Beautiful Things from Dust
A story of God’s restoration
Looking over his dusty field, Wolde remembers a time when his family’s thirty acre farm was lush and vibrant.
Inheriting land split between his siblings meant that his farm was both limited and overworked, and six months a year were marked with hunger. Often, there was only one meal per day to sustain him and his family.
This suffering does not reflect God’s heart.
In John 10:10, Jesus tells us, “I have come so that they may have life, and have it to the full.” We know that God is good, and is for His people. He created us in perfect relationship with Him to enjoy His good gifts and abundant blessings. God is working to redeem the whole of Creation, and is in the business of restoration.
Fifty years ago, Wolde’s family farm in Ethiopia was vast and full of life, but as the family grew, the land was split into smaller plots and more was needed. Trees were cut down to make space, the soil became overworked and sandy, and heavy rain washed a lot of the soil away.
Wolde inherited this poor soil. With no other options, he was forced to try to make ends meet with whatever he had, but no matter how hard he tried he could never grow enough to provide enough food for his family. For half of the year they only ate one meal a day, and his children became weak.
As Wolde struggled, he heard that the local church was teaching farmers a new type of farming, one that could increase his crop yields by three to four times! He couldn’t believe it was true, but had little to lose. While he was there, the trainers taught Wolde how to replenish the land with compost, mulch and minimum tilling. He also learned about God’s heart for restoration.
Wolde got to work. He replenished his dusty fields into healthy soil using conservation agriculture techniques, and began reaping higher yields. He soon had a harvest large enough not only to feed his family, but to sell as well. Throughout the season, the amount of time required to maintain his crop reduced, he experienced true community, and he received a new heart for God’s Creation.
“The soil is now improving, and it’s growing better yields. We are seeing the difference within months,” Wolde exclaims joyfully.
Catching a glimpse of God’s heart for restoration in his own family and community, Wolde decided he couldn’t wait to tell others and became an ambassador of this mission in Ethiopia.
He shares with us, “The basic principle of conservation agriculture starts with our relationship with God, our neighbours, and the resources God has given us. In Ethiopia, we have destroyed the environment as the population has grown. This has affected the land, our communities, and our churches. We are now involved in a restoration movement.”
Tearfund is committed to honouring God’s mission of restoration and to invite others to see His earth restored. Our desire is to share Christ’s mission of restoration across the world by giving people the resources they need to lift themselves out of economic, social, emotional and spiritual poverty. Acting as Jesus’ hands and feet, we respond to the relief and development needs of the very poorest places on earth to see the cycle of poverty broken.
We believe that poverty is a result of broken relationships; relationships with God and people, within ourselves, with each other, and with Creation. Any attempts to address poverty must focus holistically on not only the economic aspect of poverty, but the social, emotional, and spiritual aspects as well.
Thanks to God, Wolde’s field is now thriving and providing him and his family with what they need to live life to the fullest. He eagerly tithes to his church and builds relationships with his neighbours, and he is always smiling.
