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Plant With Purpose's quarterly newsletter -- The Sower
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spring 2012
267
45
FeaturesFinding Love in a Hopeless Place
Visit a Village
Village Spotlight: Fonds Verrettes, Haiti
DepartmentsDirector’s Corner
Breaking News
in this issue
Villagers gather For worship at a church in FonDs Verrettes, haiti.
3www.PLaNtwitHPurPoSe.org2
My name is Aly Lewis and I have a disease, an awful “ism” that affects my daily life.
Cynicism.
even after four years of working at this
incredible organization doing incredible
things with incredible people, i still get
cynical. i still find myself asking questions
like: Can the poor really save money? Can
things really change? Does my contribution
really matter?
one of the regions that most elicits our
cynical questions and commentaries and
eye rolling is Haiti, specifically, the border
region connecting Haiti and the Domini-
can republic. this area is plagued not only
with poverty, disease, and environmental
destruction, but a widespread current of
intolerance, anger, and misunderstanding
between the two nationalities making this
area one of the most volatile places in the
world.
From the outside, the border region is a
hopeless place.
But, i’m learning, this is not the end of the
story. in the last year, Plant with Purpose
launched an innovative Village Savings and
Loan pilot project in the Dominican repub-
lic, including a cluster of villages along the
border with Haiti.
this project is proving you can find love
and hope in the most unlikely places.
in just one year, individuals and commu-
nities have experienced incredible growth
and transformation. Nearly 300 people
in the border region joined 14 new VSL
groups. these self-selected groups pool
their own money to offer loans to group
members, thus growing their own savings
through interest paid on these loans. these
14 groups alone have already saved $4,831
(amazing when you consider that most
people make less than a $1 a day here), and
their capacity continues to grow each week.
My cynicism falters as i read the stories of
hope, transformation, and reconciliation
that are taking place as destitute commu-
nities come together to engage in an unbeliev-
able endeavor: saving money.
But don’t take my word for it. indulge in the
firsthand accounts below, and see if you too don’t
find your cynicism slipping away as you read.
“We were skeptical of the VSL method-
ology during the first cycle, but when we
cashed out and saw that every peso was
accounted for, we were stunned! That
motivated us. Now the group believes in
the methodology and in ourselves. We
never thought that we had the capacity
to save so much money,” said Jose agus-
tin Ventura Valdez, a VSL Coordinator
from the village of el Zamo.
Now in their second cycle, Jose’s group is on
track to save $10,000. Not bad for a group of
poor farmers.
an even greater area of transformation is the
growing reconciliation and unity between Hai-
tians and Dominicans. in VSL groups specifi-
cally, Haitians and Dominicans, men and wom-
en, join together to save money, improve their
income, and gain a greater understanding and
Village saVings anD loan: FinDing loVe in a hopeless placeBy Aly lewis, Staff Writer and Grant Specialist
appreciation for each other.
one VSL group called “active women” in the
village of angel Feliz is comprised of an equal
mix of Haitian and Dominican women, pro-
viding a practical space for them to develop
trust with each other and overcome deep-
seated racism. another women’s group in Sa-
bana real called “women for Progress” is ex-
periencing the same kind of transformation.
“The greatest benefits of the group
are unity, sharing experiences and
knowledge, and learning to be more
disciplined and to listen to each other.
Everyone has a right to express her
opinion. There is more trust. When
someone has a headache, everyone
has a headache,” shared group leader
Yoselyn.
these courageous men and women, Jose
and Yoselyn and the women of angel Feliz
and Sabana real, are teaching me that the
answer to my heartfelt questions - Can the
poor really save money? Can things really
change? Does my contribution really matter?
- is a resourceful and resounding YeS.
at Plant with Purpose, we’ve learned that, yes,
the issues are complex and, yes, cynicism
can creep in, but there is a greater yes and a
greater hope.
the poor can save. things can change. You can
make a difference. one person at a time. one
savings group at a time. one village at a time.
You can find love in a hopeless place. Because
the truth is, no place and no person is ever
truly hopeless.
For just $1 a day, you can Sponsor A Village and equip communities to make unlikely progress in unlikely places. Visit our website www.plantwith-purpose.org to learn more.
3www.PLaNtwitHPurPoSe.org2
My name is Aly Lewis and I have a disease, an awful “ism” that affects my daily life.
