The work of Reclaim is not always measured by quick victories or dazzling statistics that give a temporal sense of change. Instead, holistic community development work requires patience and building long-term relationships that lead to lasting transformation.

A clear illustration of this kind of work can be found in Akmat, a farmer from Kazakhstan who has seen generational change thanks to the faithful work of Reclaim associates over the last 25 years.

His association with Reclaim began with his father in 1998, whose family was given land allotments during a property transfer from the Soviet Republic's holdings to the newly free nation of Kazakhstan.

For decades, the land was a Soviet State Farm, growing primarily tobacco. It was a family affair. Fathers. Mothers. Daughters. Sons. They all worked for the State Farm.

Tobacco production is difficult work. Small plants are started in greenhouses and later transferred to the fields. At harvest time, the leaves are collected and dried. In winter, the dried leaves are baled and sent to factories to be rolled into cigarettes.

The local State Farm in this village encompassed almost 500 hectares of tobacco. (A hectare is 10,000 square meters, or the equivalent of nearly 2.5 acres.)

According to Akmat, the hardest work was during harvest. Temporary workers were brought in from the city to help.  

“It’s filthy work. Your hands are black. Your clothes are black. The oil from the tobacco gets everywhere.
And the smell – it wouldn't go away,”

The tobacco crops were so pervasive that the welcome sign into the village actually included a tobacco leaf.

All the way through the ninth grade, that was Akmat’s life.

In 1991, Kazakhstan was granted independence but faced an uphill climb in establishing economic stability.

Stanley Brown was the first Reclaim associate to start community development and agricultural work in the village. His vision was to change the symbol from the dreaded leaf to an apricot or an apple. He wanted the village to reclaim the soul of its soil, to restore its past.

As Stanley studied the region and consulted with Washington State experts, he knew that the soil, weather, and climate were perfect for fruit trees. In fact, Kazakhstan is the genetic birthplace of the apple tree, the hereditary mother of trees worldwide. So naturally, according to Stanley, apple trees needed to be restored.  

“Tobacco would deplete the soil, robbing it of its strength,” said Akmat. “Now we have apples, which are a clean crop. It’s good for the future, for our children,

“Thanks to Stanley’s vision and God’s will, we have removed that symbol and reputation from our village.”

Akmat’s father was granted a large swath of land from that Soviet State Farm. But, according to him, more than half the trees were dead. It was in bad shape.

“We had to dig everything up and start over again. That’s when Stanley came. He taught us how to start an orchard and care for it,” said Akmat.

The deep agricultural heritage of the area hadn’t been fully appreciated and was often exploited.  

“Our ancestors worked the land. They worked with fruit trees, with apples. We began to raise those same varieties, and Stanley brought us other varieties that worked better for us.”

In 2000, Patrick Brady joined the local Reclaim team, bringing his own agricultural expertise.

“Once we learned how to prune, that really opened our eyes,” said Akmat.

Local orchardists rejected the idea before Reclaim introduced their pruning expertise, believing an unpruned tree was better. But Akmat’s trees and larger yields began to change hearts and minds. Pruning is now employed all over the region, leading to greater yield and increased fortunes.

The impact of Reclaim on the community is evident. When associates first came to the village, the homes were simple, with many households using donkeys and carts for local transportation on dirt roads. Today, modern cars are parked in front of refurbished homes. Many of the streets are paved and lit, with vibrant businesses. A new modern grocery store is being built, and a craft coffee house just opened. 

“We used to plant our trees far apart, 220 per hectare. The people from Reclaim told us about new planting schemes, and now I have 2850 trees per hectare,” said Akmat.

Reclaim also introduced different rootstocks used to propagate new trees. The previous standard was 10-15 tons of apples per hectare. Now, Akmat yields 50 tons or more per hectare (or 50 bins/ acre.)  

Although Reclaim helped invigorate the local economy, there’s ample evidence that the innovation will continue thanks to regional leaders like Akmat.

