A Newfound Trust
How a training program from the local church taught a skeptic to trust again
The sound of animals crying, gunshots, and screaming people filled the air. Fikiri and Denise ran outside to see rebels stealing their animals and crops.
Their lives were forever changed.
Denise’s village in the Democratic Republic of Congo was recently hit by a terrible crop disease that ravished the bananas and cassavas. Not only that, but rebel groups made this year even more difficult.
One day, Denise ran home excitedly after going to the market, eager to tell her husband about a new initiative started by the local church. Once she caught her breath she began talking, “The church has found a cure for the disease, and they want to train us how to stop the spread…for free!”
Her husband, Fikiri, was skeptical. His trust in outsiders was low, as an organization from the previous year had misled the village and stolen from his family. Nothing was free, and even though his wife didn’t see it, he knew there must be an alternative motive to this ‘free’ gift.
As a way of protecting his family, Fikiri and Denise agreed to use half the land to implement this new method. This ensured that the family would at least have some untouchable crop when the church asked for payback at harvest. Denise began faithfully attending the free agriculture training, and sure enough, was able to eliminate the diseased crops.
“My husband was so hesitant to receive help from others after our experience the previous year. I began to pray that he would learn to trust the church community,” Denise shared.
At harvest time something miraculous happened! “For days I put aside some crop for when the church came by to collect our debts, but they never came.” Fikiri continued, “At first I was confused why this was, but my wife was right. This church only wanted to love and to help us.”
Today, with the guidance and support of the church, the family is growing not only disease-free bananas but has expanded to cauliflower, cabbage, eggplant, maize, and potatoes. Denise has become a leader in her community, and is working every day to share her knowledge and skills with the people in her village.
