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Here is an overview of some of the things we are working on at Seeds of Hope:
- SHIP Zambia is drilling wells at Community School and a Catholic Church in a needy community, as well as doing ongoing community hygiene trainings in communities and schools.
- Peter and Deb Reimer are in Zambia doing agriculture training with several organizations.
- Kirk Schauer and Diane Foss trained a Boise Vineyard team that is leaving in September.
- CAWST is beginning the initial steps to establish SHIP as a center of expertise for Africa.
- Lifewater’s team is teaching sanitation promotion and training our staff and other organizations.
- Camarillo and Five Cities Vineyards are beginning to partner with Seeds of Hope.
- SHIP is planning a biosand filter training in Tecate, Mexico, July 24th through 2
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A letter from the Director of SHIP Kirk Schauer
In this update we wanted to highlight what specific individuals working with Seeds of Hope have done to reach out to the impoverished. I look at what Seeds of Hope has been able to do in the short time that we have been in existence and it is because of lots of people being committed to do a little bit, but to do it well. When you see them joined together, as we’ve had the privilege to witness, so much can happen. It becomes a catalyst for other things happening.
Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about the power of water. In so many ways, it is such a powerful force— especially the power of floodwaters and their ability to change the landscape so dramatically. Sometimes when I think about Africa and the overwhelming needs in so many areas, it seems like the only answer is a huge outpouring of help like a flood. I was thinking about this one day and getting overwhelmed when I realized that every flood is made up of tiny raindrops— so small and so insignificant by themselves, but when joined with others in a flood can make amazing impact. That’s what we’ve seen happen with Seeds of Hope. Individuals have been raised up and released to help other individuals, and it’s working. We’ve tried to highlight this on our website in what we call “Stories of Involvement”. There are stories of individuals, churches, organizations that have stepped up in unique ways to help reach out to needy communities.
One of our visions with our new website is to inspire people to take their God-given talents and abilities and use them to bring hope and healing to the places that need it most. There are people literally dying from a lack of essential things that we take for granted. Would you consider joining us with your talents, as others have, to change the future?
Enjoy reading just a few “Stories of Involvement”. Kirk Schauer, Director SHIP |
| STORIES OF INVOLVEMENT |
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Bruce Schauer was given the challenge to redesign the way sand filters are made with concrete in a way that would be low-tech, cost-efficient and duplicable. After experimenting with several different materials, he began to use a material that is very common throughout the world – corrugated iron roof sheeting. |
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Instead of an inside mold made of metal, Bruce’s design uses a weak concrete mix that is broken out after the filter is poured This unique design fits perfectly in Seeds of Hope’s philosophy of a graduated “next easy step” ladder of technology for community development.
One of the things that has been missing in community development projects and often leads to failure is the lack of options. The world is not a one-size-fits-all world, but instead it is incredibly diverse. So, what’s needed is to bring solutions whose applications can fit different types of communities. Bruce’s unique design can easily be the first step in rural sand filter production and he hopes that it will benefit many people.
The plans for this design are available here > Resoureces |
This is the round "frameless design" sand filter and mold. |
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Peter Reimer is another individual who has made significant contributions to our work in Africa. Although Peter is a farmer from the central valley of California with experience growing beans, cotton, and almonds, he began working with Seeds of Hope in 2004 to research our agricultural projects. |
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Peter and his wife, Deb, are in Zambia this month meeting with our staff and other organizations and talking to them about a simple system of farming that can increase production dramatically called “Farming God’s Way”. Peter has reported that the Zambians are incredibly excited about starting these projects. He’s also doing some training on the use and maintenance of our tractor. Peter, who is very familiar with machinery, also developed a unique design for a bicycle-powered sand sorter to help our sand filter factory. Since its arrival in May, the sand sorter has been in constant use. Once Peter inspects how it is performing, we can then make it available to other ministries doing a large amount of sand filter production. |
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PLEASE PRAY FOR SONYA CHRISTENSON
Sonya has been a full time plus volunteer in the SHIP US office for over a year! She is going to a summer Masters level literacy program taught by Wycliffe Bible Translator s in North Dakota. We want to extend our deepest thanks to her for all of the great things that she has brought to Seeds of Hope in this last year. What amazing changes she has spearheaded, overseen and facilitated. She is already missed. Pray for her schooling as well as connections with people there and clear vision for her future.
Blessings to you Sonya!
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