Embracing the beautiful calling of Country Living (Our Story)

Dear Reader,

We are Benvindo and Arethea da Luz and we'd like to share our story with you, hoping it might inspire and guide those seeking a similar path.

The Seed of Inspiration

During our courtship in the year 2020, we were reading The Adventist Home and Country Living by Ellen G. White to know God's will for our future. Its pages spoke to us, emphasizing the importance of rural life not just as an escape from city bustle, but as a wholistic lifestyle nurturing both body, mind and soul. These books planted seeds in our hearts, that would grow into a ministry beyond our own expectations.

A Vision Takes Root

Inspired by the principles in the book "Country Living", we embarked on a journey to transform our lives and share our story with others. We envisioned a ministry combining the tranquility of rural living with entrepreneurial opportunities, providing an additional source of income for families in the country. Many are unwilling to leave the certainty of a job in the city for the leap of faith of moving to the country. Yet, God has shown us that He is more than able to provide work and ministry opportunities to support our every need. After much prayer and planning, we got married, moved to the country and opened a natural food market store named “Proef & Zie” (translated: Taste and See; inspired by Psalms 34:8) in our local marketplace.

This market store became the heart of our ministry, allowing us to serve our community while living out the principles we embrace. We saw it as an opportunity to promote healthy living and sustainable practices, all while creating a viable business model that others could potentially replicate.

From Farm to Table: Beyond Our Expectations

To support our store, we planned to start organic farming from the beginning on our own land. Not only to provide us with fresh, healthy produce to sell but also allow us to truly understand and appreciate the farm-to-table process. We planned on growing a variety of vegetables, fruits, and herbs, ensuring that our store always had a supply of locally-grown, organic produce.

However, God had bigger plans!

Instead of merely farming on our own land, God is providing us with 1 acre of land at a very special location enabling us with the unique opportunity to share the principles that we've learned and practiced for four years now with our Seventh Day Adventist brothers and sisters in this country. God truly has gone beyond our expectations!

Education: The Heart of Our Mission

Our journey has also been influenced by the principles of true education as found in Ellen G. White's book “Education”. We learned that true education is not merely the acquisition of knowledge but the harmonious development of physical, mental, and spiritual powers. It prepares individuals for service in this world and the world to come, emphasizing character building over mere intellectual achievement. We believe that living in the country provides the ideal environment for this kind of comprehensive education, away from the distractions and unhealthy influences of city life. Our market store is more than just a place to buy natural foods. We see it as an educational platform, where we plan to offer workshops on nutrition, cooking classes using organic ingredients and seminars on the benefits of organic farming in the near future. These events will help us grow our loyal customer base and spread awareness about the importance of natural, wholesome foods and the love of Jesus.

An Outpost Center: Following Enoch's Example

Another concept that really struck with us is how in the book “Patriarchs and Prophets”, Enoch would bring people out of the cities to teach them about God. Inspired by Enoch's example, we see our country location as more than just a place for our store and farm. It can be a sanctuary where people from the cities can come to learn about God, healthy living and the principles of true education. With some prayer, creative thinking and hard work a place in the country can offer possibilities such as offering:

- Weekend Retreats: Where city people could experience the peace of country living and learn about God's natural laws.

- Health Seminars: Teaching people about the connection between diet, lifestyle, and spiritual well-being.

- Gardening Workshops: Helping visitors learn practical skills for growing their own food, even in small urban spaces.

- Nature Walks: Guiding people through God's second book - nature - and helping them see His character revealed in creation.

- Bible Studies: Offering a quiet, natural setting for deep spiritual reflection and study.

We believe that this outpost ministry will allow us to reach people who might never have stepped into a church. The natural setting, combined with our practical approach to health and spirituality, opens doors for meaningful conversations about God and His plan for our lives.

Self-Sustainability: A Divine Principle

Another concept that lies at the basis of the direction that we've taken is: self-sustainable living, which has an actual Biblical foundation to it. In the Bible we see the Garden of Eden as the ideal model, where Adam and Eve were given the responsibility to tend and keep the garden (Genesis 2:15). This divine appointment underscores the importance of working with nature to sustain oneself.

