Dear Grassroots Heroes,
As you know, the villagers at Grippis Farm have been squatters for 40 years. In 2005, the owner gave the land they live on to the government designated for these villagers. There have been many delays, including court cases, corruption, etc. The biggest problem they encountered was that the government was going to charge them a very high price to purchase the land. None of them could afford it. I just got word today that the government changed its mind, and the villagers are now being given the land, but will make monthly payments well within their means.112 plots have already been allocated! Praise God! He answered their prayers. Thanks to all of you who prayed for this situation. God opened the hearts of the government to make this concession! Thank you to those of you who have been praying for Mr. Sachika, the Vice Chairman of the Village, as he stood in the gap for the villagers, and pressed for justice and mercy for them. If you would like to send him a note of thanks or affirmation, you can email it to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
I also learned that the land that the school is currently built on has been sold to a private owner (It was not included in the tract of land given to the community). That means that the well we put in will no longer be on the school land. The new owner has agreed verbally to drill a new well for the school and community on the new land designated for the school. Let us pray that he follows through on his word! How exciting it is to watch God open doors and make a way where there is no way visible to our own eyes!
School is back in session, and thanks to your continued support, they were able to purchase all the school supplies they needed for their final term of this school year. The children continue to be blessed by your love and generosity - without you they would still be illiterate and hopeless! May God richly bless you for all that you are doing for them. The challenge for the school right now is for the Ministry of Education to issue them a certificate of registration as a Community School. The problem for the Ministry of Education is affording the transportation costs for their employees to get to the village - which would amount to less than $20. They are not allowed to accept donations for this purpose, so we are not able to help. God can make a way! Let's keep praying for the process to move foward.
The mission team forming to go to Grippis next summer plans to build proper concrete block classrooms on the new land for the school. The cost of the materials is $25 per square foot. If you would like to go to Zambia to help build the buildings, email Carol Fanelli at info@we'reallgodschildren.org, or to contribute to the cost of the buildings, please log onto www.grassrootsheroes.org to make your contribution, or mail a check to Grassroots Heroes, P.O. Box 10 , Mint Spring, VA. 24463. You could purchase a 4X4 foot section of classroom for only $100! Be sure to designate your contributions for this purpose if that is what you want to help with.
Here are some of God's promises, from Isaiah 58, which apply to the help you are giving these dear, oppressed people.
"If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land, and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
You Are Making A Difference In the Lives of 1,000 people who lvie in Grippis Farm!
Tanya Brenneman