Cynicism.
even after four years of working at this
incredible organization doing incredible
things with incredible people, i still get
cynical. i still find myself asking questions
like: Can the poor really save money? Can
things really change? Does my contribution
really matter?
one of the regions that most elicits our
cynical questions and commentaries and
eye rolling is Haiti, specifically, the border
region connecting Haiti and the Domini-
can republic. this area is plagued not only
with poverty, disease, and environmental
destruction, but a widespread current of
intolerance, anger, and misunderstanding
between the two nationalities making this
area one of the most volatile places in the
world.
From the outside, the border region is a
hopeless place.
But, i’m learning, this is not the end of the
story. in the last year, Plant with Purpose
launched an innovative Village Savings and
Loan pilot project in the Dominican repub-
lic, including a cluster of villages along the
border with Haiti.
this project is proving you can find love
and hope in the most unlikely places.
in just one year, individuals and commu-
nities have experienced incredible growth
and transformation. Nearly 300 people
in the border region joined 14 new VSL
groups. these self-selected groups pool
their own money to offer loans to group
members, thus growing their own savings
through interest paid on these loans. these
14 groups alone have already saved $4,831
(amazing when you consider that most
people make less than a $1 a day here), and
their capacity continues to grow each week.
My cynicism falters as i read the stories of
hope, transformation, and reconciliation
that are taking place as destitute commu-
nities come together to engage in an unbeliev-
able endeavor: saving money.
But don’t take my word for it. indulge in the
firsthand accounts below, and see if you too don’t
find your cynicism slipping away as you read.
“We were skeptical of the VSL method-
ology during the first cycle, but when we
cashed out and saw that every peso was
accounted for, we were stunned! That
motivated us. Now the group believes in
the methodology and in ourselves. We
never thought that we had the capacity
to save so much money,” said Jose agus-
tin Ventura Valdez, a VSL Coordinator
from the village of el Zamo.
Now in their second cycle, Jose’s group is on
track to save $10,000. Not bad for a group of
poor farmers.
an even greater area of transformation is the
growing reconciliation and unity between Hai-
tians and Dominicans. in VSL groups specifi-
cally, Haitians and Dominicans, men and wom-
en, join together to save money, improve their
income, and gain a greater understanding and
Village saVings anD loan: FinDing loVe in a hopeless placeBy Aly lewis, Staff Writer and Grant Specialist
appreciation for each other.
one VSL group called “active women” in the
village of angel Feliz is comprised of an equal
mix of Haitian and Dominican women, pro-
viding a practical space for them to develop
trust with each other and overcome deep-
seated racism. another women’s group in Sa-
bana real called “women for Progress” is ex-
periencing the same kind of transformation.
“The greatest benefits of the group
are unity, sharing experiences and
knowledge, and learning to be more
disciplined and to listen to each other.
Everyone has a right to express her
opinion. There is more trust. When
someone has a headache, everyone
has a headache,” shared group leader
Yoselyn.
these courageous men and women, Jose
and Yoselyn and the women of angel Feliz
and Sabana real, are teaching me that the
answer to my heartfelt questions - Can the
poor really save money? Can things really
change? Does my contribution really matter?
- is a resourceful and resounding YeS.
at Plant with Purpose, we’ve learned that, yes,
the issues are complex and, yes, cynicism
can creep in, but there is a greater yes and a
greater hope.
the poor can save. things can change. You can
make a difference. one person at a time. one
savings group at a time. one village at a time.
You can find love in a hopeless place. Because
the truth is, no place and no person is ever
truly hopeless.
For just $1 a day, you can Sponsor A Village and equip communities to make unlikely progress in unlikely places. Visit our website www.plantwith-purpose.org to learn more.
4 5www.PLaNtwitHPurPoSe.org4
Director’s cornerBy sCOTT sABiN, Executive Director
in February, we host-
ed two members of our
tanzanian board at the
uS office. it was a re-
minder of the talent and
diversity within the team
that makes up Plant with
Purpose, as well as the amazing way god us-
es all of us to bring hope and healing to the
people and places we serve.
Pastor winford Mosha, who chairs the board
in tanzania, grew up in the Kilimanjaro re-
gion, where we work. He studied to be an el-
ementary school teacher but after teaching
for five years, he felt god calling him into the
pastorate. in 1980 he became a Lutheran pas-
tor, embarking on a varied career which in-
cluded serving in a parish in Marangu, teach-
ing theology, running the diaconal center,
and starting a school for the physically dis-
abled. Most recently he was promoted to a
position where he is responsible for over-
seeing 44 parishes. Pastor Mosha first heard
about Plant with Purpose eight years ago
when a neighbor in the village of Mshiri be-
gan to benefit from the program. Shortly
thereafter he joined the board and has been
involved ever since.
