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A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR OUR FAITHFUL PATRONS · ISSUE NO.1 |
Director Mike Mueller handing out
packages to Miskito Indian villages
in Honduras, C.A.
Seeds Sown!
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HONDURAS—(Jan.28–Feb.3) Mike Mueller, Director of Hope Seeds, traveled with Paul Benham of Living Waters to the Misquito Coast of Honduras in Central America to see firsthand the agricultural need among the Miskito Indians. Seeds were distributed such as beans, peppers, tomatoes, melons and watermelons. This area of Honduras is at sea level with all travel done by water, usually in a dugout canoe or dorry. The river tributaries are very scenic with several types of trees, orchids, bromeliads, ferns and vines covering the landscape. Many species of birds and reptiles thrive in this environment. The Miskito Indians live there as well, making their homes on higher ground (4–8 feet above sea level) using stilts to elevate their homes an additional 6 feet above the ground. |
The soil is a heavy clay type composed of 3–4 inches of organic soil which is favorable for growing beans. Few other vegetables are being grown which leads to heightening levels of vitamin deficiency. Malnutrition is prevalent and yet, the people are quick to smile and offer a greeting. It did not require much time to feel a love for these people and a motivation to help them. Plans are being made to develop a demonstration garden and provide hands-on seminars. It is our goal to begin on-site work in early 2003, with preliminary efforts later this year. Replication of efforts are best motivated by observance of good results, so we make our plans accordingly. We pray that the seeds planted produce abundant food for the Miskito families. We pray that through our Christian witness in word and deed, many of these people will come to know Jesus. |
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"When poor people are able to plow,
there is much food, |
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UGANDA—Missionaries, representing the Voice of the Martyrs of Bartlesville, as volunteer directors of an orphanage in Eastern Uganda, are planting seeds. Seeds have been taken to plant gardens for the reproduction of food for the orphanage. "When poor people are able to plow, there is much food, but a person is swept away where there is no justice." Proverbs 13:23Through this effort orphans will learn how to grow food for themselves and others. This will help prepare them for the lifelong task of earning a living as they become adults and pursue self-support. These are just some of the goals which the missionaries and Hope Seeds gladly work on together. A container with many types of seeds for food and numerous species for land development and crop improvements was prepared specifically for them. We are excited about this new connection to yet another ministry in Africa. |
 Mary Jo Almonor Agr. Center Manager |
Victory Gardens HAITI—Living Hope Mission of Cap Haitien, Haiti, has been a partner with Hope Seeds for over two years. Our work together involves distribution of seed to small farmers and agrinoms (an agricultural technician, usually representing the church) through an agricultural store owned and managed by the ministry. The manager of the store is a very capable Haitian woman named Mary Jo Almonor (see photo) who is trained in many aspects of agricultural and animal husbandry. Several seminars have been held at Living Hope over the past two years, and Hope Seeds has been handing out sample packets of seed each time. Recently, Meg Merzillus (Wilbert and Meg Merzillus are the managers of the Living Hope Mission) was given a victory story to share with us, and now we share it with you. During one of our seminars at Living Hope Mission in 2001, tomato seeds of a superior variety were handed out to farmers. |
One of these farmers was selling some tomatoes, a very nice sample of tomatoes, at a local store where Meg happened to be shopping. The farmer began to tell everyone around him that this is the woman from Living Hope Mission who brought the seed man to Cap Haitien, and who gave him the good seed. Meg was given the opportunity to invite other farmers, whom she had never met, to come to Living Hope Mission for some seeds and Good News—Jesus plants seeds too! Agriculture is a great tool to tell hungry people about the Bread of Life. This will help prepare them for the lifelong task of earning a living as they become adults and pursue self-support. These are just some of the goals which the Grimes and Hope Seeds gladly work on together. A container with many types of seeds for food and numerous species for land development and crop improvements was prepared specifically for them. We are excited about this new connection to yet another ministry in Africa. |
Oh, if Plants could talk, the stories they could tell.
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Hyssop (latin:hyssopus) "Knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was used to soak a sponge which was then placed on a Hyssop plant and lifted up to Jesus’ lips. When He had received the drink, Jesus again said, ‘It is finished.’ With that He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (John 19:28–30) In the final moments of Christ’s suffering on the cross, part of a plant was used to fulfill the prophesy which had been foretold (Psalm 69:21). The stalk of the Hyssop plant has a very strong stem which may reach a length of six feet. It would have been readily available to the soldiers managing the cruxifiction of Jesus. The plant species referred to here is the Sorghum Vulgare and is most often referred to in Palestine as ‘Jerusalem Corn’ or ‘dhura.’ This type of grain was commonly grown in Jesus’ times and it is still grown today. The plant is also useful for making baskets and panniers, as well as for producing a very useful grain for livestock feed. The Hyssop plant in these verses is not of the same species mentioned in Exodus 12:21-22, Leviticus 14:4 or Psalm 51:7. These references are to a plant which is in the mint family, a low-growing bushy plant with fragrant leaves, a strong stem and small golden flowers. |
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Moses instructed the people of Israel to use this plant to sprinkle lambs blood on the door posts before the night the Lord’s angel visited the homes of Egypt and took the lives of the first born (Exodus 12:21). The discrepancy between two different plants being given the same name may simply be a misinterpretation of two very similar words in the ancient text. The word Hyssos means ‘javelin’ and could have been easily confused for Hyssopus by scholars over the years. The possible use of the Hyssop mentioned in Exodus for the purpose of hoisting a sponge of wine to the lips of Christ is not likely. So it seems the Hyssos, or javelin-like stem of the dhura grain, is much more likely. Some scholars propose the possibility that the Hyssop plant mentioned in Exodus 12 was used in the cruxifiction by attaching a plant on a stick, or spear, with the sponge, giving it an aromatic incentive. In the Bible, the connection between the two plants is of great meaning to the season of Lent. Just as the Old Testament Hyssop was useful for the sprinkling of lambs blood to save the first born, the Hyssos plant was useful for serving the first born Son of God, the Lamb whose blood was shed to save us. Both plants are connected to the salvation of God’s people. |
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 A Gardner at Living Hope in Cap Hatien, Haiti |
Water the Garden |
