A recollection of The United Methodist Church’s development of agriculture and education in Zimbabwe over the past 30 years would be incomplete without mentioning Larry and Jane Kies.
Starting in 1994, the two United Methodist Board of Global Ministries missionaries, who retired in June, played a pivotal role at the church’s Nyadire Mission and Africa University. They provided invaluable knowledge to students and ensured church land was well utilized and realized its full potential.
“During Larry’s time as farm manager at Nyadire, the farm was revived and served the local community with products such as meat, milk, yogurt — and even as far as Mutoko center, about 22 kilometers (14 miles) away,” said the retired Rev. George S. Magamba. “The farm ended up supplying beef to Harare (about 140 kilometers, or 87 miles away).” Magamba served as Mutoko Mudzi district superintendent from 2000 to 2005.
“(Larry) Kies made Nyadire community life cheaper by providing affordable farm produce,” Magamba added. “He was easy to work with; he was open to new ideas and worked together with the local community in a manner that encouraged development. His wife, Jane, was very supportive to the work of her husband.”
Larry and Jane married in 1986, and their four children were born in Africa — Ben and Andrew Pule in Botswana, Carly Nyasha and Michael Simbarashe in Zimbabwe.
Larry and Jane Kies left Nyadire in 2001 so that Larry could assist in improving the productivity of the Africa University farm in Zimbabwe. As an agriculture lecturer and technical advisor, he was tasked with helping the farm develop so that it could provide hands-on learning to students in agriculture and other careers.
Kies said he loved helping students gain skills and confidence during class and overcome their fears, handling chicks, piglets and even big cattle. He treasured seeing students’ faces light up when they drove a tractor for the first time and savored the joy of harvesting a crop produced by their own hands.
“Also rewarding,” he said, “is seeing former students become successful in their vocations and later becoming colleagues. Especially encouraging is to hear from those who have felt called to ‘feed the hungry’ (as mandated in Matthew 25) by becoming missionaries, promoting agricultural development in foreign countries.”
“Since part of our roles here involved traveling in the U.S. to promote the university, I cherish the deep friendships formed during those trips, and am thankful that I could serve as a bridge for people in the USA who wanted to support students with scholarships, and the development of the AU Farm.”
Although he said he is uncertain about his retirement journey, he is confident in God’s guidance.
Jane Knox Kies, the eldest in a family of four girls, was born in Ndola, Zambia. “I have a Scottish/English heritage,” she said, “so I spent some of my early years living in the UK and most in Zambia and Botswana.
“I always knew I wanted to live and serve God in Africa,” she continued. “After university, I taught in a small mission school in Uganda and loved it. After more training, I applied to go back to Botswana, where I met Larry. We had a shared faith in God and a love for Africa, so working in agriculture and education within the church alongside others seemed very natural.”
About the major highlights of her service at Nyadire Mission and Africa University, Jane Kies said, “I am very thankful for so much interaction with young people. At Nyadire, the Scripture Union camps gave us the opportunity to spend time with students outside the classroom. We were also raising our own children, so it was an educational experience for us all. We certainly felt loved and cared for by the mission community.
She said working with colleagues teaching intensive English at Africa University was a highlight. “I learned so much. The students were vibrant in their diversity. Our classes would sometimes consist of students from as many as six or more different African countries.
“I believe Africa will always be our home, though we may make a home elsewhere. We value our friendships with people both in the church and community. Memories of our children growing up in Botswana and Zimbabwe are mostly happy ones. There were, of course, many challenges and lots of tears.
“We will always get excited about sharing sadza and nyama (stiff cornmeal porridge served with beef) with Zimbabweans. We’ve been fortunate to explore many beautiful places in southern Africa. God asks us all to plant seeds. He sends the rain, and I’m thankful for the ways he has allowed us to serve him so far,” she said.
excerpt from a story by Eveline Chikwanah, correspondent for UM News based in Harare, Zimbabwe.The Advance is the accountable, designated-giving arm of The United Methodist Church. The Advance invites contributors to designate support for projects related to the General Board of Global Ministries. Individuals, local churches, organizations, districts and annual conferences may donate to The Advance. One hundred percent of every gift to The Advance goes to the project selected by the giver. Gifts to missionaries support the entire missionary community.