Pastor Mosha brought with him to San Diego
one of our newest board members, ruwaichi
John Kereth. John is a young attorney, al-
so from Mshiri, where he grew up in an im-
poverished farm family and attended Pastor
Mosha’s church. one of the best students in
tanzania, he did so well on his exams that he
received scholarships to secondary school,
college, and law school. He served an in-
ternship with the united Nations, working
with the international Criminal tribunal for
rwanda. recently he established his own
very successful law firm in arusha; however,
he feels a deep commitment to the region he
grew up in and is bringing his talents to serve
Plant with Purpose’s work in tanzania.
it was wonderful to have them with us in San
Diego. i personally enjoyed the opportuni-
ty to observe some of the peculiarities of uS
culture through the eyes of others seeing it
for the first time. But the highlight for ma-
ny of us was when Pastor Mosha led devo-
tions for the staff on Friday morning. using 1 Scott SabinExecutive Director
Corinthians 3:4-8 as his text, he reminded
us that while one plants and another wa-
ters, it is god who causes the growth. in the
case of Plant with Purpose, both the local
teams and the uS team have a role, but it is
god who brings about the transformation
in the lives of people, in the villages, and in
the watersheds.
as i reflected on these words, i thought
of how they apply to all of us. our donors
and those who volunteer and pray with us
here in the uS are also planting, watering,
and nurturing. indeed, you are as much a
part of this diverse team that god has as-
sembled as we are or as the local board
or the local staff. god uses us all togeth-
er to bring about something much great-
er than what any one of us could accom-
plish alone. thank you for being a partner
in transformation.
escape with us on Saturday, october 13, 2012 as we gather to invest in the lives of
the rural poor with an evening of education, celebration, and giving. Paradise Point
resort will be our location, but our destinations will be many! Stay tuned for more
details. if you’d like to donate an auction item, please contact Becky rosaler at
join us for theplanting hope gala october 13, 2012paraDise point resort
th
Breaking news 58: gloBal impact tour
Last year Plant with Purpose was invited to join a move-ment of like-minded organi-zations with the end goal to eliminate extreme poverty by
living out isaiah 58. Many of you have seen the full-length movie that focuses on issues of poverty around the world and how as be-lievers, we are called to a fast that is pleas-ing to the Lord and breaks the chains of op-pression.
2012 holds something new for Live 58: the global impact tour. 12 Months, 12 Projects, 12 Countries will be visited and funded by uniting, praying, fasting, and giving. Plant with Purpose will be featured during the month of april. Join us as we celebrate earth Day, complete a project in the Domini-can republic, and share the news that with the degradation of the environment, the ru-ral poor suffer.
In honor of our Global Impact Tour Month, we will be hosting a screening of the 58 Movie.
April 13 at 7:00pm – Plant With Purpose US Of-fice, San Diego
Bring a blanket, beach chair and jacket, as we will be showing the movie under the stars on
ing donation from the S.g. Foundation. groupon, you, S.g. Foundation, and 2,000 trees in Haiti!
ways to get inVolVeD• Like us on Facebook or follow us on twitter.
• Subscribe to our blog: plantwithpurpose.org/blog to keep up with the buzz.
• Become an advocate. Visit plantwithpur-pose.org/take-action and find ways to help us spread the word in your community.
• intern or volunteer at Plant with Purpose. Contact [email protected].
the lawn outside our office. Check our website for more details.
Fresh Breath For a Better worlD“Save the earth” and save your breath this april by picking up Proj-ect 7’s cool mints and wintergreen gum at walmart. each purchase
means we can plant more trees in Haiti. Chew for a better world.
earth Day - april 22, 2012“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it.” Psalms 24:1
thousands of people will be gathering at Balboa Park from 10:00am-5:00pm for the largest, free environmental fair in the world and Plant with Purpose will be participating in the excitement. if you’re in San Diego, come and join the festivities! otherwise, find a local event near you and celebrate the creativity of our Creator on april 22.
get your grouponDid you know that groupon has a branch of giving? Plant with Purpose will be a featured charity this spring. each dollar given will plant a tree in Haiti. our fund-raising goal is $1,000, but your impact will be doubled because of a generous match-
the sower issue #95The Sower is published quarterly by Plant with Purpose.
editor-in-Chiefaly [email protected]
4903 Morena Blvd. Suite 1215San Diego, Ca 92117Ph: (800) 633-5319Fax: (858) 274-3728email: [email protected]
Please consider including Plant With Purpose in your wills and bequests.
