FALL 2014

ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS TO HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS

DEPARTMENTS
Breaking News
Village Spotlight: Maramvya, Burundi
3
7
SUNRISE OVER THE HILLS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
PHOTO BY AARON CHANG
THIRTY YEARS
OF RESTORING LIVES
AND LAND
FEATURES
Reections on 30 Years
2
2
As I reect on the thir-
tieth anniversary of
Plant With Purpose,
there are many as-
pects I could choose
to focus on: what
God has accomplished
through us, the ma-
ny things we have learned, those lessons we
should have learned sooner, the difcult times,
the highlights, and the programs transforma-
tive impact on so many lives. I was recent-
ly reading in the book of Chronicles about
King Davids Mighty Men. This story re-
minded me of the many mighty men and
women who have built Plant With Purpose.
As executive director, my name is the one
people often associate with the organi-
zation but my role is small compared to
so many others. Long before I ever felt
God calling me to this work, people of vi-
sion recognized the link between pover-
ty and deforestation and devised ways to
address root causes. Tom Woodard, who
founded both Plant With Purpose and our
Dominican partner, Floresta Incorporada,
responded to needs by courageously mov-
ing his family to the Dominican Republic.
During these formative years, he laid the
foundation for everything that has hap-
pened since.
Cesar Lopez and later Eldon Garcia joined
Tom in bringing compassion, hope, and
long-term solutions to the Dominican hill-
sides and partnering families. Others like
Roger Conover and Laura Ambrose kept
the vision alive, both in our San Diego of-
ce and on the U.S. board. But perhaps
no one contributed as much as Don and
Doris Adrian who, in addition to being im-
portant nancial supporters, made dozens
and maybe even hundreds of trips to the
Dominican Republic, carrying seeds, plant-
ing trees, visiting farms, collecting stories,
initiating agricultural experiments, and of-
fering love and wisdom to farmers and
staff alike. Truly Plant With Purpose would
not exist today if it were it not for Don and
Doris.
In 1991, I spent the summer in Central
America studying Spanish as part of a
graduate program. The real lessons I
learned that summer were not about lan-
guage but rather injustice, poverty, and
most importantly, faith in action. The
courage of those willing to risk their lives
for the Gospel was something I will nev-
er forget and it permanently changed my
perspective. Back in San Diego to n-
ish school, I wanted to be around people
like those who had inspired me in Central
America. That was when I rst learned of
Plant With Purpose and began volunteer-
ing in the ofce.
Soon I was working alongside people
like Eugenio Marte and Estela Rodriguez,
unsung heroes who are still part of our
Dominican team, offering incredibly faith-
ful and seless service. Today they are
joined by Carlos Disla, Durbel Lora, and
Alberony Martinez, among many others
who are strategically making a social and
environmental difference in their country.
In the mid-90s we moved beyond the
Dominican Republic into Haiti and Mexico.
When we started in Haiti, I had no idea
what we were getting into. We set our ex-
pectations low. I remember our Technical
Director Bob Morikawa saying he would be
happy if a few people learned how to use
grafting knives to improve their fruit [...]
ARTICLE CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
THE SOWER ISSUE #105

Plant With Purpose, a Christian nonprot
organization, reverses deforestation and
poverty around the world by transform-
ing the lives of the rural poor.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Scott Sabin
scott@plantwithpurpose.org
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR:
Doug Satre
doug@plantwithpurpose.org
MARKETING AND EVENTS:
Becky Rosaler
becky@plantwithpurpose.org
ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS TO HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS
STAY CONNECTED:
4747 Morena Blvd. Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92117
Ph: 800.633.5319
Email: info@plantwithpurpose.org
Web: plantwithpurpose.org
Tw: @PlantWPurpose
Fb: facebook.com/PlantWithPurpose
EMAIL MEDIA@PLANTWITHPURPOSE.ORG
TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN:

