Wise Investments in Dirt That Matters

Isaiah 55:10-11  "As the rain and the snow come down from the heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Approved producers with team

There are many stories that I will collect on this blog, some what God did in the span of seven days with one team in Nicaragua.  My heart is full of so many greater works through a team of ordinary servants.

One story from the field is one of the major reasons our trip leader, Lynn Kinder, continues to go back year after year.  Lynn is a banker, an investor and makes deposits for a living at Payne County Bank but he also makes spiritual deposits into the lives of Nicaraguans.

Because of his background in business and banking he knows values of education and application of making investments for future growth.  He, along with the support of his home church First Baptist Church in Perkins, Oklahoma, have made a significant deposit in the lives of farmers (producers) in the fertile soil of Somotillo.   He joined in with the vision of Pastor Diomedes to help the leaders of many communities better themselves by developing the CEDIR program.

CEDIR stands for Central Educational Development Integral Rural.  It is a way to train and equip producers (farmers) sustainability to take care of their families plus an opportunity to give back to their neighborhood and surrounding community.  The purpose is to help them produce more crops, such as vegetables and fruit to feed their family and sell the excess to improve their quality of life.

57 families are in the program, a select number have chosen to adopt and apply what they are being taught about agriculture AND attend church, then nine were selected to apply for the CEDIR program.

A rural homestead and trees cleared for planting

Last year the team had the opportunity of visiting with a few of the producers and it was an eye opening experience to the needs that existed in every day living in Nicaragua.  There are many needs that are not affordable for so many families.  Lynn asked the question if they would be interested in a way that would enable them to acquire the tools or equipment needed to develop and improve their farms.  They were in agreement with a resounding "yes" but completely understood that it came with a commitment to work together to make this happen.

Many farms have only oxen to work the terraces 

Team listens to a producers vision for his family

Lynn developed a grant program that allows the producers to obtain up to a $600 loan for various needs to help pay for the development with a three year commitment to pay back half of the amount over a span of 3 years.  The plan isn't a hand out but a hand up.  Through the application process, there were evaulations about what resources are needed to create sustainability within their community.  For example, what kind of soil they have, what kind of tools are needed to work the soil, and what kind of commitment needed to invest in making the plan adaptable for their needs.

The team saw it as a great opportunity to improve the farmers quality of life but also create a community of hope.  Most of the producers are pastors who have been disciplined by leadership within their churches and communities.  As leaders many look to them to know and learn the way in their community, and spiritually are in a position to show hope to their neighborhoods.

El pollo (the chicken) pen

Making small investments in the physical realm make a huge difference in the spiritual realm.

This is why Lynn continues to invest in a way that is making a difference.  He has seen the results of making deposits and investments and know that God has equipped with him knowledge and a desire to give hope to many families.  

1 Corinthians 9:10 "Now he who supplies to the sower and bread for food will also supply and  increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness."  

Water is a valued commodity

The goal is lead the way in love like Jesus did by making deposits into the lives of people.  He walked the path and scattered seeds looking for fertile ground to develop growth.  He met physical needs and supplied spiritual needs.  He healed people from the inside out, thus the heart of the community from the inside out.  CEDIR promises to produce crops that better families but also build stronger communities.  Stronger communities develop leaders and give back to their lives in a way that makes a difference.

Hope develops a stronger faith, but a love of people endures.  Faith hope and love, but the greatest strongest, and most influential type of difference is a love that endures through hard soils, and softens hearts for the harvest.