Our Sheep farm: Not to Be

What to do after retirement?

 

It is the question everyone asks, and while my wife and I have decided to work within our church to help people recovering from divorce, and with a local Christian camp on several levels; those are local Christian Outreaches. The Pastor of our church wants his congregation to act "Glocally" which is Local AND Globally. After talking at length today with Leslie and Suzanne Yoder; founder and CEO of Ag Connect Ministries in Pennsylvania, as well as a lot of prayer these past few weeks; we know God wants us to take the knowledge that we have in raising sheep and bring it to the people of Moldova.

If you do not know where Moldova is, do not feel bad, no one does.

It is tucked between Romania and the Ukraine and is the poorest nation in Europe. The average worker makes $5 a day, and a great paying job will net a Moldovian $300 a month, though the cost of living is the highest in Europe so filling up your car will consume 1/3 of it. The unemployment rate alone is at 60% making it more poor than most African Nations. However they have the best soil in the world, yet due to socialist ways for decades, do not know how to farm it. A case in point is that they dump their animal manure into the municipal dump because they do not know it can help them raise their crops. I did not feel qualified to help in this endeavor until I was told that.

 

However serving God in Moldova will be a sacrifice upon our end as our dream has always been to have a larger sheep farm. However I know for now that is not what God wants. I wanted to do a local adult education class on sheep farming, but God said no rather plainly. Upon reflection I see that the people in the US have ample resources for information; the Moldovan people...not so much. Katie and I want to help people, locally and globally, and while there is nothing inherently wrong with having a large farm, we would much rather help others across the world who are struggling with their flocks of sheep thrive; with a profitable sheep farm, and with the understanding that Jesus loves them.

Les suggested we go and visit Moldova in May when the country is at its spring prime and when lambing season has begun. At first we were disappointed the date to go was so far out, but upon reflection also know that times passes quickly and we need to get a lot of stuff done before any of this can happen. It will only be a 2 week trip then, and the Lord willing, after that, perhaps 3-5 times a year. It is a lot of commitment, however Katie and I are committed to being "Glocal" Christians, at our home church, at Fair Haven Camps, and soon for the people of Moldova.

Please pray for us as we prepare to combine our love of agriculture, of sheep, and the love of Jesus and intertwine it with the Gospel message.

Our Sheep farm: Not to Be