Share your Plant With Purpose story

Host an event

Become a Plant With Purpose advocate

Leave a Legacy. Please consider includ-
ing Plant With Purpose in your wills
and bequests. Contact Doug Satre:
doug@plantwithpurpose.org.
copyright 2014 Plant With Purpose
DIRECTORS CORNER
HAITIAN AGRICULTURAL
SCHOOL GRADUATION
WWW.PLANTWITHPURPOSE.ORG 3
Plant With Purposes 30th Anniversary Planting Hope Gala is fast approach-
ing. Join us for an inspiring evening as we celebrate this huge milestone.
A silent auction and cocktail reception will take place overlooking Mission
Bay while local band Serenade and Strum performs live. The reception will
be followed by an elegant three-course dinner accompanied by reflections
on the last three decades and plenty of opportunities to give.
PROCEEDS GO TOWARD EMPOWERING THE RURAL POOR TO
IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND LAND.
PLANTING HOPE GALA
OCTOBER 11
,
2014
AT 5:30 IN THE EVENING
BREAKING NEWS
AN EVENING WITH PREEMPTIVE LOVE COALITION
Join us on December 6 to hear from the
executive directors of Plant With Purpose
and Preemptive Love Coalition (PLC) as
they nd common ground in working to-
ward reconciliation, love, and our ultimate
hope. PLC provides life-saving heart sur-
geries for children in Iraq. More details can
be found on our website.
SEND CHRISTMAS CARDS, PLANT TREES
Share Plant With Purpose with your
family and friends when you send this
years Christmas cards. Order through
Giving Cards and theyll plant a tree
for each card purchased. Not only that,
but the card recipient will learn about
a cause you are passionate about. Visit
plantwithpurpose.org/corporate-part-
ners to learn more.
Additional trips for 2014-2015 are in the
works. Contact Doug Satre for more in-
formation: doug@plantwithpurpose.org.
MEXICO
October 26-31, 2014
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
February 2015
March 9-14, 2015
HAITI:
March 16-20, 2015
TANZANIA:
June 2015

