The BEST things take time … This is true in everything that is worth doing. We come from a culture and society that tells us, “We can have what we want …RIGHT NOW!” To a certain extent, thanks to credit cards and banks, that is true. On the other hand, we come to truly appreciate and value the things that we have to work for.
People ask us all the time, “Why do your interns have to stay and work on the farm and in the church for 1 year? Wouldn’t a 2-3 week training course be enough?” No it wouldn’t. Because at Narrow Gate Asia want to reinforce the importance of responsibility, ownership, and commitment. When we make the choice to “enter through the Narrow Gate” we are making a commitment to Jesus that we are going to follow and obey Him as our Lord and Savior. This Narrow way is a “one-way path” and Jesus makes a commitment to us that he will give us Life and Life Abundantly when we too are committed to Him. He is not going to go back on His promise, so why should we? In the internship programs for pastors and church leaders, we want to see this sense of commitment applied to our student’s spiritual life, family life, church life, and farm life. By completing a one year internship at Narrow Gate Farm and Dairy, our interns are earning equity in livestock to start and develop their own farm business, and experience to plant church’s and see God’s Kingdom grow.
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| Abandoned Goats |
Just the other day, we saw an example of why long term commitment is more effective than short-term gains.
A man came to our farm last week saying that he had “Milk Goats for sale”, and he lived about 5km away. I was a bit skeptical because I do not know of any other local dairies. So with pretty low expectations, we got in the truck to go and see what he had. Turns out, two months ago, he was given 9 goats from a large livestock development program in central Thailand. The purpose of the program is to develop and provide improved stocks to impoverished and needy farmers who will raise them and develop their own farms and businesses. To my amazement, these 9 goats represent some of the best Sanaan and Toggenberg breeding stock available to farmers in Thailand. To my disappointment, these fine animals have been tied to the columns of a parking garage in the middle of a vacant field and have received little or no care since the man received them. Now, he is in a situation where he has to sell the animals because he cannot care for them. We offered him a fair price for the animals that he received for free, and we are now in the process of transitioning them to our herd.
I am sure that when he applied to this program, he intended to raise them and start a farm, but this is a situation that we see often in programs where aid is given for free. By earning equity in livestock over time, our interns adopt a sense of pride of ownership, and an understanding that being shepherd of a flock is a long term commitment.
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| Goats in new home under the care of a new Shepherd! |
At Narrow Gate Asia, we are continuing to grow and develop all the time. As such, there are a number of needs that you can help us pray for, that will go towards missionary support, ministry development, an continued growth of our Bi-vocational training programs.
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| The Brittan Family |
In addition, other specific needs include:
- Development of an office & receiving area for guests and trainees at our farm project. ($6,000 usd)
- Construction of new barn for housing expansion of production goat herd for Pastor Career Distribution Program. ($5,000 usd)
- Purchase of Milking Machine ($2,000 usd)
God Bless, and thank you for your prayers and support.
In His Grip
Harry, Pattie, Hattie, Emma, Harry V, and Nellie.
Send Letters and Tax Deductible Contributions to: Narrow Gate Asia
P.O. Box 260275
Plano, TX 75026-0275 USA
Please use this link to go direct to PayPal:
Contact us on Facebook, or at hbrittan@narrowgateasia.org
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