4 5www.PLaNtwitHPurPoSe.org4
Director’s cornerBy sCOTT sABiN, Executive Director
in February, we host-
ed two members of our
tanzanian board at the
uS office. it was a re-
minder of the talent and
diversity within the team
that makes up Plant with
Purpose, as well as the amazing way god us-
es all of us to bring hope and healing to the
people and places we serve.
Pastor winford Mosha, who chairs the board
in tanzania, grew up in the Kilimanjaro re-
gion, where we work. He studied to be an el-
ementary school teacher but after teaching
for five years, he felt god calling him into the
pastorate. in 1980 he became a Lutheran pas-
tor, embarking on a varied career which in-
cluded serving in a parish in Marangu, teach-
ing theology, running the diaconal center,
and starting a school for the physically dis-
abled. Most recently he was promoted to a
position where he is responsible for over-
seeing 44 parishes. Pastor Mosha first heard
about Plant with Purpose eight years ago
when a neighbor in the village of Mshiri be-
gan to benefit from the program. Shortly
thereafter he joined the board and has been
involved ever since.
Pastor Mosha brought with him to San Diego
one of our newest board members, ruwaichi
John Kereth. John is a young attorney, al-
so from Mshiri, where he grew up in an im-
poverished farm family and attended Pastor
Mosha’s church. one of the best students in
tanzania, he did so well on his exams that he
received scholarships to secondary school,
college, and law school. He served an in-
ternship with the united Nations, working
with the international Criminal tribunal for
rwanda. recently he established his own
very successful law firm in arusha; however,
he feels a deep commitment to the region he
grew up in and is bringing his talents to serve
Plant with Purpose’s work in tanzania.
it was wonderful to have them with us in San
Diego. i personally enjoyed the opportuni-
ty to observe some of the peculiarities of uS
culture through the eyes of others seeing it
for the first time. But the highlight for ma-
ny of us was when Pastor Mosha led devo-
tions for the staff on Friday morning. using 1 Scott SabinExecutive Director
Corinthians 3:4-8 as his text, he reminded
us that while one plants and another wa-
ters, it is god who causes the growth. in the
case of Plant with Purpose, both the local
teams and the uS team have a role, but it is
god who brings about the transformation
in the lives of people, in the villages, and in
the watersheds.
as i reflected on these words, i thought
of how they apply to all of us. our donors
and those who volunteer and pray with us
here in the uS are also planting, watering,
and nurturing. indeed, you are as much a
part of this diverse team that god has as-
sembled as we are or as the local board
or the local staff. god uses us all togeth-
er to bring about something much great-
er than what any one of us could accom-
plish alone. thank you for being a partner
in transformation.
escape with us on Saturday, october 13, 2012 as we gather to invest in the lives of
the rural poor with an evening of education, celebration, and giving. Paradise Point
resort will be our location, but our destinations will be many! Stay tuned for more
details. if you’d like to donate an auction item, please contact Becky rosaler at
join us for theplanting hope gala october 13, 2012paraDise point resort
th
Breaking news 58: gloBal impact tour
Last year Plant with Purpose was invited to join a move-ment of like-minded organi-zations with the end goal to eliminate extreme poverty by
living out isaiah 58. Many of you have seen the full-length movie that focuses on issues of poverty around the world and how as be-lievers, we are called to a fast that is pleas-ing to the Lord and breaks the chains of op-pression.
2012 holds something new for Live 58: the global impact tour. 12 Months, 12 Projects, 12 Countries will be visited and funded by uniting, praying, fasting, and giving. Plant with Purpose will be featured during the month of april. Join us as we celebrate earth Day, complete a project in the Domini-can republic, and share the news that with the degradation of the environment, the ru-ral poor suffer.
In honor of our Global Impact Tour Month, we will be hosting a screening of the 58 Movie.
April 13 at 7:00pm – Plant With Purpose US Of-fice, San Diego
Bring a blanket, beach chair and jacket, as we will be showing the movie under the stars on
ing donation from the S.g. Foundation. groupon, you, S.g. Foundation, and 2,000 trees in Haiti!
ways to get inVolVeD• Like us on Facebook or follow us on twitter.
