A letter from Cindy Easterday in South Africa
December 2007
Dear Friends and loved Ones,
Christmas is only days away and, as I sit here at home, the intensity of growling thunder is increasing, and the sky is darkening. Rain is near and, with it, a relief from the heat. Plants and gardens will soon perk up, the dogs will run for shelter, and the dust will settle on the road. I, too, am beginning to feel my body and soul absorbing the joy and peace of it all. A rooster crows across the road and, except for that and the sound of raindrops on my metal roof, it is quiet. Pure pleasure! A cup of coffee and a look out the window to breathe it all in are drawing me. Back in a minute!
Drought impacts
Ah! Refreshed once again! One way we learn to appreciate God’s gifts are through times of lack. Rain seems ever more precious after a time of drought, which Lesotho experienced early this year. In severely affecting grain and vegetable harvests, about a quarter of the population was seriously impacted, particularly those in rural areas. The planting season started well, but when the rains were most needed they stopped. So we are hopeful this year they will continue.
Because subsistence farming is the life source of most the population here, as is true in many parts of the world, weather patterns can have dramatic impacts. However, as food security is the key focus of our current work with the Joining Hands (JH) network—considering long-term solutions that will actively bring about long-term changes—there are other factors to be considered, such as farming methods, government policies, and political will.
A viable alternative farming method
A woman farmer shares her knowledge and joy with the Joining Hands coordinator and a presbytery visitor.
An encouraging situation that was highlighted through the drought were about 20 farmers in the southeastern part of the country, which tends to be a drier area, who sold their overage to the WFP (World Food Program).This was then distributed to others in the country struggling to survive. Such a transaction was a first for Lesotho!
All these farmers use a method called “conservation farming.” There's good information about this on the World Food Program Web site and the Farming God's Way Web site. Those who use this method tend to become strong advocates of it, as they see the positive impacts. They become self-sustaining and are able to now provide such things as education to their children, things others of us might consider “givens.” The confidence and joy that comes with that “freedom” is life-giving and a thrill to witness.
Crossing the river to visit farms using conservation farming techniques.
Whoever learned this method has trained many farmers, who in turn train others. Churches are the primary channels for learning and teaching because they’re so thoroughly integrated into their communities and in the lives of the Basotho. Our partner church here, the Lesotho Evangelical Church (LEC), is in total support of this method and has assigned a large area of land that will become the new training centre and headquarters for this ministry, which is called “Growing Nations.” The Joining Hands network is also involved, both as beneficiaries and as supportive advocates.
As we move into 2008, our network members will be considering other alternatives to addressing food security and other issues. Proper grain storage after a good harvest is one concern—that’s a problem we look forward to tackling!
Publish What You Pay (PWYP)
A developing area for advocacy and involvement by the network and our partner churches in the States is the “Publish What You Pay” campaign, which aims to help citizens of resource-rich developing countries hold their governments accountable for the management of revenues from oil, gas, mining, and water- and dam-related industries. In Lesotho, these key areas are dams and water and, more recently, diamond mines. PWYP calls for the mandatory disclosure by these industries of payments made to governments for the extraction of natural resources as well as calling on the developing country governments to publish full details on revenues. This is one way to spotlight the allocation of profits and to shed light on opportunities for corruption, which are rife in these industries.
At the initiation by Chicago Presbytery, our partner presbytery in the Los Angeles area, Los Ranchos, has approved an overture in support of the PWYP campaign on behalf of the poor. This arose from Chicago’s partnership with the Cameroon Joining Hands involvement in addressing issues relating to an oil pipeline now passing through that country. The initiative now goes to the General Assembly for consideration and, hopefully, passage at its gathering this June.
Efforts like these are the active response of the church, as we journey with our country partners in mutual respect and solidarity in a common struggle for justice and against poverty and hunger.
Well, the rain has stopped, the rooster still crows, and two young puppies tussle and chew on each other outside my window. God is good.
With hopes your Christmas season was a time of rejoicing and refreshment, may the New Year bring greater joy, peace, and laughter into your lives.
With blessings and love,
Cindy
The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 30
