A story of loss and new hope
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.
In drought-affected Jharkhand, India, Salome Paharin struggled to feed her children. With an electric sewing machine loan from Tearfund’s partner EFICOR, she now earns enough to buy food, save for emergencies, and repay her loan—helping another woman in her community do the same.
At 51, Gradius Kapande proved it’s never too late to start fresh. Through Tearfund’s church partners in Tanzania, she learned conservation agriculture, joined a Village Savings and Loans group, and upgraded to a fuel-efficient stove. Today, she enjoys a thriving farm, better health, and a hopeful future—praise God for His transforming work!
Takes place on Zoom, on the third Thursday of each month at 8:00 pm (EST)
