Answer - First the olive tree is a sturdy durable fruit bearing plant with a productive life
reaching as far as 100 years. The olive fruit itself produces an income far in excess of its
costs as it reaches maturity and the market for healthy food products is growing very
rapidly world-wide. Olives will produce a sustainable income to support the ministries
of MCM across the greater Drakenstein

Answer - The olive branch and dove are the first symbols of hope that God presented to
Noah after the flood as a sign of His everlasting promise to them.   We believe that God
continues in His faithfulness to His promises and Monte Christo is working to bring into reality
this hope for the underprivileged in South Africa

Answer - First, Monte Christo acquired a 300 HA (about 800 acres) farm in nearby Porterville
where it is in use today as both a Christian Camp and retreat center and a working farm. An
agricultural development plan for the farm was done in 2006 in order to identify potential
income streams leading to making the ministries of Monte Christo self-sustaining. Olive trees
stood out as one of the most “promising” opportunities for MCM during this study and the area
of the farm is considered prime for the South African olive industry. The first step will be
preparation of the land and installation of irrigation systems for about 20 HA (55 acres) in
early 2009.  The planting of the grove itself will be done professionally later in 2009 and
in early 2010 as plant stock is available.

Answer - Sustainability is one of the three “pillars” of Monte Christo along with our
commitment to meet the basic needs of the poor and build disciples to bring the love of
God to the nations. The core values behind the drive to sustainability include ones of using
the tools and gifts we’ve been given by God to invest in His work where we’ve been called,
to create jobs and skills training opportunities that lead to the upliftment of previously
disadvantaged people, to become self sufficient economically as a ministry eliminating MCM’s
dependency on donations and thus freeing up funds for other Kingdom uses and to illustrate to
people and organizations locally the benefits of getting “a hand up” rather than “a hand out.”
The cycle of dependency is a devastating trap for people in the areas we serve. MCM wants to
set the example of what it means to become all that God has equipped one to be, setting an
example where rewards are shown to follow efforts.

Answer - The Promise Olive grove is only one of our sustainability projects here in the Paarl
Valley. Our first effort began in 2005 with the starting of the Monte Christo Coffee Shop. Today,
the coffee shop has become a center of activity for churches across the Paarl Valley and has been
generating income for feeding the hungry and job skills training for staffs. Recently, the coffee
shop has been used for training and equipping people who were refugees living on the streets to
help them learn a skill and hopefully re-enter the mainstream with a future. 

Further, MCM opened a bakery in early 2008 that serves the dual purpose of providing bread
to hungry served in MCM’s feeding programs and also sells bread commercially where again
the profits support the MCM Food Center.  Next, this year MCM opened its own spring water
bottling facility at the farm and today sells MCM branded water to restaurants, guest houses,
clubs and other organizations. This product line is also offered as a source of income for other
Christian organizations and churches where they can raise funds for their own needs by selling
pure bottled water to their community. Again this is teaching local groups needing funds the
connection between working for their goals versus simply looking for donations. There are further
plans for new sustainability programs including raising cattle and other farm crops, the development
of rental and retreat center chalets in the beautiful mountain setting of the Porterville farm. These
resources when fully developed will ensure that MCM can continue to pursue its purposes of
upliftment of the poor and developing the next generation of strong local leaders for many
decades in the future.

Answer - The investment in Promise Olives goes toward the costs of the trees, land costs, grove
preparation and planting, grove maintenance and support of MCM’s feeding programs, discipleship
and community upliftment in the 3 year time period it takes for the grove to begin producing returns
to support ongoing MCM programs. In year 6, at full grove maturity, the Promise Olive Grove is
projected to have returned a gross income of over R 11mm, about 150% of the initial donations for
developing the grove.  As well, many new jobs will be created for previously unemployed people
through the Promise Olive grove.

Answer - Olives are a very versatile fruit. The initial plan is to harvest the fruit and press it into oil for
the world market which is projected to grow in size at the rate of 20% per year well into the future.
More however, our plan to use olives for manufacturing many specialty products like soaps, lotions,
and flavored olives and oils, etc. where more local skills and jobs can be developed for higher returns.

Answer - An olive tree at maturity will yield about 6 liters of olive oil per year which today sells for
between R30 and R45 per liter. Using R 30, an olive tree investment of R300 will yield about 40 liters
in the first 10 years producing R1200 or 3 times the initial cost of its investment. Assuming no market
price increases again in the first 20 years, that investment of R300 will produce a harvest of R3 000
or ten times its initial cost. Adding price increases and specialty products made from the oil with
undoubtedly yield much greater returns.

Answer - MCM will issue periodic updates on the progress of the promise Olive grove by both email,
newsletter and on its web site. We know that people making an investment in our work will want to
join in the celebration as the returns arrive and see the blessings as they uplift the previously
disadvantaged people of the community.

Answer -  The total project in this phase is to plant 7800 Promise Olive trees. Monte Christo is
blessed with additional land at the farm enabling further development of sustainable products
for the ministry in the decades ahead.

Answer -  First of all, both pray and invest in one or more trees. As a gift that keeps on giving,
it just makes more sense perhaps than spending money on gifts that end up being gone in a few
days or weeks.  Next consider giving an olive tree as a gift in the name of your family members,
friends, for holidays, or other special occasion. Finally, join us in catching the vision to bring the
love of Christ and end hunger and sickness here in South Africa. Help us meet our goal of uplifting
the next generation of Christian leaders by becoming a partner in selling Promise Olive trees and
the benefits of the Promise Olives grove in your church, school or company.  Sponsor a tree drive in
your community where people who can make a difference in the lives of so many now in desperate
need. Here people can join the work of over coming sickness, hunger, abuse through investing in a
project that gives returns for generations. Contact MCM to follow-up on this urgent opportunity.

Answer -  Monte Christo hosts short term outreach visitors from schools and churches throughout
the year as well as visitors who desire to come and serve alongside our team. From there some
return to MCM for extended stays of 1-2 years where they feel called to join in God’s work in Monte
Christo Ministries. Everyone who visits MCM however leaves forever changed after meeting the people
of South Africa and working to make a difference in a child’s or person’s life. Let’s explore how that
may visit is on your heart.

Answer -  First MCM is a fully qualified non-profit company (sec 21-PBO) under South African laws and
 is fully audited annually by certified financial auditors. In the USA, MCM operates as the Hands Across
the Waters Foundation (dba Monte Christo Ministries), a qualified and audited 501c3. Amongst the rules
MCM operates by is that no USA staff is permitted to be paid a salary from ministry funds and must be
100% supported by their own means, churches and sending teams.  In 2007, less than 3% of donated
funds to MCM from the USA went to cover administrative expenses with the balance going to the ministry
areas as the donors designated. The Promise Olive grove itself operates with a budget, controls and long
term forecasts developed by industry professionals who support our ministry from the South African olive
growing industry.

Answer - Yes! Monte Christo Ministries will be issuing donor receipts to all participants in the Promise
Olive groves sustainability program.