Real First Fruits in Zambia

Growing Food for Others

Boys on the streets of Kitwe, Zambia rarely have the opportunity to learn anything constructive.  But, when they step onto the grounds of Abba’s  Learning Center they get that and much more.  They learn practical skills, are taught about the Bible, receive love and guidance, and they get opportunities to help others in the process.

The boys at the learning center recently started a garden as they learn “Farming God’s Way.”  This past June, my family and I were able to watch them farm and even participate with them.  They take joy in doing something good and productive.  And their garden has produced well.  Which gave them an opportunity.

Abba’s Heart Zambia takes 40-60 boys out to their residence property each week for an outreach they call Mayompapa.  The name is part of a Bemba phrase that loosely means, “You carry me on your back and I’ll carry you on mine.”  An important part of this outreach is lunch, the biggest and the healthiest meal these guys will eat all week.  Recent lunches have featured produce provided by the garden of Abba’s Learning Center!  What a beautiful picture of God’s grace and provision.  These boys are learning what it means to be generous in God’s Kingdom and good citizens of His world.

But who cooks it when it gets there? Well, that’s another great story. We have a volunteer team that does that each Mayompapa. And they recently gained a new member name Stanley.

Stanley is a current resident of Abba’s Heart Zambia residence program who discovered a love for cooking at a young age. He would shadow his house mother and help her in the kitchen. Eventually, he cooked full meals for the house. As one of our older boys approaching transition, Stanly is attending cooking school in Kitwe and learning how to use his passion professionally. But that is not all he is learning to do with it. This is Stanley cooking for the outreach ministry to street boys.

We are proud to see this young man rising up against adversity and even his own mindset struggles to realize his potential. Stanley is a very kind young man who is working hard to change his mindset and reverse the cycle of poverty in his family. He is growing in faith and has hope for a better future on earth and in eternity!