In her book “Education”, Sister White further emphasizes the importance of practical skills and self-sustainability. She writes: "The education centering in the family was that which prevailed in the days of the patriarchs. For the schools thus established, God provided the conditions most favorable for the development of character. The people who were under His direction still pursued the plan of life that He had appointed in the beginning. Those who departed from God built for themselves cities, and, congregating in them, gloried in the splendor, the luxury, and the vice that make the cities of today the world's pride and its curse. But the men who held fast God's principles of life dwelt among the fields and hills. They were tillers of the soil and keepers of flocks and herds; and in this free, independent life, with its opportunities for labor and study and meditation, they learned of God and taught their children of His works and ways." (Education, p. 33.3). This passage highlights the connection between self-sustainability, education, and spiritual growth. Ellen White really saw the ability to provide for one's own needs as an essential part of character development and a way to stay connected to God's original plan.

Besides all this, there's an amazing connection between self-sustainability and health. Growing one's own food and understanding and practicing the principles of nutrition lead to better health and a closer connection to God's natural laws and not to forget the joy of eating your own homegrown vegetables and fruits!

It's important to note that while Ellen White strongly advocated for self-sustainability and country living, she also recognized that not everyone could immediately achieve this ideal. In her counsel, she often balanced the ideal with practical realities, encouraging people to do what they could in their current circumstances while working towards greater self-reliance.

The Beehive Vision: A Model for Church Community

Imagine the church functioning like a beehive, with every member actively involved in various lines of Christian business ministry! This was an actual vision that Ellen White had (Pastoral Ministry, p. 117.3). In this vision she had seen a bustling hub of activity in San Francisco, including visiting the sick and destitute, finding homes for orphans, work for the unemployed, nursing the sick, teaching the truth from house to house, distributing literature, and conducting classes on healthful living and the care of the sick. This "beehive" model demonstrated how a church community could work together effectively, each member contributing their unique skills and efforts for the community.

This vision can be a solution to a common problem in many churches today: members' jobs take up so much of their time and energy that they have little left to do God's work. By embracing self-sustainable living, members can free up their time and resources, enabling them to work for God and earn an income simultaneously. This approach can allow us to become full-time workers for God, independent of traditional jobs, and work together as a united church body in a beehive fashion!

Challenges and Growth

Running a natural food store and outpost center in a rural area comes with its challenges. People in villages are less likely to change their lifestyle and eating habits, we found, as they stick more to their traditions. In the Netherlands there's a saying: “What a farmer doesn't know, he doesn't eat”, and being surrounded by farms as we are on all sides, the people love their butter, milk, coffee, cheese and meat. They will not easily give those up for plantbased foods, nut milk and grain coffee. It may take time to educate our community about the value of these products, however, as people begin to experience the benefits of healthier eating and experiencing a closer connection to God as a result of that, we expect our customer base and ministry to grow steadily.

An Inspiration for Others

We pray that our ministry can serve as a source of inspiration for others looking to embrace country living and create a sustainable source of income while serving God. God has devised all the plans and laid them out in Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy. All He's looking for is for those that want to test out His principles and promises, so He can reveal His perfect plan of restoration to them! If you feel inspired and looking to get started, then here are some steps that could help you to get going:

1. Identify Your Market: Assess the needs in your local area.

2. Start Small: Begin with a core selection of products or services, expanding as you grow. Looking to the talents God has given you that you could put to use in serving others.

3. Engage with the Community: Build relationships with locals.

4. Practice What You Preach: Incorporate what your doing into your own lifestyle.

5. Create a Welcoming Place: Design your home or store to be a peaceful place for your visitors.

Conclusion

Our experience is that the principles of "Country Living" and "True Education" can be successfully implemented to create a fulfilling and sustainable lifestyle. God will make sure of that as long as we remain faithful to His plans for our lives. We work, pray and expect our natural food market store and outpost center to become cornerstones of our community, promoting health, well-being, and spiritual growth while providing us with a meaningful livelihood. We encourage others to explore God's path of reaching people for Him, not only for the potential financial benefits but for the profound sense of fulfilling one's purpose it brings. By combining organic farming with a natural food store and creating an outpost center, we're cooperating with God in a ministry that works for the restoration of body, mind and soul of those around us.

As we continue this journey, we're reminded daily of God's goodness and the wisdom found in His counsel. We invite you to consider how you might incorporate these principles into your own life, whether through a full transition to country living or by bringing elements of this lifestyle into your current situation. The beehive vision can be realized if the church follows these concepts of being self-sustainable, and full-time workers for God, working together in unity in a beehive fashion.

May God bless you as you seek to serve Him and care for the body and mind He has given you!

With love and in His service,

Benvindo and Arethea

Benvindo and Arethea da Luz are married and live on the border of a small village called Groot-Ammers in the south of The Netherlands. They are both actively engaged in ministry in their church in Rotterdam and their desire is to see the church reach her full potential working together in unity to reach the world for Jesus.