Life Connection Ministries (LCM) is excited to announce a strategic partnership with The Mission Society. Elliot and Katherine Stotler will be working with LCM heading up our South Africa operations as we continue to grow. With the Stotler's in place, this will help LCM accomplish our long term vision which is providing spiritual food, natural food and economic development. Elliott and Katherine are appointed to develop educational, agricultural, and economic empowerment ministries and build relationships with the people of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. In one of the more impoverished areas of the country, Elliott and Katherine will be supporting a preschool, furthering agricultural programs including hydroponics, leading job skills training and micro-enterprise development, as well as encouraging local pastors. They are also interested in eventually engaging in ministry to orphans of HIV/AIDS, hospice care for HIV/AIDS, and youth development. They have three children - their son Cason will be joining them in ministry in South Africa, and Emily and Ryan will remain in the U.S. for college.

Website Links:
Mission Society Page
http://www.themissionsociety.org/people/Stotler
Stotler Family Blog
http://stotlersinafrica.blogspot.com/

New for 2009, LCM has converted some land into a soccer field and a basketball court. This project will give local children a place to enjoy participating in athletic activities. The kids had a great time when they were given basketballs and soccer balls to use on the new court and field.

We have some very exciting news to share with you. After much prayer and research we have decided to expand Life Connection Ministries into Haiti. The need in Haiti is very real and we feel that we can make a difference there also. We had the privilege to accompany a medical relief team called, Haiti Help Med Plus, a non-profit 501C3 headed by Dr. Ralph Gousse in December 2008. He travels to Haiti twice a month to perform free clinic services in the back country of Miragoane and Paillant, Haiti. We would love to partner with them to help complete construction of the clinic that was damaged during the most recent hurricanes to hit that country in 2008. Click here to see images from Haiti.

The Austin Hufton Training Center was a vision realize for many people. Life Connection Ministries is committed to the economic empowerment of the people of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. This new facility has been furnished with new computers and state of the art sewing machines. Our vision is to provide the necessary training in these basic skills so that we can combat the 67% unemployment rate facing the people of the area. We have entered into partnership in principle with the Esayidi Fet College, Port Shepstone Campus to provide the training at no cost to the local residents. This type of collaborative effort with the local department of education will provide a great resource in this fight against unemployment. Thanks again for your support! Just remember "Together we are Making a Difference"

We just wanted to drop you a note to explain how your contributions this year to LCM were used. With the starvation rate of the people in Mzamba increasing, what better way to help than to provide the community with vegetables through a HYDROPONIC GREENHOUSE WITH PASSIVE SUB-IRRIGATION. What's that, you say? Well, here is some information that you may find interesting:

• While removing soil-grown crops from the ground effectively kills them, hydroponically grown crops such as lettuce are still alive, greatly increasing the length of freshness.
• -Over and under-watering is prevented.
• -Hydroponics is often the best crop production method in remote areas that lack suitable soils.
• -No soil is required.
• -Soil borne diseases are virtually eliminated.
• -Weeds are virtually eliminated.
• -Fewer pesticides may be required for the above two reasons
• -Edible crops are not contaminated with soil.
• -Water use can be substantially less than with soil grown crops.
• -Hydroponics cost 20% less than other ways because fertilization is re-used.
• -Maintenance for hydroponics is relatively low.
• -It provides the plant with balanced nutrition because the essential nutriets are dissolved into the water-soluble nutrient solution
• -The plants will be healthier.
• -Vegetable plants such as spinach will last longer while in the medium.

Life Connection Ministries welcomes John and Suzy Nicholas as its newest members to our Board of Directors.

For the past few years the Nicholas' have been working diligently with the mission teams coordinating our efforts in South Africa. John and Suzy reside in Port Edward, South Africa and are committed to providing both spiritual and practical support to the people of the Eastern Cape.

We recognize that in order for the ministry to continue to grow, we needed to have someone in South Africa who on a daily basis can support the work, encourage and strengthen the people.

With the Nicholas' on the team we are able to keep the "pulse" of the local area, thereby helping us to be more effective in the work that we do.

Both John and Suzy have served in varies ministries over the years, they own a successful business and have two wonderful children. We are truly blessed at Life Connection Ministries to have John and Suzy Nicholas on our Board.