Letter 70 - She Waited Until The End of the War To Take Action!
Hello Bregdan Woman!
Ginny here…
Bregdan Women can be found in every area of the world. You’ll meet hundreds of them in the coming months!
My college degree is in Outdoor/Environmental Education. For as long as I can remember, nature and trees have been the source of my greatest joy and my greatest comfort. When I was young, I spent countless hours reading books at the top of an eighty-foot oak tree that looked out over my neighborhood and the woods behind it. That tree was my best friend!
I am constantly inspired by Bregdan Women who are determined to do their part in protecting and restoring our world. Lydia Chabata, from Zimbabwe, is one of those women.
She was just a child when she realized there was a problem.
“Father, there is something terribly wrong with the trees.”
“Yes, Lydia, the forests are mourning their losses.”
“What can we do to comfort them?”
“It is not for us to know at this moment, Lydia. We must remain open so we will hear when we are given the answer.”
You might find this conversation odd, but it wasn’t for Lydia.
Lydia was raised in a family of Mediums - respected religious leaders in her Zimbabwean community. They were close to nature and promoted an ecological world view long before it was popular or deemed necessary.
Knowing that something was amiss, Lydia followed her father’s advice and listened closely. She watched. She learned. She heard the answer.
And then she waited for more than fifteen years.
Zimbabwe, a small country in Southern Africa, had a vicious Civil War from 1965 – 1980.
In a country of 15,000,000, millions died from HIV.
Millions more died from drought, malnutrition, and starvation.
In the midst of all the tragedy, Zimbabwe lost woodland at an alarming rate.
Clearing the land for cultivation was the main reason for the deforestation. Another major reason was the need for wood as fuel. Zimbabwe’s rural population depends on wood as fuel for cooking, lighting, and heating. Acute shortages of firewood rose at an alarming rate.
After fifteen long years, the brutal Civil War finally ended. The acting president was ousted.
It was time for the people of Zimbabwe to rebuild their country – as well as their lives.
Lydia’s time had come. She had bided her time during all the death and destruction. She had dreamed of the time she could work to heal her country. She had gained influence as a Medium during the dark time. She studied and learned.
Armed with knowledge, she was ready to take action.
Deforestation has devastating effects on animal life as well as plant life. These in turn affect the humans living in the area.
Lydia explains: “Domesticated animals (cattle and goats) began dying in large numbers – they were unable to find enough grass because the land was becoming barren. Also, the wild animals (baboons) were killing the goats at a disturbing rate because they were no longer getting fruit from indigenous trees. The animals were getting fewer because the trees became fewer.”
Lydia knew there was no time to waste. Drawing on her powerful influence as a Medium, she formed AZTREC – the Association of Zimbabwean Traditional Ecologists to mobilize others like herself. Their one aim was to protect and rehabilitate the environment.
Lydia was thoughtful and deliberate in her approach.
Combining the influence of the religious leaders of AZTREC with the political authority of traditional chiefs, Lydia impressed upon them the need to “reclothe” the environment by planting indigenous trees.
That wasn’t enough, however. Many tree species had been lost in the destruction of their forests. She was determined to bring them back.
Through her pioneering experiments she accomplished something previously thought impossible – she successfully germinated indigenous trees! Wow!
The implications of what she achieved are huge!
By creating nurseries of indigenous trees and then replanting, AZTREC is providing hope and sustainability for Zimbabwe’s forests and her people. Not only do these trees have the potential of providing desperately needed firewood; they also provide indigenous fruit (for the wildlife) and traditional medicines used by the rural people. All of this helps restore the ecological balance that is so threatened.
Now it was time to teach the people how to care for the forests they so relied on.
Working with individual communities, Lydia explained why reforestation is so important. She taught how to plant trees, how to care for them, and how to use them appropriately. Once the community understood and committed to their individualized plan, Lydia helped access the government’s resources to help the community achieve their goals.
AZTREC then distributed seedlings from their seven nurseries to the community for planting.
Lydia continued on from community to community.
Lydia’s program successfully planted more than 700,000 trees in Zimbabwe’s drought-prone areas.
The nation mourned when she passed away, but she left behind a legacy that will last for all of time!
Though Lydia is no longer alive, AZTREC is still thriving and planting trees – providing jobs for women throughout Zimbabwe.
Lydia saw a need and used her influence to address a very important issue in her country. Because she was respected, people listened and acted on her wise counsel.
Did you know that you have influence? You do.
Regardless of your age, there are people who are watching you and taking note of what you do and say.
Remember the Bregdan Principle… Every life that has been lived until today is part of the woven braid of life. It takes every person’s story to create history.
Are you influencing others in a good way? Are you showing others how to live strong and good and true by your example?
I hope you will be like Lydia and choose to use your influence in positive and beneficial ways. There’s no reason why you can’t.
And countless reasons why you should!
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What will you do to be a Bregdan Woman?
What will you do today to impact history??
We’re on this journey with you… (and have 2 FREE Gifts for you below…)
Ginny & Suess
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