We celebrated the launch of the Open Your HeartZ-Z-Z campaign with lots of African music on Sunday, February 15. Pastor Kidd opened with a ­pertinent sermon, after which we heard the story of Rufus and Famela Zulu’s arrival and time with us, and what is going on with their family in Zwedru Liberia. Following the service everyone had the opportunity to see the displays to learn about cocoa farming and the needs of the Zulus and the Zlehs.

The response was wonderful. Thanks to everyone for re-committing yourselves by loving and helping our neighbors near and far! Over $2200 in gifts and pledges were received. This gives us a good start for all that we have planned to do this year to help the Liberian Zulus and Zlehs.

You may be wondering, “Who are the Zlehs?” They are the mother, siblings and niece of Ophelia Zleh, Rufus’s companion. They are still in Ivory Coast where they fled as refugees from Liberia many years ago. They are ready to return to Liberia and establish themselves on the farm that belonged to Ophelia’s grandmother. We recently sent them $500 to pay for their move. Soon we will need to send more to pay for clearing the land (which has become overgrown), seeds and tools for planting. They will need help monthly with food and rent until their farm produces. This is what we did for the Zulu family last year.
The Zulu family is in the next stage. Their farm now produces enough food that we don’t need to send them subsistence payments any more. They are ­preparing to clear more land and start planting cocoa in addition to rice and vegetables. First Robert, Rufus’s father, must go to Ivory Coast to hire an experienced cocoa worker to help him. We will be paying for their expenses on this trip. Then he will need money for help to clear the land, buy the supplies needed for planting cocoa, and possibly help in paying the cocoa worker until they can produce enough food for him as well. Cocoa plants must grow for five years before they produce, but they are productive for many years after that.

In addition we will continue to support the Zulu children’s education. Cephus and Rajackson have one or two more semesters at university and they will most likely finish by the end of this year. Of the other seven, the oldest are only in 8th grade, the youngest in 1st, so we expect to continue for some time with tuition and school uniforms and supplies.
All in all we expect to spend over $7000 this year on this project. Contributions will be gladly received. Use the green (for growth) envelopes in the narthex or send your contribution to the church office marked “Open Your HeartZ-Z-Z.” Other fundraisers are planned for later in the year as well.

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