Daniel bought the farm when our company was voted off the island back in 2008. While we took a sabbatical, he caught a vision for agricultural business and ministry. For two years he strove to carry on the work he felt was so important. But finally he sold the fish ponds, buildings, and infrastructure to the government, paying us money that we re-invested in Mekong Valley Foods, Chiang Rai. All the corn-handling equipment & grain bins he moved to Vientiane and set up another company about 40 minutes out of town.
His vision now couldn't be broader. Three harvest centers--each bigger and with more capacity than our old company--have been set up, with more to follow. Construction of a 250-sow piglet producing facility is well under way. 80 hectares of corn are being planted. A cattle-raising project aims to make beef once more affordable in Vientiane (prices have shot through the roof in past months).
And finally, Peter is working to make Daniel Aquatics a reality. Recently he has been digging fishponds, raising dikes, and putting in pipes and culverts to fill and drain the ponds. He is working with a capable Lao manager that he and Daniel hired. They hope to bring in "mother and father fish" (as we say in Lao) early next month. Two or three other workers are going for training next week with the talented team at SDRF's Issaan Aquatics Farm. This renewed connection with our friends across the Mekong has been a real blessing.
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