A group of young mothers sit huddled around a cell phone in a darkened room. It is early afternoon, their children are playing outside; while they binge watch their favorite Korean drama. Their husbands work diligently in construction, maintenance, and gardening at PAMAS throughout the day. Seeking an escape from the drudgery of their daily lives, the wives submerge themselves in the fictional lives of TV characters. The darkness I feel upon entering their room is not just physical but seems to underscore a deeper mental, spiritual, and emotional condition. I begin to pray earnestly for God to pierce the darkness that pervades this place.
In answer to my prayers, God called me out of my comfort zone. He compelled me to move from my comfortable home into a temporary home on the compound where the workers were living. I had no peace until I obeyed. Together each day, the women and I became united in faith, prayer, and bible study.
Shortly thereafter, I had the opportunity to attend the first FARM STEW training of trainers event in the Philippines. PAMAS has partnered with FARM STEW, a community education and development program designed to help bring freedom from poverty, hunger, and disease to underserved and impoverished communities. As I sat in the lectures, I realized that the practical information I was learning had the potential to transform lives. Arriving home, the ladies and I began weekly FARM STEW lessons. We focused on practical skills such as budgeting and gardening.
One of the most transformative tools we introduced was the Crown Financial Money Map included in the FARM STEW education manual. These young mothers were struggling with debt and lacked basic budgeting skills. The money map is engaging and fun with object lessons and activities at the beginning of each lesson. It consists of 10 lessons. Each lesson has a story about Henry and his family. The ladies looked forward to the stories because they could readily identify with Henry’s problems with money management. As a direct result of this training, they learned to identify the difference between basic needs and wants. Disciplining themselves to work within their budget has been transformative. They have begun to understand the power they have to help their families financially by managing their money properly.
FARM STEW seeks to address the hunger problem by encouraging each family to plant a small kitchen garden. The foods grown are carefully calculated to address some of the most prevalent nutrient deficiencies amongst the poor. The ladies enthusiastically embraced the challenge of starting their own kitchen garden. Where previously they were trapped in darkness, wandering aimlessly through each day, now, they and their children delight in the natural beauty of the garden. They find great pleasure in watching their gardens mature. Each blossom and fruit is joyfully greeted. The gardens are thriving, providing fresh, nutritious vegetables for their families. Seeing their gardens flourish and knowing that they have gained a sense of accomplishment and self-reliance is truly heartening.
… they were trapped in darkness, wandering aimlessly through each day, now, they and their children delight in the natural beauty of the garden …
Reflecting on this journey fills me with gratitude to God for the positive changes we’ve achieved. From our initial prayers to the thriving gardens and improved financial stability, the transformation in these women’s lives underscores the power of faith and practical education.
Having experienced first hand the transformation that a community education program such as FARM STEW is able to bring, I am so grateful that PAMAS has partnered with FARM STEW. I cannot wait to see this program spread throughout the Philippines bringing light to areas that are currently trapped in proverbial darkness.
