“That word isn’t in our vocabulary, since as God’s servants we can never retire from serving Him,” explained Tony. “So we see this chance as refocusing while we are still able to serve in this way.”

On April 20, this couple from Chatham, Ontario arrived in Mwandi District, Zambia. They are assisting with World Renew’s drought mitigation programs, which are carried out in partnership with the United Church of Zambia and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB). The warm ocean currents of El Niño have resulted in flooding in some countries, but Zambia is one of the many countries where it has led to severe drought. Poor rainfall has led to reduced water availability for people and livestock, widespread crop failure, significantly reduced planted areas, and increased rates of field abandonment. Many families started to sell their goats and livestock just to have enough money to buy the bare necessities.

Tony and Mary both bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to their IRM roles, including seven years of serving in Haiti.

World Renew’s drought response programs in Zambia have been ongoing since July 2015. The DeKoters are helping to oversee and manage the logistics and budget of the food assistance programs underway through local partners. These programs are designed to provide families with healthy food and other resources they need to stay strong during this crisis.

Tony and Mary both bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to their IRM roles, including seven years of serving in Haiti. Tony was the elementary principal of Quisqueya Christian School and Mary was a volunteer nurse at various orphanages and clinics. It was in Haiti that the DeKoters connected with Toni and George Fernhout, who were serving as World Renew IRMs after the hurricane in 2008 and again after the devastating 2010 earthquake. The Fernhouts encouraged them to apply as IRMs, which they did. When they learned about the need in Zambia, they expressed their willingness to go—and within a matter of weeks they were on their way. They are scheduled to return home in early August.

“Pray for wisdom and insight for us, for pray rains to return so the farmers and their families can grow strong crops again."

“Our backgrounds as administrator and nurse give us many of the skills needed to keep record of the program,” said Tony. “Our time in Haiti and the experience of a Food Security Tour in Nicaragua with the CFGB have given us good insights into how people live in developing countries. We learned that we can’t transplant our ways upon theirs, but must see their historical cultural background.”

World Renew’s programs in Zambia include food for work activities, which allow community members to identify a common project that they will work together on in exchange for the food relief. Projects can range from the construction of teachers houses and a pre-school to widening and repairing local roads.  Food is provided monthly to 2,500 households. Community members have also had an active role in carrying out food distributions and the drilling of boreholes to help with the chronic water shortage.

The DeKoters are involved in school breakfast programs in nine schools. School gardens have been developed to produce enough maize and groundnuts for children to continue to eat a daily meal of maize, peanut butter and sugar porridge for the school year. This is often the only food students will get outside of one small meal at home, so it goes a long way in ensuring they have the calories they need for physical activity and learning. With the drought conditions, many parents cannot afford to both feed their children adequately and also send them to school. As a result, children are often pulled out of class. By providing children with a meal, this program will lessen the burden, so that more children can receive the education they need to build a strong future.

As Tony and Mary begin their IRM journey, they covet the prayers of their congregation at Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Chatham, and the prayers of God’s people around the world.

“Pray for wisdom and insight for us, for pray rains to return so the farmers and their families can grow strong crops again. Pray also for government leaders, and that the nations that have enough will continue to share of their abundance with those lacking the necessities of daily living,” said Tony.

“We are resting in the words of Proverbs 3:5,6: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and he shall direct your paths.”