More Trees

We received another delivery of trees from ECHO this past weekend. This shipment contained 175 temperate fruit trees: apples, peaches, plums, figs, persimmons, etc. I owe a big THANK YOU to students from the Taylor University J-term class who are here teaching English and experiencing Ethiopian life for 2 weeks. They generously gave up their Sunday afternoon to help me get all these bare-rooted trees labeled and into soil. I think they had fun doing it, too. A verse was even added to their ongoing theme song in my honor!

The trees from our first shipment are really starting to take off now that the evenings are warming up and we're past the winter solstice. Today Mohammad, the farm manager, and I planted 2 passionfruit vines in the ground.

I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

~ John 15: 1-5