Zambia – No matter where you are in the world, jealousy can divide people and break families. The theme of jealousy is pervasive in the weakness of human character. Cain and Abel, Rachel and Leah, Joseph and his brothers, Daniel, and the other servants, are just some of many stories in the Bible that show the pain that jealousy can cause. But thankfully, in Christ Jesus, we can always find redemption because of our loving and merciful God. There is always hope for restoration and healing through our Savior.
As you will see in Ruth’s story, God used the Christian Farmers Association in Zambia to restore her livelihood.
Bright Hope’s work in Zambia reached into the devastation caused by jealousy. In its place, we opened a door for one precious Zambian to find redemption. Ruth lost her father and was given a parcel of land for her to farm and use as a family home. Over time, she met and began living with her husband on the land, working hard and building a house. She used the land to farm corn, and her husband continued his fishing business. Together they prospered, and their life appeared to be going well.
As the young couple thrived, rather than responding with joy, family members looked on with jealous eyes. They saw the success and asked, “Why not me?” Their jealousy grew into accusations that Ruth was a witch and stole the family’s blessings for herself. Jealousy made its home in insults and threats. Eventually, Ruth and her family decided to give up the land and leave their home.
New Hope in Zambia
The faithful Good Shepherd directed this young family to Mbabala Island, where they now live. At first, as with most on Mbabala Island, life was very difficult. The couple’s income had vanished. They couldn’t grow any crops. In addition, their fishing business was also thwarted by restrictions on the Island which protected a dwindling fish population. Nevertheless, the family made their home in a meager mud hut and welcomed their second child into the world. Unfortunately, they struggled to provide nutritious food for their growing family.
The Lord continued to lead Ruth. In time, her involvement with the local church brought her into contact with the Church Farmers Association (CFA), one of Bright Hope’s programs on the island. The CFA is a group of farmers from different denominational churches brought together by Bright Hope to support their communities economically, socially, and spiritually. Through these associations, Bright Hope reaches out to vulnerable families and supports them with training on how to launch profitable agriculture, piggery, and poultry businesses.
Ruth was selected to be a level-one loan beneficiary and was given the materials needed to begin farming and selling corn. There was hope! With her experience and hard work, Ruth could provide food for her family, repay her initial loan, and qualify as a level-two loan recipient. As a result, the CFA has built Ruth’s family a chicken coop and provided chickens and materials to start this profitable new business.
Ruth Built Her Farming Career
Ruth shared: “The CFA has taught me that being faithful pays, from just being a maize farmer now I am a chicken farmer too. My children are happy and healthy because our chickens give us eggs to supplement their diet. As a result, we are also able to buy what we need when we sell eggs. Now, we are a happy family now because of the CFA.”
Ruth and her family plan to improve their home by installing a tin roof to replace the grass and enlarge their chicken farm. Ruth has witnessed God’s ability to take what take broken things and turn them into something beautiful.
Your ongoing partnership makes stories like Ruth’s possible – thank you!
