Creating a vegetable garden within four days is quite a feat! We were not sure if it was possible to do so. But our local Pnong church members proved us wrong.
Planting vegetables and fruit trees is a great way to enjoy fresh produce year-round. Not only is it good for our health, but it is also good for the environment. When we plant our own garden, we reduce our carbon footprint by reducing the food needed for purchase at the local markets. We also save money.
Because we provide breakfast and lunch at our school from Monday to Friday, a group of indigenous Pnong church members helped us plant our own vegetable garden and fruit trees. Before they began working each day, the members prayed for strength. They started the garden by clearing the patch of land at the back of the school and tilling the soil using only shovels. Then they planted seeds for tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and other vegetables. They also planted fruit trees like banana, papaya, passion fruit, avocado and durian. The Pnong people worked hard every day to water the plants and ensure they were growing well. They also took turns weeding the garden and protecting it from pests. After just four days, the plants started to grow tall and strong. We were amazed at how quickly the garden was growing.
Some of the workers on the farm knew about our church but had never attended. After working on the land with us, they all attended church the following Sabbath.
We look forward to the day when we harvest our first crop of vegetables and fruits. We want to include ripe tomatoes, juicy cucumbers, sweet carrots, fresh pineapples and papaya on the school’s menu to improve the children’s health. We also look forward to when the seeds planted in the workers who attended our church for the first time will likewise bear fruit.
With a bit of planning and hard work using only shovels, the local Pnong farmers taught us that they could start a large garden on the school property so the entire community could enjoy the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables and our school could save some money in its budget. We can also share our bounty with friends and family and sell it at local farmers’ markets. And because these farmers will continue to plant more vegetables and fruit trees, we hope to enjoy fresh produce all year round. We praise God for this miracle and the partnership with our local Pnong brothers and sisters.
This was our four-day miracle.
“If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”
―— David Livingstone