• Subscribe to our blog: plantwithpurpose.org/blog to keep up with the buzz.
• Become an advocate. Visit plantwithpur-pose.org/take-action and find ways to help us spread the word in your community.
• intern or volunteer at Plant with Purpose. Contact [email protected].
the lawn outside our office. Check our website for more details.
Fresh Breath For a Better worlD“Save the earth” and save your breath this april by picking up Proj-ect 7’s cool mints and wintergreen gum at walmart. each purchase
means we can plant more trees in Haiti. Chew for a better world.
earth Day - april 22, 2012“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it.” Psalms 24:1
thousands of people will be gathering at Balboa Park from 10:00am-5:00pm for the largest, free environmental fair in the world and Plant with Purpose will be participating in the excitement. if you’re in San Diego, come and join the festivities! otherwise, find a local event near you and celebrate the creativity of our Creator on april 22.
get your grouponDid you know that groupon has a branch of giving? Plant with Purpose will be a featured charity this spring. each dollar given will plant a tree in Haiti. our fund-raising goal is $1,000, but your impact will be doubled because of a generous match-
the sower issue #95The Sower is published quarterly by Plant with Purpose.
editor-in-Chiefaly [email protected]
4903 Morena Blvd. Suite 1215San Diego, Ca 92117Ph: (800) 633-5319Fax: (858) 274-3728email: [email protected]
Please consider including Plant With Purpose in your wills and bequests.
7www.PLaNtwitHPurPoSe.org6
Mr. remon Jean is an entrepreneurial farm-
er and member of the Barasa farmers group
in Fonds Verrettes, a mountainous region in
southeastern Haiti that is only 1.5 miles away
from the border of the Dominican republic.
Since partnering with Plant with Purpose, Mr.
Jean has attended workshops on sustainable
agricultural techniques, soil conservation, and
community savings and loan projects. By ap-
plying the skills that he’s learned, Mr. Jean
hopes to establish a thriving agroforestry plot
on his farmland. He says, “one day, i will sit
and enjoy my very own forest and watch the
birds come to sing.”
So far, Mr. Jean has planted sugar cane, ka-
pap, grevillea, loquat, lime, grapefruit, banana,
and avocado trees on his farm. Mr. Jean has
also learned to make his own organic compost.
while this may not sound like a glamorous en-
deavor, composting has allowed him to save
money, boost his farm output, and increase his
profit margin. Mr. Jean has ten organic com-
post piles that he uses to nourish his own crops
and sells to his neighbors.
Mr. Jean is also an avid participant in the or-
ganic pesticide project introduced by Plant with
Purpose to his community. the high costs of
commercial pesticides eat into any profits that
local farmers make after selling their crops.
Sometimes, the price of the pesticides would
be 1000% more expensive than the organic
pesticides that Mr. Jean could create at home!
with the ingredients of the organic pesticide–
such as sour/bitter leaves, pepper, garlic, soap,
and water– being items easily found on his own
farm, Mr. Jean finds this project both economi-
cally and environmentally beneficial.
always the entrepreneur, Mr. Jean also sells the
organic pesticide that he creates to his neigh-
bors. He charges slightly more to his farmers
group members who have received the pes-
ticide training than to non-members, since he
believes that his group members should be
able to produce the pesticides themselves in-
stead of relying on him. From the extra mon-
ey he has made from selling compost and
organic pesticides, Mr. Jean purchased chick-
ens and rabbits for his farm, which provide
his family with eggs and sources of protein.
Mr. Jean eventually hopes to purchase more
animals such as goats, cows, and horses and
allow them to roam freely on his small agro-
forestry farm in Fonds Verrettes.
Visit our website, www.plantwithpurpose.
org, or fill out the attached remit slip to learn
how you can Sponsor a Village in Haiti for
just $1 a day.
