After more than five years, we have finally decided to officially open our project (and the accompanying nursery). We felt that there is now enough to "look at" to "open".... ;-)
The preparations were VERY intensive, especially because we only had a few weeks. Inviting government officials and other important guests, informing and inviting newspapers and TV, preparing food, shady places (very important!), decoration, music, signs and other stuff etc... But a lot of people helped and in the end it turned out to be a really nice celebration! Our director from America was also there, and there were (as usual at festivals ;-) many speeches, but also a good local music group.
Afterwards, everyone (more than 350 guests!) went together to the grounds (the festival itself was on the football field next to the farm grounds). The guests were very amazed when they saw what the farm looked like - it is very unusual to see so much green in our region. We sat together in the shade, ate, and talked about how God has helped us to develop all this.
At the end there were guided tours for the guests, where they were shown around the farm and told why we do what we do. They were all very impressed!
The challenges of farming in Tanzania are great. Please pray that we can reach out to more people - also through this festival - so that the answers offered by gospel-based sustainable agriculture can reach as many people as possible!
