- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”
— Psalm 127:1
We are overflowing with gratitude!
Our farmers from Mzimba have officially returned safe and sound from their training trip to Stand as One Ministry in Matongwe, Malawi — and what an incredible journey it was.
Because of your generosity, they were able to spend several days learning Agroforestry, Farming God’s Way, and Christ-centered sustainable farming.
Stand as One Ministry is known for its discipleship-driven agricultural training, community restoration model, and long-term investment in transforming villages through biblical stewardship of land and people.
They welcomed our team with open arms, and we are so thankful for the Kingdom Partnership God is forming.
Hands-On Learning That Will Transform Mzimba
While in Matongwe, our farmers received hands-on training in:
-
Natural fertilizers
-
Composting and worm nutrition
-
Living soil and soil regeneration
-
Crop forestry and agroforestry design
-
Drought-resistant strategies
-
Companion planting and multi-crop systems
-
Planning for school feeding programs
-
How to apply Farming God’s Way at Promised Land Farm
They tasted new foods, explored new fruits and vegetables, and saw firsthand what diversified agriculture can do for nutrition, health, and community resilience.
Thanks to a generous donor, funding has already been provided to supply seedlings and plants for the new farms at each of our schools and for Promised Land Farm.
Stand as One Ministry is preparing these seedlings now, and they will be delivered as soon as each farm is fully prepped and ready for planting.
This means our team can begin applying what they learned almost immediately and sustainably!
God Prepared the Land While They Were Away
While our team was learning in Matongwe, God was already working in Mzimba. Rain came across the region, softening and preparing the ground for planting. It felt like a divine confirmation—God preparing the soil even as He prepared the people.
Shine Malawi’s director will soon be delivering the seedlings to each participating school.
During these visits, he plans to share a message about the Parable of the Sower, helping students and staff connect the physical work of farming with the spiritual work of faith and discipleship.
A Year-Long Internship: Preparing a Leader for Mzimba
We’re excited to share that Rose was personally chosen by Shine Malawi’s director to remain in Matongwe for a year-long internship with Stand as One Ministry!
Both our teams in America and Malawi are thrilled to see a young woman stepping into a leadership role—a powerful reminder that Christ calls and equips all His people.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
— Galatians 3:28, ESV
Rose will receive in-depth training in discipleship, agroforestry, community development, and sustainable land stewardship. Our prayer is that she returns equipped to help lead long-term transformation and inspire other young women to rise into the roles God has given them.
Restoring What Was Lost
One of the biggest lessons from this trip is recognizing how many native fruits and nutrient-rich crops have been lost over time. Corn and soy became dominant mostly because European-style farming made them the easiest and most common crops.
But Malawi’s soil was created to produce abundance.
Our farmers learned they can grow:
-
Papaya
-
Citrus
-
Mango
-
Bananas
-
Greens
-
Beans
-
And one of the world’s most nutritious plants: Moringa
Moringa is drought-resistant, grows quickly, and can be eaten fresh, cooked, or dried into a seasoning powder. It is one of the most iron-rich, nutrient-dense foods available—and it grows beautifully in Malawi’s climate.
Children often prefer nsima, so part of our work is gently helping shift palates back toward the fruits, vegetables, and nutrient-rich foods God placed in their land long before.
“The LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places… and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
— Isaiah 58:11 (ESV)
As trees and crop diversity return, the ecosystem begins to change—moisture increases, soil rebuilds, shade expands, and creation begins to heal.
A powerful example of this is the documentary Mully, which tells the true story of Charles Mully in Kenya, who restored land, planted trees, rescued children, and transformed an entire region. What God did there is a glimpse of what He can do in Mzimba.
Encouragement From Both Sides
We received incredibly positive reviews from Stand as One Ministry about the character, humility, and eagerness of the farmers we sent.
And our farmers returned overflowing with hope—saying they learned so much, experienced a new perspective on sustainable farming, and feel prepared to bring lasting change to their communities.
Galatians 6:10 :
“Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”
This partnership is already bearing fruit.
How This Kingdom Partnership Began
What makes all of this even more incredible is how spontaneous and Spirit-led this partnership truly was. It began in the most unexpected place—an airport in New York, during a layover, through what can only be described as a divine appointment.
A simple conversation turned into connection.
Connection turned into purpose.
Purpose turned into partnership.
And partnership has now turned into transformation.
“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”
— Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)
You can read the full story of how God orchestrated this here.
A Need Heavy on Our Hearts
As we celebrate the success of this trip, we also face a real and urgent need.
At St. Patricia’s Secondary School, we currently have eight orphaned students who lost their scholarships.
These students are all juniors, meaning they have already invested years of hard work and are so close to finishing.
As a new school, we simply cannot absorb these costs, despite doing everything we can. But we do not want to lose these students.
“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”— Proverbs 11:25 (ESV)How You Can Help
A sponsorship is:
-
$1,200 per year, or
-
$400 per term,
-
for a 2-year commitment—just long enough for them to graduate.
Every donation is tax-deductible, and because our U.S. team is fully volunteer, 100% of each sponsorship goes directly to the student.
If God puts this on your heart, please reach out.
If you can’t commit to a full sponsorship, you can still support St. Patricia’s School by giving here:
Anything you give supports students, keeps programs running, and helps secure the future of Shine Malawi’s education initiatives.
A Closing Prayer
Father, we thank You for Your goodness, Your provision, and Your faithfulness.
Thank You for bringing our farmers safely home, for opening doors we could never have opened ourselves, and for the beautiful partnership You formed between Shine Malawi, Stand as One Ministry, and Giving Basics. Thank You for the rain that prepared the soil, the wisdom shared in Matongwe, and the hope You planted in every heart along the way.
Lord, we lift up Rose as she begins her internship. Strengthen her, guide her, and make her a light for her community. Bless the hands that will plant these seeds, bless the schools preparing their farms, and bless every child who will be fed through this work. Let Your Word take root in their hearts just as these trees take root in the soil.
Father, we also bring before You the students at St. Patricia’s who are in need of sponsors.
You know their names, their stories, and their dreams. We ask that You stir the hearts of those who are able to help. Provide the resources, the partners, and the support they need to finish their education and step into the futures You have prepared for them.
We trust You, Lord.
We love You.
And we give all glory to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
- I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences, feel free to leave a comment below.
- Enjoyed this post? Subscribe now for more insightful content.
Comments
Post a Comment
I would love to here from you!