The Feast of Second Chances

Pictured: An Oasis Agro feed bag displayed just before being filled and shipped. 

Funny how often moments of crisis are followed by moments of clarity. 

As many of you know, less than a year ago a critical partner of ours in Central Asia called Oasis Agro faced a season of difficulties that included break-ins, threats, and ultimately a looming tax fine that could have bankrupted the company. For months, we fought and prayed and worked, seeking any way to remove or at least reduce the fine. 

By the end of May 2024—by God’s grace—the fine was reduced by two-thirds. 
We felt shock, relief, gratitude, and joy knowing the company would survive.  

Pictured: Oasis Agro Executive Director Micah Lund giving a tour of the feed mill. 

Yet this near-death experience for our friends actually led to something far better than simply pulling through. Here’s the story from Oasis Agro’s Executive Director, Micah Lund:

“Shortly after the fine was reduced, I was invited to a party. I’ve lived in Kyrgyzstan for ten years but I didn’t really get the significance of the event until the host gathered his guests and shared his story,” Micah said. “The man explained he had barely escaped a near-fatal car accident weeks prior and held the feast to express his gratitude to God for the life he’d been given.”

“He dedicated this day to celebrating a ‘feast of second chances’, and that got me thinking…”

In Kyrgyz culture, it's customary to celebrate a sudden survival through a traditional gathering called a Tuloo. This tradition revolves around hosting a feast to thank God, embracing the joy of life, and recognizing the gift of a second chance.

“As I listened to the host recount his experience, I was struck by the parallels to what we had just gone through as a company,” Micah explained.

“When I left that gathering, I felt inspired. So I gathered my managers and proposed that we establish a new tradition inspired by the Tuloo. Every year on June 28, we would celebrate our survival as a company, acknowledging the challenges we had faced and embracing the opportunities given to us. This wouldn’t just be a day of celebration; it would be a moment of introspection, a chance to reflect on our past actions and to recommit to our mission with renewed determination.”

So this summer, the Oasis Agro 100+ employees took a Friday to venture into the mountains to intentionally not work and enjoy a time of celebration, team building activity, picnicking, and enjoying the gorgeous mountains around Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Pictured: the first annual Oasis Agro Celebration of Second Chances gathering. Photo courtesy of Micah Lund.

Members of the team led us in prayer, expressing our thanks to God for this second chance. We shared our stories, our dreams, and our challenges. This was more than just a celebration; it was a collective acknowledgment of our journey, marking our transformation from uncertainty to renewed hope. Our celebration served as a reminder for all of us: whatever difficulties we faced in the past, we now had the opportunity to create a better future.

As we build on this tradition, I believe that it symbolizes something much larger. It's a testament to resilience, gratitude, and the remarkable potential for renewal that exists in every one of us. Just like our host in Ala Buka, we too had faced our potential demise but persevered. We are reminded that if we are given a second chance—whether in life or in business—it's our responsibility to embrace it wholeheartedly.

Pictured: Oasis Agro employees enjoy a team building exercise. Photo courtesy of Micah Lund.

Stories like this remind us why we’re grateful to be partnered with resilient, Kingdom-centered businesses like Oasis Agro. In a world that often rushes forward, this team sets the example by pausing and placing their Ebenezer of remembrance, acknowledging humbly that this all could have gone very, very differently.

So we thank God and we thank all of you who prayed and donated and showed support for Oasis Agro and our friends in Central Asia during this tough season.

Thanks for remaining in community through hardship, for staying true to the work, and for acknowledging God’s grace over our lives, and the mercy of second chances like these.

Pictured: Oasis Agro employees in the mountains outside of Bishkek. Photo courtesy of Micah Lund.