rainy season ramblings

Even though it is rainy season here, the past week has been sunny and hot. We expect the rains to come fast and furious again soon. 

In the meantime, here's a glimpse in to our world after a deluge hits. The rains come quickly and dump more than you can imagine in a short time. But ah...the smell as the storm rolls in and the way everything is lush and brilliantly green after...

Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase,

and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Leviticus 26:4

 

Puddles everywhere. Much to my messy children's delight. Thank goodness we put a foot washing station on our porch...they often have to hose off before entering the house.

The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. Deuteronomy 28:12

The farm is currently growing some different vegetables to see what kind of markets we can open between strawberry crops. Also we use the vegetables for our workers lunches. Recently one of our workers reported she has been feeling much healthier from eating the nutritious food we serve and from strengthening her muscles in daily labor. 

And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; 

for there is a sound of abundance of rain. I Kings 18:41

New plants went in to the ground the end of January. We are already beginning to harvest a few fruits. Below our mangers Ameck and Moses install water meters under the tunnels to keep track of soil temperature and water levels for the tender young plants.

For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. Job 36:27-28

We had a successful first harvest from one of our blackberry varieties. They are under tunnel of course so they escape the damaging rains. Our stellar jam team was able to produce blackberry jam and then our amazing marketing team was able to locate regular markets for it.

He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: 

as showers that water the earth. Psalm 72:6

The oranges continue to grow. There is nothing like the scent of orange blossoms heavy with morning dew warmed by the rising sun. (check out that minuscule baby orange growing below!)

Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous   Isaiah 30:23

Gooseberry fields after a night of rain

The beautiful husk of a gooseberry.

Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. Proverbs 25:14

First fruits from the tunneled everbear strawberries. 

Holding the education of a future Zambian leader in the palm of a hand.

This past weekend, some of our ladies marched in town for International Women's Day.

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Matthew 7:25

Another fun filled school day!

Car time craziness!

Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. Acts 14:17

oh the joy of a new rope swing

water slide action shots

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, 

but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give 

seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, 

but it shall accomplish that which I please, 

and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11

May rain from His word

renew your hope as you allow 

Him to reign in your life.