ROOTED TREES LEAD TO ROOTED FAMILIES
In honor of our 30th anniversary, we are
raising funds to establish thirty new fam-
ily farms. These farms mean life and hope
to rural families around the world. Visit
plantwithpurpose.org to learn how you
can Give to Grow.
RECEIVE THE SOWER BY EMAIL
If you would like to receive the Sower
by email and save a tree, please send an
email to info@plantwithpurpose.org with
your name and current email address un-
der the subject of eSower. Or simply fol-
low the steps on the enclosed envelope.
UPCOMING VISION TRIPS
If you havent visited one of Plant With
Purposes programs, wed love for you to
join us.
RSVP BY
PHONE: 800.633.5319
WEB: WWW.PLANTWITHPURPOSE.ORG/GALA
EMAIL: GALA@PLANTWITHPURPOSE.ORG
$115 PER TICKET / $875 PER TABLE OF 8
4
2004
55
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1,277
2,391,704
2006
124
4
3,801
2,900,112
2008
196
21
6,349
3,827,146
2010
255
63
8,987
5,583,686
2012
308
144
11,963
8,060,358 2014
355
646
19,600
12,155,158
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GLOBAL PROGRAM GROWTH
[...] trees. But Jean-Marie Desilus, our
Haitian founder, had bigger plans. He set
up an agricultural school to create a foun-
dation for the work. When I attended the
rst graduation at the end of two years, I
was pleasantly surprised by the serious-
ness with which each participant took the
program. These formative years estab-
lished trust with several graduates who
continue to be important members of the
Haiti team. Today our Haiti staff works in
89 villages around the country. Another
shining moment for Haiti came during the
difcult days after the 2010 earthquake
when together we learned how to do relief
work. Floresta Haiti was a major source
of assistance for partnering communities
throughout the country as we helped feed
and provide jobs for thousands of dis-
placed families.
It is hard to reminisce about Haiti with-
out mentioning Pere Albert, the Haitian
Episcopal priest who rst invited us to work
there. A man of tremendous faith, vision,
and stature, he gave us courage when our
own was agging. Sadly, he succumbed to
a cancer far too young, but not before he
set up a school system that educated tens
of thousands of young Haitians.
At the same time, in Mexico, I learned
about participatory community devel-
opment from people like Luis Alberto
Castellanos and community forestry from
Eduardo Lopez. Over the last fteen years
I have watched them restore hillsides and
hope in the mountains of Oaxaca.
In 2003, we took a step of faith to do the
groundwork to launch a new program in
Tanzania. Once again, we were blessed by
talented local leaders. The founding direc-
tor, Edith Banzi, pointed us to the Village
Savings and Loan Association model,
which revolutionized our economic ap-
proach throughout the program. No longer
are communities dependent on outside
capital. Instead they are empowered to
save money together and take loans from
the collective funds. Following a leader-
ship transition, Richard Mhina has rened
the way the program is managed, allow-
ing it to dramatically multiply its impact
with relatively little extra investment.
In Burundi, Lazare Sebiteriko has helped
thousands of returning refugees to redis-
cover their God-given purpose through
teaching the importance of vocation and
service to those who had lost hope. Most
recently, Ajan Tui, who leads our work in
Thailand, has taught us about the impor-
tance of human rights for the poor as his
team ministers to the hill tribes living in
the forests of Northern Thailand.
Unfortunately I dont have room to talk
about our U.S. staff, board of directors,
or faithful donors (without whom none
of this would be possible). I am humbled
and blessed to be a part of this team,
working together to heal the land and its
people in Jesus name. And I anxiously
look forward to the next thirty years as
even more individuals are impacted by
the transformational work that is known
as Plant With Purpose.
ARTICLE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
END OF ARTICLE
WWW.PLANTWITHPURPOSE.ORG 5
COUNTRY PROGRAM LAUNCH TIMELINE
1984
DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC
1996
MEXICO
1997
HAITI
2004
TANZANIA
2006
THAILAND
2008
BURUNDI
In the 1980s as Plant With Purposes program began
to mature in the Dominican Republic, the Dominican
government implemented a countrywide agricultural
reform. Up until that point, a small percentage of farms
held the majority of farmland. Land reformdividing the
large areas of land that Trujillo had converted into sugar
cane plantations and cattle landput small plots back
into the hands of the rural poor.
A small plot of land was just enough for
family farmers like Dario and Trini Baez.
The one-acre farm became their prized
possession. It contained all the resources
necessary to make a living and shape their
familys future. With some agricultural as-
sistance from Plant With Purpose and their
own ingenuity, the Baezs decided to plant
long beans. The beans were easy to grow,
requiring only a little compost, a lot of sun-
light, and a trellis. Long beans grow to be
the size of a pencil, supplying 12 inches
of usable sugar for human consumption.
Their quick germination and consistent
harvesting allow for nine months of crops.
As legumes, long beans x nitrogen and
add necessary nutrients back into the soil.
With this single crop, the Baezs lives be-
gan to change.
Dario and Trinis trellis structure on their
acre soon produced 900 pounds of beans
every week. Their family consumed some
of the beans, sold a portion at the local
market, and exported the rest to Europe
where people paid a high premium for
these organic beans. To meet harvesting
requirements, Dario and Trini hired six
workers to pick beans three days a week.
The long harvest season meant nearly a
year-round source of income for the fam-
ily. Eventually, Dario planted fruit trees
throughout his acre to diversify the har-
vest and make a long-term investment of
his property.
From a small plot of land, Dario and Trini
produced jobs for the community, revital-
ized soil, and grew a steady source of food
and income. Ultimately, their care for this
precious resource helped them experi-
