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Dancing Within Disappointment

A story of loss and new hope

September 17, 2020

Bursting into dance is not something you would think Fatu Kabiaa would do.

After all, memories of the devastating Ebola outbreak which killed eight people in her village are still fresh within the small community of forty-two families. One of the eight was her husband, whom she loved dearly.

Despite this, she is thrilled by the visit of one of our local church partners who came to help them grow more food to lessen their poverty.

Before EFSL arrived in the village, their primary source of income was growing and processing palm oil. “If too many people were selling it, the prices went down, and we all suffered,” Fatu recalls.

The local church stepped in to help the community grow numerous kinds of new market crops. Not only have people improved their economic situation, the church also helped restore relationships within the community.

Fatu explains, “Before our training, we gossiped a lot. We were jealous of each other. Now, everybody helps each other.”

Through their service and support, EFSL shared the love of Christ in a powerful way. In fact, we are excited to share that the community leader, an ex-military officer, asked if a church could be started in the community!

Fatu may have lost her husband, but she rejoices when she thinks of the hope that has arrived.

"Today, every family is engaged in market gardening. We eat some of the produce, and we sell the remainder. Now I can buy double the rice I ever bought before. I no longer have to beg my neighbours to ensure the school fees are paid for my children."

You can impact a family’s life by bringing an end to poverty

“This is God’s mysterious work”

In Aweil East County, South Sudan, widow Ajak Ngong Anei struggled to care for her two adult children. With no crops and only wild fruit to survive on, hope seemed lost. But through Tearfund’s food assistance program, she received rations to last three months. Calling it “God’s mysterious work,” Ajak now has food on the table and renewed hope for the days ahead.

Finding her God-Given Identity

When Françoise joined a church-led food security program in the DRC, she didn’t expect it to transform her life. Learning sustainable farming and rabbit care not only gave her the ability to feed her family, but also opened her eyes to her God-given identity and potential. Now, she’s inspiring other women to dream, work, and provide for their families—breaking free from long-held cultural limits.