“One thing Reclaim encouraged us to do was to learn from each other. Orchardists who have been working for 25 years have something to offer, something we can learn from.  We then mutually share knowledge with the Fruit Institute and the Agricultural Institute. Every region, every plot of land is different, and we must work together to solve unique problems.”

However, for Akmat, the change wasn’t just in crops, a new car, or a bigger house. It also impacted his personal life.

“Stanley Brown was a bright light, showing us the way. When you are stumbling in the dark, a person with a torch leads. That was Stanley. Our lives are 180 degrees different now.”

“The things Reclaim showed us, the things they taught us, helped us live a different life,” said Akmat. “Reclaim’s influence wasn’t just for me, but for my family – my children and grandchildren. I used to smoke and drink vodka. Stanley didn’t, and he treated his wife with honor and respect.

“I took an example from him. God was helping us. I know that now. Praise God that he sent Stanley Brown and Patrick Brady to us.”

“We have learned that no matter what work you do, you start first by asking God for help, he said. “Before we start our workday, we pray. And we honor Him by taking time to rest.”

One of the ways Akmat’s family rests is through the Reclaim sports programs. Several members of the family have participated in the cycling events. “We’ve even learned to play baseball. We learned to rest and to have fun.”

Additionally, members of the family have participated in Reclaim’s various English language programs.

“These have been beneficial to my children and grandchildren. I told them, ‘If you learn English, it doesn’t matter where you go, it will be easier for you.’”

Akmat has close familial relationships. It’s evident that he is loved, even adored.  His grandchildren are eager to climb on his lap or hold his hand. They sit in the tractor seat or play hide and seek in the orchard. It’s a family affair.

“We have this thriving farm and I’m happy my children are part of it. And grandchildren are being added to the business. We all help in the orchard.”

Like ripples from a rock flicked into a pond, earthly and eternal values from Reclaim associates are reverberating into future generations.

“Reclaim taught me to start small, not to start too big,” he said. “They taught me to do it well and grow it from there. I’m teaching my children the same things, and my grandchildren, too. “

He just gifted his daughter, Dinara, with her own orchard to manage. Dinara is a petite, composed woman with five children and a career of her own. But she’s eager to continue the family legacy.

Dinara has participated in the Reclaim English program and is also learning Chinese to supplement her Russian, Kazakh[PB5] , and local language base.

“She helps me a lot. She’s encouraging me to expand into other crops, like strawberries. We have a plan for the future because we have hope.”

Shaking the deep thoughts and practices of communism hasn’t always been easy. Most people in the previous Soviet Block were used to not having to plan their own existence or create their own opportunities. However, Akmat and his family have served as models for their community in restoring dignity. 

“The neighbors watch me. But seeing our success has encouraged others to plant orchards like mine. So, even as Reclaim has shown me the way, I am also guiding others.”

Self-reliance isn’t an aspiration of communism, so the societal changes have been slow but remarkable. Akmat has been eager to share his knowledge with others, who in turn do the same.

“We don’t give people fish; we give them a hook. I’ve been able to teach others, and then they teach others how to “catch fish” and farm efficiently.

Family farms are thriving across the area now that personal effort is economically rewarded. Some raise livestock, and others grow onions or potatoes. It’s far more rewarding than waiting for a faceless system to dictate the terms.

“They are all finding their own ways to make a living—whether gathering firewood to cook meat in the bazaar, or growing potatoes for their families. It makes a person happy to have an opportunity,” said Akmat.

Reclaim’s holistic approach is having a significant impact on the surrounding area. It goes far beyond apple trees.

“Reclaim has set a good example for us, for our village. If someone can give up alcohol, they can give up smoking. It’s good for their family. We want to clean up our village, for the sake of our children in the future. Working together, for our community.”

“We now have hope in our family, community, and country,” he said.

His next dream for the community? Flowers and trees.

“We want to plant big trees to line our village, and to have it full of flowers,” he said.

“I want our village to prosper, to bloom.”

“That’s my dream for where we live, to be the best, to be full of beauty.”