ence God-given hope and dignity. A previ-
ously unknown future looks much brighter
for the Baez family as they continue to har-
vest crops, one bean at a time.
LONG BEANS
PROVIDE LONG-
TERM SOLUTIONS
6
Felicita Rodriguez, known to most
as Estela, has some boasting rights
around Plant With Purpose.
A CAREER OF CARING
Estelas twenty-ve years of employment at Plant With Purpose goes back
even further than the twenty-plus years Scott Sabin has spent on the team.
Her current role is that of the Director of Economics in the Dominican Repub-
lic. It is her heart for service that brought her to Plant With Purpose. The holis-
tic solution to improving lives and caring for the environment keeps her there.
Estela has seen communities like Tocoa and Los Mogotes progress from struggling
villages to thriving communities. The ofce in Piedra Blanca often receives news that
Plant With Purposes presence in communities is bringing about unity and neighbor-
ly support. Countless village testimonies about a new culture of savings that helps
meet needs for health, education, and improved living conditions can be credited to
Estelas leadership.
Mothers like Genara Cristina Adames share that their communities are accomplish-
ing things they never thought possible. Life was hard, Genara says. I used to be
depressed about not being able to meet even basic needs. But since joining a Vil-
lage Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), Genara has achieved remarkable things.
She can now afford to graduate and nish her degree. She has started a homework
club for children in her community and can pay for the necessary school supplies for
her own children. She has made home improvements such as buying a computer, a
washing machine, and furniture signicant purchases in her rural village. Genaras
savings even covered the medical costs for her fourth child. I feel more fullled and
have better self esteem after Plant With Purpose guided us in saving.
Estela joins Genara in celebrating these accomplishments. Despite her long tenure,
shes not calling it quits yet. Estela desires to see God abundantly bless Plant With
Purpose as families are transformed and the program extends into additional com-
munities where great needs exist.
Plant With Purpose Tanzania is strategically using VSLA groups to cultivate interest in additional
areas of the program. During the hour prior to the savings-and-loan meeting, many groups gather in
Farmer Field Schools. Experiments in sustainable agriculture techniques are tested and implementa-
tion has increased as positive results inuence decisions. The program in Tanzania continues to inno-
vate new ways of engaging individuals in holistic development.
7 WWW.PLANTWITHPURPOSE.ORG
Burundis civil war ended 9 years ago, but
the small nation is still recovering from
more than a decade of violence. Ravaged
land is restored as farmers re-learn how to
cultivate crops. Different ethnic groups are
working hard to make strides toward living
peacefully together. And amidst these wid-
er cultural shifts, individuals are gradually
reconciling with each other.
Like most of Burundi, the village of
Maramvya is continuing the slow work of
healing following a brutal war. Laetitia*
lives in Maramvya with her husband and
children. In partnership with Plant With
Purpose, her family is being reconciled not
only to their land but also to one another.
Before I joined the Village Savings and
Loan Association (VSLA), I was unhappy
in my marriage. My husband beat me and
we never agreed, Laetitia admits. The con-
ict and abuse dissipated, however, when
she joined the local VSLA group. Joining a
community savings group might not seem
like a step toward peace, but Laetitias in-
volvement transformed her marriage.
The VSLA empowered her to save mon-
ey and contribute to her familys income,
VSLA MEETING IN BURUNDI
BY ANNELISE JOLLEY,
Outreach Coordinator
which helped her provide more opportu-
nities for her children. I regained self-es-
teem, she remembers. More importantly,
Laetitias VSLA group encouraged her to
follow Christs example of a peacemaker.
With the encouragement of the mem-
bers of my VLSA group for reconcilia-
tion with my husband, things went bet-
ter and better. We have recommitted our
marriage before the government and the
church. This is something that would not
have been possible before.
In Maramvya, Gods kingdom is being
built through restored relationships. Plant
With Purpose equips communities and
individuals to live in harmony through
VSLA groups, trainings on conict reso-
lution, and the Theology of Work church
study. Were seeing torn marriages mend-
ed, farmers reconciled to their land, and
peace winning one family at a time.
*NAME CHANGED TO PROTECT PRIVACY.
You can invest in a local community like
Maramvya through Plant With Purposes
dollar-a-day Sponsor A Village program.
Learn more at plantwithpurpose.org/
sponsor-a-village or respond with the en-
closed envelope.
VILLAGE SPOTLIGHT:
MARAMVYA, BURUNDI

Plant With Purpose continues
to lead the way in promoting
Creation Care throughout Thai-
land. The staff has initiated
writing publications, translating
resources, promoting conversa-
tions through social media, and
hosting trainings for pastors
and church leaders. Mr. JaMaw
JaNu is a partnering farmer in
Huay Lu Luang and shares,
I have seen that people in my
community have realized that
they must protect their environ-
ment for themselves and for
their children. We understand
more about our roles in pro-
tecting the environment that
is part of the creation of God.
I can see that our community
forest is better.
Plant With Purpose
4747 Morena Blvd. Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92117
Ph: 800.633.5319
Email: info@plantwithpurpose.org
Web: plantwithpurpose.org
NON-PROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT 751
SAN DIEGO CA
THREE DECADES OF GETTING AT THE ROOTS OF RURAL POVERTY
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PLANTING HOPE GALA
October 11, 2014
Information inside
Plant With Purposes accomplishments are
tremendous. The impact is very visible in the
communities and the demand to partner with
Plant With Purpose increases day by day.
~ Jean-Marie Dsilus, Haiti staff