Last May, two brothers, Mat and Michael Clouse, along with their family, took a trip down south to visit our programs in Oaxa-ca, Mexico. Each year Plant With Purpose leads trips for our partners to see the impact of our work firsthand. We’ve asked Mat and Michael to share some of their thoughts and reflections about their trip.
growing up in the united States, it can be pret-
ty easy to take our daily provisions for grant-
ed. our food is so readily available at gro-
cery stores and restaurants that we rarely
have to consider its abundance or its origins.
the same thing applies to our perception of
water. Practically speaking, whether living in
San Diego or oklahoma City, it really doesn’t
matter if there is a drought because our water
travels from hundreds of miles away before it
gushes forth with relatively little effort and ex-
pense on our part. there is a disconnect that
separates us from thinking about where these
provisions come from because of the ease with
which we enjoy them.
on our trip to oaxaca, Mexico, Plant with
Purpose showed us firsthand just how con-
nected we actually are to the environment. For
the majority of the world, water doesn’t travel
conveniently in pipes and faucets for easy and
expedient use. the livelihoods of those we vis-
ited depend heavily on their ability to access
and retain water for drinking, cooking, wash-
ing, and watering crops. it didn’t take long
on our trip for us to see hillside after hillside
of severely damaged landscapes before we
really began to understand the depth of en-
vironmental degradation in oaxaca and the
impact this has on each family living there.
we saw the daunting and widespread ef-
fects of deforestation and the over planting
of cash crops, which leads to a reduced wa-
ter table and depleted soil, decreasing the
ability of these subsistence farmers to pro-
vide for their families.
thankfully the story of our trip doesn’t
end there. with each community visited
and each farmer we met, we glimpsed the
sense of ownership, empowerment, and
transformation that was growing all across
the mountains of oaxaca. immense hope
became evident.
in visiting oaxaca, we realized that the work
Plant with Purpose is doing is not instant
gratification, but is a selfless effort to bring
hope and prosperity for generations to
come. through the relationships that Plant
with Purpose is building in communities,
we saw how the lives of the rural poor in
oaxaca are changing, and we will never for-
get their hospitality and eagerness to share
with us how their lives had improved. to
see firsthand the empowerment that grew
from the education and knowledge that
Plant with Purpose is sharing was truly re-
markable and such a blessing to witness.
this Vision trip helped us better understand
the complex connection between poverty and
the environment for the rural poor and the im-
portance of walking alongside these individu-
als to encourage and empower them. we saw
how Plant with Purpose seeks transformation
and witnesses to the story of Christ and the
restoration of His people. the experience was
beautiful and life changing.
Visit a Village
upcoming Vision tripsoctober 22-27, 2012 - oaxaca, Mexico
March 2013 - tanzania
april 25-30, 2013 - Dominican republic
June 2013 - thailand
if you haven’t visited one of Plant with Pur-pose’s programs yet, we’d love for you to prayerfully consider participating in one of the trips listed below. Contact Doug Satre for more information at [email protected] or call (800) 633-5319.
Village spotlight: fonds Verrettes, haitiBy Jimmy lee, Development Associate
organic pesticiDe Demonstration ViDeo
7www.PLaNtwitHPurPoSe.org6
Mr. remon Jean is an entrepreneurial farm-
er and member of the Barasa farmers group
in Fonds Verrettes, a mountainous region in
southeastern Haiti that is only 1.5 miles away
from the border of the Dominican republic.
Since partnering with Plant with Purpose, Mr.
Jean has attended workshops on sustainable
agricultural techniques, soil conservation, and
community savings and loan projects. By ap-
plying the skills that he’s learned, Mr. Jean
hopes to establish a thriving agroforestry plot
on his farmland. He says, “one day, i will sit
and enjoy my very own forest and watch the
birds come to sing.”
So far, Mr. Jean has planted sugar cane, ka-
pap, grevillea, loquat, lime, grapefruit, banana,
and avocado trees on his farm. Mr. Jean has
also learned to make his own organic compost.
while this may not sound like a glamorous en-
deavor, composting has allowed him to save
money, boost his farm output, and increase his
profit margin. Mr. Jean has ten organic com-
post piles that he uses to nourish his own crops
and sells to his neighbors.
Mr. Jean is also an avid participant in the or-
ganic pesticide project introduced by Plant with
Purpose to his community. the high costs of
commercial pesticides eat into any profits that
local farmers make after selling their crops.
Sometimes, the price of the pesticides would
be 1000% more expensive than the organic
pesticides that Mr. Jean could create at home!
with the ingredients of the organic pesticide–
such as sour/bitter leaves, pepper, garlic, soap,
and water– being items easily found on his own
farm, Mr. Jean finds this project both economi-
cally and environmentally beneficial.
always the entrepreneur, Mr. Jean also sells the
organic pesticide that he creates to his neigh-
bors. He charges slightly more to his farmers
group members who have received the pes-
ticide training than to non-members, since he
believes that his group members should be
able to produce the pesticides themselves in-
stead of relying on him. From the extra mon-
ey he has made from selling compost and
organic pesticides, Mr. Jean purchased chick-
ens and rabbits for his farm, which provide
his family with eggs and sources of protein.
