Vaevae Manava Food for Families Project

This month we have started a new farming project.  The people came to us for help with expenses for the ploughing of the ground and peanut seed for 18 acres which will provide for 18 families, members and non-members.  This village is a very poor village and was struggling just to put food in their families mouths.  With this project they can raise the peanuts, then sell them and budget their money so that the next planting cycle they will have their own funds for the tractor services and they will have their own peanut seed; as well as funds to pay for their children's tuition for school and their uniforms.  They will also be planting other vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce, bananas, etc, to provide food for their families.  Following are some before pictures of them starting to prepare the land for planting.

This is one of the parcels of land in this project.  As you can tell it will take much work to prepare the ground for planting.

This is the hired tractor doing the slashing to get rid of the tall grass.

One of the parcels all slashed and ready to be burned to finish cleaning up the grass.

And the burning begins!

Another parcel being burned.

Elder Murdock with the van loaded with peanut seed.

This is their Town Hall where they unloaded the seed and are getting ready to distribute it.

This is part of the families, all could not be there, but they sent a representative to pick up their seed.  The people were so very happy that they could plant their own crops and provide for their families.  They had hope in their eyes!

"The Lord does help when we go to Him in times of need, especially when we are committed to His work and respond to His will.  But the Lord only helps those who are willing to help themselves.  He expects His children to be self-reliant to the degree they can be."   L. Tom Perry