Thursday, February 19

South Africa

Winnie Maneli surveys her vegetable garden with satisfaction.

In the tiny hamlet of Dyamala, Winnie Maneli proudly shows visitors around her vegetable garden. Cabbages, tomatoes, green peppers, and other vegetables grow around the perimeter of planting circles designed to retain precious rainwater. The circles also promote the growth of the nearby lemon and plum trees that Winnie earned by adhering faithfully to natural farming techniques. The fruits and vegetables that Winnie raises will help to feed her family, while the surplus will enable others in the community to enjoy better nutrition.

Winnie is one of a score of gardeners in three Eastern Cape communities who are experimenting with natural farming strategies as a result of a partnership between Macfarlan Uniting Presbyterian Church and Mission at the Eastward, a consortium of six PC(USA) congregations in Maine. From inauspicious beginnings, the participants have established a number of water, livestock, and farming initiatives and have begun to work with staff at Fort Hare University to revive the use of animal traction and other sustainable farming techniques on five demonstration farms. Ernest Jwambi, one of the participating farmers, says proudly that as a result of their efforts, no one in his village of Upper Ncera goes hungry.

The partnership, now in its ninth year, is part of a larger and multifaceted relationship between Amatola Presbytery of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa and the Presbytery of Northern New England. It has been an enriching experience for both the North Americans and the South Africans as they journey together in faith, searching for ways to tackle the problems that confront them.

Let us join in prayer for
Partners/Ministries
South African Council of Churches: Mr. Eddie Makue, general secretary, Prof. Tinyiko Maluleke, president
Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa: Rev. H. Dixon Masangu, moderator, Rev. Titus R. Mobbie, general secretary
Presbyterian Church of Africa: Rev. Eric Matomela, moderator, Rev. W. Mzukisi Faleni, stated clerk
Uniting Presbyterian Church in South Africa (UPCSA): Rev. William Pool, moderator, Mr. Tom Coulter, acting general secretary
Uniting Reformed Church in South Africa (URCSA): Prof. S. T. Kgatla, moderator, Rev. John Collin Goeiman, general secretary

Presbytery Partnerships
Presbytery of Boise, Presbytery of Donegal, Presbytery of Florida, Presbytery of New York City, North Alabama Presbytery, and Presbytery of Northern New England with the UPCSA; Presbytery of Western New York with the URCSA; Presbytery of the Western Reserve with Sisonke Masilwe Indlala through Joining Hands

PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Rev. Jon Chapman, GAC
Sandra Charles, GAC
Rev. Dr. Eric Chavis, FDN
Rev. Dr. MickieChoi-Hoe, PILP

Prayer
Gracious God, we give you thanks for the opportunity to walk together with sisters and brothers in faith around the world. Open our eyes to new ways of ministering to each other, and open our hearts to your presence in all those we encounter. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Lectionary
Ps. 36, 147:12–20 Ps. 80, 27
Isa. 65:1–12
1 Tim. 4:1–16; Mark 12:13–27