Mr. Jean eventually hopes to purchase more
animals such as goats, cows, and horses and
allow them to roam freely on his small agro-
forestry farm in Fonds Verrettes.
Visit our website, www.plantwithpurpose.
org, or fill out the attached remit slip to learn
how you can Sponsor a Village in Haiti for
just $1 a day.
Last May, two brothers, Mat and Michael Clouse, along with their family, took a trip down south to visit our programs in Oaxa-ca, Mexico. Each year Plant With Purpose leads trips for our partners to see the impact of our work firsthand. We’ve asked Mat and Michael to share some of their thoughts and reflections about their trip.
growing up in the united States, it can be pret-
ty easy to take our daily provisions for grant-
ed. our food is so readily available at gro-
cery stores and restaurants that we rarely
have to consider its abundance or its origins.
the same thing applies to our perception of
water. Practically speaking, whether living in
San Diego or oklahoma City, it really doesn’t
matter if there is a drought because our water
travels from hundreds of miles away before it
gushes forth with relatively little effort and ex-
pense on our part. there is a disconnect that
separates us from thinking about where these
provisions come from because of the ease with
which we enjoy them.
on our trip to oaxaca, Mexico, Plant with
Purpose showed us firsthand just how con-
nected we actually are to the environment. For
the majority of the world, water doesn’t travel
conveniently in pipes and faucets for easy and
expedient use. the livelihoods of those we vis-
ited depend heavily on their ability to access
and retain water for drinking, cooking, wash-
ing, and watering crops. it didn’t take long
on our trip for us to see hillside after hillside
of severely damaged landscapes before we
really began to understand the depth of en-
vironmental degradation in oaxaca and the
impact this has on each family living there.
we saw the daunting and widespread ef-
fects of deforestation and the over planting
of cash crops, which leads to a reduced wa-
ter table and depleted soil, decreasing the
ability of these subsistence farmers to pro-
vide for their families.
thankfully the story of our trip doesn’t
end there. with each community visited
and each farmer we met, we glimpsed the
sense of ownership, empowerment, and
transformation that was growing all across
the mountains of oaxaca. immense hope
became evident.
in visiting oaxaca, we realized that the work
Plant with Purpose is doing is not instant
gratification, but is a selfless effort to bring
hope and prosperity for generations to
come. through the relationships that Plant
with Purpose is building in communities,
we saw how the lives of the rural poor in
oaxaca are changing, and we will never for-
get their hospitality and eagerness to share
with us how their lives had improved. to
see firsthand the empowerment that grew
from the education and knowledge that
Plant with Purpose is sharing was truly re-
markable and such a blessing to witness.
this Vision trip helped us better understand
the complex connection between poverty and
the environment for the rural poor and the im-
portance of walking alongside these individu-
als to encourage and empower them. we saw
how Plant with Purpose seeks transformation
and witnesses to the story of Christ and the
restoration of His people. the experience was
beautiful and life changing.
Visit a Village
upcoming Vision tripsoctober 22-27, 2012 - oaxaca, Mexico
March 2013 - tanzania
april 25-30, 2013 - Dominican republic
June 2013 - thailand
if you haven’t visited one of Plant with Pur-pose’s programs yet, we’d love for you to prayerfully consider participating in one of the trips listed below. Contact Doug Satre for more information at [email protected] or call (800) 633-5319.
Village spotlight: fonds Verrettes, haitiBy Jimmy lee, Development Associate
organic pesticiDe Demonstration ViDeo
Plant With Purpose
4903 Morena Blvd. Suite 1215San Diego, Ca 92117
Ph: (800) 633-5319
Fax: (858) 274-3728
email: [email protected]
www.plantwithpurpose.org
NoN-Profit orgU.S. PoStagePaidPermit 751SaN diego Ca
inVesting in the Dreams oF the poor
can the poor really saVe money? can things really change? does my contribution really matter? find out inside…
catch the Visionreflections on a Visit to oaxaca
plant with purpose giVes hope to chilDren anD Families in nor lae, thailanD.
