Farm to Flourish – Even Better in Person!
When I initially applied to different fellows programs, I researched each one in a ridiculous amount of detail. Although I could not jump through my screen to experience each church, job placement, class, or cohort in person (as I would’ve liked to), the research process did help me understand the breadth of opportunities offered to me. I chose Greensboro largely because of Church of the Redeemer and the heart that this congregation has for cross-cultural integration. And that initial observation has proven itself to be true throughout this year! Oftentimes, a website can make an organization appear different from how it actually is. It can create a false sense of sincerity or increased effort put towards a project that does not reflect the day-to-day experience. The farm at COTR, however, and its various initiatives, is even more wonderful than I had predicted while browsing through the church website. When I shared with friends and family last year my thoughts about joining this fellows program, I mentioned that I was hopeful to serve with opportunities like the Ikaze Program and Farm to Flourish. I didn’t really know what I was talking about, but I had seen them on the website, and they looked interesting to me. It took a bit of settling in and connecting with the right people before we fully got involved, but I am so grateful to share that it has become one of the sweetest and most rewarding parts of my – and others’ – fellows experience.
On the website, Farm to Flourish is described as “provid[ing] practical farm training, discipleship, and income opportunities for some of these amazing East African youth,” who “are a vital part of our farm community, and we love flourishing with them!” This is incredibly true, but mere words (those quoted above or my own as I continue in this blog post) cannot fully do it justice. In an attempt to describe how meaningful this partnership has been to me, I will share some special highlights. On Saturdays that we are available, Madi, Caroline, and I have shown up at church (or the Hebbard’s house) with excitement to see what the day would bring. We told ourselves not to get our hopes up, as we desired to have deep connections with the girls that we would be working with. We acknowledged that they had no reason to open up to us or trust us immediately. On one of our first few Saturdays, we met a high school girl who we thought might be harder to connect with due to her initial body language and communication. After a few weeks, however, she quickly became one of the most excited to see us and engaged in conversation about any and all topics. We recently visited her school to watch her perform in a school play, and her reaction to us attending was precious enough to make you cry. She ran up when she saw us arrive and exclaimed, “I can’t believe you guys really came!” Later, she shared more vulnerably that “showing up really matters” to her (as it would to anyone!).
Some Saturdays, it truly is just about working alongside each other and developing a shared experience. Our conversations will range from homework, extracurricular activities, friends, or family, to their encounters with racism and thoughts on ethnic conflict or the struggles of missing beloved friends and family who live thousands of miles away. Although we (as fellows) do not relate directly to their experiences, we try to be thoughtful and curious listeners. We have truly been astonished by the maturity and authenticity that these girls exhibit. It is such an honor to be let into their lives and hear parts of their stories. These talks take place as we dye yarn, weigh seeds, paint bandanas, or do many of the other fun projects that Bethany Hebbard plans for us. We are especially grateful to Bethany for allowing us to join in – with very limited farm/handicraft backgrounds – and learn with the rest of the F2F team. In addition to time with the girls, we have also grown in our own knowledge of plant uses and sustainable ways to make household items with what we can find on our very own church farm.
The best moments at F2F are the hilariously funny or unbelievably kind things that the girls will say to us. They are always urging us to get food first at lunch or are concerned if we are doing okay. They will congratulate us for saying a word right in another language when it is the 30th time they’ve taught us the correct pronunciation. They will laugh when we relate on trivial things like music or tv/movie interests. They will jokingly complain about getting their outfits dirty in the weeds of our more farming-focused days but then carry the heaviest buckets of soil and dig with all their hearts. For me, and I am sure the other fellows would agree, it really has been one of those service opportunities where you receive significantly more than you give. We offer our time and efforts, but we gain refreshingly new perspectives, rich cultural insight, and genuine heartwarming friendship. These girls are strong. They are compassionate. They are deep thinkers. They are creative. They are fun! I will so miss being a part of this group, but I am grateful for the ways that our new friends have shown us unique characteristics of Jesus, and for the way that they love others unconditionally, without certainty that their love will be returned, simply because that is what Jesus does for us.
In our fellows cohort, we have been talking about unity a lot recently. Farm to Flourish has given me a vision for unity that is beautifully simple and Christlike; our F2F girls trust and love us (and each other – they also come from varying backgrounds and countries of origin) because we are one family in the kingdom of heaven. They do not dwell on differences but embrace what we are able to accomplish together. We can all learn from them.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 2:19-22.
With love,
Victoria