2020 has just finished… For some of us it already felt like it did when covid-19 struck: freedom restrictions, holidays canceled, uncertainty…
At the beginning of 2020, we believed The Lord provided ‘marching orders’ through the Bible Scriptures, which we summarized as the guiding principle for the year:
“Expect to be fruitful and walk in faith”
(referring to bible verses in John 15, about pruning and growing,
as well as Revelations, about opened and closed doors)
This newflash main theme is perspective. 2020 has turned out to be the year of our collective pruning. So many things we took for granted, ceased to exist for the moment: working together in the office, traveling the world, occasional shopping, visiting friends and family…even a simple hug was suddenly ‘not done’…
This collective pruning did reveal our perspective on our own lives, our desires, our drives. What hurt you the most this year? It must be the personal relationships being strained. Limiting contact and keeping distance instead of visits and hugging. This feels like serious pruning. However, surely it did provide a new perspective. A new and deeper insight in your own heart.
Doors closing or getting stuck, even despite our efforts to open them, has a profound impact on people and gives insight into your own heart. That’s new perspective too. And then, when doors eventually open, the new perspective is refreshing.
2020 has been a turbulent year. Some colleagues, some of them were with us for more than 25 years, found a new workplace. We welcomed some great new colleagues, who had to be onboarded during the ‘first COVID-19 wave’, sometimes even while working from home.
Nuts2’s shares have been put into a foundation, a desire that became reality -providing even more confirmation that Nuts2 does not just work for profit, but for the sustainable impact on the lives of others-. Again a new perspective.
Dealing with COVID-19 prevention measures, we had to change the work setting in the factories in Africa, allowing for social distancing, resulting in the implementation of shifts to allow all employees to continue to have an income, and ensuring that the planned processing volumes are reached. Our operation has continued to run and this open door gave our business and it’s employees a great perspective.
Many of the local employees, who were relying on public transport, were forced to come to work on foot and with the help of various sponsors, we’ve been able to provide 1.400 of them with bicycles; a whole new perspective!
From South Africa, we have exported 4.000 young pecan trees, for distribution among (mainly) smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe and Zambia, providing them with good perspective for their living income long term.
And now 2020 has come to an end. Whilst so much changed, one did not: God! He did not change. Christmas reminded us that God is in control; He did and will not forget His creation and He is faithfull. The end of each year passing into a entirely new year, often is a time to be still, to reflect on doors which got shut, doors which were opened, pruning processes that took place, growth that was seen. Which perspective does this offer to you?
We pray that you will see how Jesus helped you throughout this turbulent year called 2020, and that also this letter helps you to keep perspective. Because that was the promise that we started the year with:
“Expect to be fruitful and walk in faith”
The new year is already a week old. Time continues to fly and it proves how precious time is.
For 2021 we have written:
Knowing The Lord God is knowing His Compassionate heart.
Knowing His heart is knowing His ways.
There is a (new) way, find it !
Wishing you all the best for 2021 ! We look forward to keep you posted on the activities of our company and celebrate the successes with you this coming year.
