Seeds of Love Lent 2017 Hello and welcome to week 3 of Lent. Jesuit Missions is inviting you this Lent to focus on FOOD. We are going to be showing you different food, or livelihoods* projects that Jesuit Missions supports all around the world. We hope it will be an opportunity for you to learn more about what JM does around the world, and perhaps even find a cause to commit to/support this Lent! * Livelihoods are the things needed for a means of living. These things, or assets, could be “tangible, such as food stores and cash savings, as well as trees, land, livestock, tools, and other resources. Assets may also be intangible such as claims one can make for food, work, and assistance as well as access to materials, information, education, health services and employment opportunities.” – United National International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) http://www.unisdr.org/files/16771_16771guidancenoteonrecoveryliveliho.pdf During this period, we will be praying, encouraging you to think about food (or fasting) and encouraging alms giving (or fundraising).

“…The Lord says…”stop doing evil and learn to do right…help those who are oppressed, give orphans their rights and defend widows…Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will eat the good things the land produces. But if you defy me, you are doomed to die...” - Isaiah 1:16-20 Let’s begin this morning’s presentation by reading and praying over the words in this scripture passage. Today’s reading is strongly worded, and we get a real sense of God’s anger as he reprimands the people of Judah. In this passage, what do you interpret as the meaning of Isaiah’s words? Here are some reflection questions: Why do you think Isaiah gives the example of orphans and widows specifically? Can you think of what life would be like for them during the time Isaiah was writing? How can we use this period of Lent as a time to ‘learn to do right’? Pay attention to the words in bold – what good things does the land produce in the UK? Can you remember what was grown in projects we heard about in Zimbabwe? These questions are suggested only. As the presentations are designed to be given at assemblies (lasting no longer than 15/20 minutes), the questions should be more of an internal dialogue (similar to an Examen) than a spoken discussion. If there is time however, they can be discussed aloud.

Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre: Zambia The last two weeks were spent exploring the food gardens of St Rupert Mayer Mission in Zimbabwe. This week we are moving a little further north on the world map to Zambia. The Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre (KATC) is another livelihoods project JM has been supporting. The KATC is a farming-training centre. It was set up by Jesuits in Zimbabwe with the aim of making farmers more independent, and less reliant on expensive machinery.

Zambia is a fast developing country Zambia is a fast developing country. Politically it is stable and democratic. Despite this, 60% of the population live below the poverty line, of which 42% are considered extremely poor. There is a high use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) by farmers. This is because the Zambian government pay high subsidies (investments) for chemical fertilizers (this is linked to big corporations and companies who influence governmental decisions in farming and agriculture). Chemical fertilizers reduce soil quality and create dependency on products that farmers cannot afford. In order for development to really happen, food and nutrition security and GMO education are a priority.

KATC aims to empower rural communities in Zambia to improve their livelihoods. Through things like training, research, lobbying and advocacy and developing technologies in sustainable organic agriculture, KATC is creating far-reaching and democratic rural development!

The KATC offers a variety of courses in/related to sustainable organic agriculture. Women farmers are especially empowered through the training. They are encouraged to be financially independent and self-reliant. PAUSE FOR THOUGHT: Do you notice any similarities or differences between this project and the food gardens of St Rupert’s? What role does food take here and in Zimbabwe? How often have you seen food in its organic/raw state? Does that tell you anything about your eating habits/the eating habits of the community you live in?

Next week we’ll be hearing a little bit more about KATC, and in particular how funding from JM is helping to strengthen the project. We’ll conclude with a style of prayer called finger praying. Here are the instructions: The thumb is to pray for those who are closest to you because it is the closest to you! 2) The index finger, or the pointing finger, is to pray for those who lead us in the right direction – teachers, leaders, you name it!. 3) The tallest finger is for us to pray for our leaders and those in authority. 4) The ring finger it is our weakest finger. Reminding us to pray for the weakest and the sick. 5) Our little finger reminds us to pray for ourselves. We have spent a lot of time praying for others that we shouldn’t forget God cares for us too! Finger template taken from - http://www.sawyoo.com/post_5-finger-prayer-model_353214/

© Copyright Jesuit Missions 2017 Text by Samantha Aidoo. All photos were taken in Zambia by KATC. Users are welcome to modify the material to fit their needs. jesuitmissions.org.uk education@jesuitmissions.org.uk Facebook: Jesuit Missions UK Twitter: @JesuitMissions