought would be broken.
Year after year, Lang dreamed of owning cattle to support his family, but he could never afford to care for a herd.
“The winter is cold, and there is no grass for the livestock,” he said. “I didn’t know how to solve that issue. My family used to raise two buffalo, but I was not equipped for building a shed or taking care of them.”
Samaritan’s Purse provided Lang a cow and calf, 40 chickens, grass seedlings, and many pounds of chicken feed. We taught him how to build proper shelters for the animals and trained him on livestock husbandry, including disease treatment and feed preparation.
Lang’s family is among 50 in their community to receive cows and poultry through our project. Families were also provided egg incubators and heating bulbs to help raise healthy chickens, whose eggs are now a source of nutrition and income.
Children in Vietnam are helping their families raise poultry and livestock.
“I NO LONGER STRUGGLE TO GET BY”
In a remote community in Kenya, Martin was also struggling to provide for his family after all his livestock died from disease. Like Lang, Martin has to navigate brutal weather, and he was devastated when a prolonged drought wiped out his herd.
Communities in Kenya are rebuilding their livelihoods after drought devastated local farms. Agriculture Training is helping yield abundant harvests.
Martin was thrilled to receive goats from Samaritan’s Purse, along with training on how to care for them. In addition to enjoying protein-rich milk, Martin and his wife can sell the offspring to help fund their children’s education.
“Samaritan’s Purse has had a positive impact on my life. I no longer struggle to get by,” he said.
We thank God for using our livestock and agriculture projects to bring hope to people in need.
Martin, who is the pastor of the village church, shares what he learned through our goat husbandry training with his neighbours and offers his male goat for breeding.
As our teams helped meet Martin’s physical needs, they also cared for the spiritual needs of the community.
We built a roof for the congregation’s meeting place, provided Bibles and hymnals, and organised several showings of the JESUS film.
“On one occasion, I watched a neighbour dedicate her life to Jesus after watching the film,” Martin said. “The joy and hope in that moment deeply reinforced my calling to share God’s Word.”
We praise God that Martin can now shepherd not only his goats—which provide for his family—but also better shepherd his community as they grow in the grace and knowledge of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
“Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19).
Will you join us in lifting up the following prayer requests?
That Mbakonzadhu, Lang, and Martin will see their families thrive physically and spiritually as a result of the help we provided in Jesus’ Name.
That God will continue to use our agriculture projects to bring hope to families in desperate need.
That our staff will faithfully proclaim the Gospel and many people worldwide will come to faith in Jesus Christ.
“Through love serve one another.”
Galatians 5:13, ESV
Support Agriculture and Livelihoods
Will supply a dozen chicks, a coop, and basic veterinary care.
Can provide 30 seedlings that will grow to provide many benefits.
Provides dairy goats to families in need and teaches them how to care for the animals.
