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A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR OUR FAITHFUL PATRONS • ISSUE NO. 16 |
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How many watermelons does one seed make? |
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The answer lies not only in the number of melons but in the number of slices of ripe melon to be cut and shared. The photo below is from Uganda, courtesy of Rev. Rudy Schaser of God’s Little Ones. Pictured is a woman who was a recipient of some watermelon seed from a trip there in 2005. This woman heard that the man who brought them good seed was back in the village, picked up a melon, and brought it to him and his friends. Consider this a thank offering or just good courtesy, but it was very much appreciated and inspiring to the missionary. For the woman who brought this gift of thanks back to him and his friends was Muslim. A watermelon seed produced friendship and sharing of Christian love - one slice at a time. |
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In preparing this edition of the Sowers’ Hands, I reviewed the most recent shipments of seed and the list of requests ahead of us. Let us praise God for the opportunities given to send good seed to so many places and people in need. And, the requests for help are signs that there is much yet to do and send.
I would love to share the stories from each ministry or missionary who is doing God’s work in a hungry and poor community, but the pages would be full of words. So, I have chosen to share the pictures we have received. I trust that the adage , “A Picture is worth a thousand words.” is effective for you in the ‘reading’ of this periodical. You will also note, there are several countries and ministries mentioned with no photos - yet. I trust that you will see in these blank photo spots , the great potential for seed to be planted. Your prayerful financial support is essential to the continued success of the seeds we send. The seed we send together is multiplying into nutritious food, and the expanded opportunities to reach out through a network of Christian workers who share Christ in such a simple and effective way. The envelope we provide for your check of support is like a seed packet - it gets planted and produces much. Thank You! In His Grace, Joy, and Peace, |
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Note: Agriculture and food production takes time; many times we do not receive feedback or photos for 9 months - 1 year. But, we do hear from missionaries regarding the seed arrival and distribution plans. |
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Guyana - Recently, the poor country of Guyana, South America has been deluged by heavy rains, damaging much of the countries food crop regions as well as forage areas for the cattle. Some of you may recall that a similar event happened last year, and it is still related to a failure of old and ill-maintained levies and pumping stations. We have received requests for help, and now we send seed and the relief we can offer. |
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Pakistan - In the fall of 2003, a devastating earthquake hit Northern Pakistan. Hope Seeds was equipped to send seeds to a community in need - seed which most resembles the type and species they are used to growing. Now, we have two more such requests being processed. Perhaps, God has even more for us to fill in this area of the world where the majority of the population is Muslim, and the first and best offers of aid have come from Christians. We count it a privilege to be part of this ministry to broken communities. |
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Afghanistan - This war torn country is in need of seed development and better nutritional resources for its children. A seed collaborator and friend of Hope Seeds for the past several years is now located near Kabul. We are sending seed samples for testing and sharing with the people. Some of the seed we have saved, acquired from the USDA, was originally collected in this part of the world. We are anxious to send some of this seed back for testing and seed production. | ||||||||
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Kyrgyzstan - The Dun-gan people who reside in the moutainous regions of this former Soviet Union state are primarily agrarian depending upon vegetables and grains to survive. However, they do not presently practice some modern techniques which could help them produce more or extend their season. Hope Seeds is planning for a greenhouse systems teaching garden here to share this knowledge - and Jesus Christ. |
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Sudan - It has been a long time since many Sudanese have been able to return to their homes and land. The persecution and war has finally subsided and the people want to resume their lives. There has been drought in the past year, so the shortage of food is again real. But, they continue to hope. We have recently received an urgent request for seed to go to parts of Souther Sudan, an area rich with agricultural historym and potential. We are just beginning to repond to this request - with hassle. Seed must be planted to produce. | ||||||||
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You! This blank photo spot is for you, your family, your congregation or business. Now is the time to send your support to Hope Seeds. Boldly, we ask for your dollars! And, Boldly we send seed. There is great promise and potential for feeding so many thousands of hungry people who will be able to grow their own food. Caring Christian workers are making this happen in many regions most of us will never see or go to, yet through your gift, you are there with them. | ||||||||
 Pusa Makhmahli Okra Abelmoschus esculentus |
How many seeds does an Okra make? The answer lies not only in numbers but in how many it helps feed. Seed saving is a practice as old as food production itself. Hope Seeds has been promoting seed saving of unique and important varieties of vegetables since our beginning over 7 years ago. In 2000 we acquired 30 seeds of many okra varieties from the U.S.D.A. - all originally collected from parts of Asia, Africa, and the U.S. One of the most productive and interesting lines identified during our trialing was one first selected from India in 1949 - Pusa Makmahli. We began to plant small isolated plots of this variety so as to increase our stock seed. Over the next several seasons we built the small amount of seed up to about 1 lb. In 2004 we began getting requests for seed from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Okra is a very important food crop for these people groups, and it became apparent through our trialing that Pusa Makmahli Okra would be important seed to send back to the part of the world from where it came. |
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 Pusa Makhmahli Okra Abelmoschus esculentus |
In spring 2005, Milton Mueller (the father of Mike Mueller, executive director of Hope Seeds) volunteered to grow a small isolation of seed for increase in his garden in Cape Girardeau, Mo. One ounce of Pusa Makhmahli Okra was sent to him, and from one small row of okra he harvested several pickings of dried okra pods. (*There were no other okra varieties or similar species in close proximity, therefore the seed was not cross bred.) This one ounce produced over 10 lbs. of seed. This effort produced far more than pounds of seed. In the late fall of 2005 a severe earthquake struck northern Pakistan. We received an emergency request for seed suitable for the small farmers in that region who needed replacement seed. We were able to take five pounds of Pusa Makmahli Okra, along with many other appropriate species, and send in small packets to people in need. The Christian workers there are better supplied with something which will be long remembered by the gardeners who will plant good and right seed this spring. |
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 Giant Red Mustard Brassica juncea var. rugosa |
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 Available in PDF format,click here for a free download |
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© 2006 Hope Seeds, Inc
