To Leave Poverty Behind
This song was recorded during a recent trip to visit our farmers in Barasa, Haiti. The powerful words and work being accomplished warms our hearts. Listen on as Pastor Jera Jules leads farmers in singing while they chip away the rocky hillsides in efforts to “leave poverty behind” and conserve the soil of Haiti.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
Advance, advance,
Advance, advance,
We who are from Guinea (Africa),
Let’s pull, pull, to leave poverty behind.
Now we are in the light,
We no longer fear the darkness,
Let’s do what we can
To leave poverty behind.
Strength like a Sycamore Tree
by Becky Rosaler
But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
California’s varying terrain creates an assortment of ecosystems full of native plants. Right behind the Plant With Purpose office in San Diego, you can find a small tributary of our local watershed that supports a riparian ecosystem.
A Christmas Wish: Sharing and Living the Good News
Our next very special Christmas wish comes from a woman named Jocelyn Dieumène of Barye, Haiti. Jocelyn lives in a place where words like community mean something. In the five years Jocelyn has participated in Plant With Purpose programs, her income has increased as her small plot of land has gone from producing 20 pounds of beans at a time to 50 pounds at a time. She is now able to afford the fees needed to send her three children to school, 
but beyond that Jocelyn says participation in group Bible studies has also encouraged her to give back to her community.
“When I listen to God’s word, my ideas change positively, and I am ready to share with my neighbors,” Jocelyn says.
During the Christmas season, you can help communities like Barye to strengthen their church and community ties by providing critical resources, training, and Bible study materials to pastors and leaders.
Consider giving a gift that will empower churches around the world to engage the needs of their communities in the name of Christ.
A Christmas Wish: Clean Water for Haiti
Forget the iPad, Christmas sweaters, and stocking stuffers, all Visnel wants for Christmas is access to clean water.
In Haiti, the place he calls home, clean water is hard to come by. Waterborne disease kills thousands of people there every single year, a fact that has only grown worse as the country continues fighting a cholera epidemic. In fact, contaminated water nearly cost Visnel his life when he contracted cholera this year. But thanks to his Plant With Purpose community group leader, Visnel arrived at a clinic for treatment just in time.
“Plant With Purpose saved my life!” Visnel says.
Still, while we celebrate this example of the incredible support system people are finding through Plant With Purpose groups, we believe that people like Visnel shouldn’t be getting sick in the first place. Something as simple as the gift of clean water changes communities and saves lives. It means health instead of illness, and it means a better, more hopeful tomorrow. It also means opportunity for Visnel’s children and others like them as they can go to school instead of walking for water each day.
In Matthew 10:42 Jesus says, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”
This Christmas season, consider providing children and families like Visnel’s with access to cold—and more importantly, clean—water.
Click here to meet more farmers like Visnel and view the complete Plant With Purpose Christmas Wish List and give the gift of hope to families in need.
Tree Planting in the Aftermath of the Haiti Earthquake
By Bob Morikawa, Technical Director, from his blog “Where is Bob?”
Ever wondered what has happened in Haiti since the earthquake? Heard the news reports about how there’s been no progress? Here’s a couple of photos of a hillside where we did tree planting in the aftermath, between April and October 2010. In the first photo, you’ll see there are a bunch of contour canals still in place, and the little green patches in the mid foreground are all trees. I skidded down the hill, about a 45 degree slope, to give you a closer view of some of those green patches, which are now 1 to 1.5 meters tall.
I’m not trying to say that Haiti is suddenly going to be reforested. Those little trees have a long way to go…
Here are more pictures of little trees struggling for survival. One of my favorite things, I guess.
Below is a farmer’s plot fenced off to protect seedlings. You can see trees growing in the fence line and the little blobs of green inside the plot, which are trees too. There are dozens of trees here, about 1.5 to 2 meters tall. This plot is probably about 18 months old.
Below is another plot, which is about five years old. For those who know, this is the Pere Albert Memorial plot. (Pere Albert was one of the catalysts to us starting our program in Haiti in 1997.) You can see outside the fence there are not many trees at all, and one of the culprits is lurking around for more food.
A tiny leucaena, which has seeded naturally from the larger trees in the above picture. In a couple of years, this little tree and a half a dozen others I saw scattered around will start to fill in the space in the bottom part of the plot in the picture above. Here’s to you, Pere Albert, where ever you are.
Bob Morikawa is Plant With Purpose’s Technical Director and visits our Haiti program, Floresta-Haiti, a few times a year to collect data, conduct surveys, and meet with farmers to see how they are doing and how we can continue to improve our program and foster innovation.
Hurricane Update: At Home and Abroad
by Aly Lewis
“Aly, get up! We need to move next door!” my cousin yelled to me in the 5 a.m. darkness of the storm. In mere minutes I was on my way to higher ground, sludging through thigh-high water in pj pants, socks, and my cute new flats while carrying my laptop and everything I could scramble into my backpack lit by the dim glow of my cell phone.
I spent the last week on “vacation” visiting relatives near the Outer Banks of North Carolina. If you’re thinking “Outer banks, that sounds familiar. Where have I heard that recently?” That’s right, the Outer Banks was where Hurricane Irene made landfall early, early Saturday morning.
After a day of boarding up houses, taking down porch swings, relocating porch plants to a card table in the living room, and driving cars and trucks to higher ground, you would have thought I’d sleep like a baby. But as the wind howled outside my window and the power flickered the air conditioning on and off, I couldn’t sleep. In my near dreaming delirium, I half expected waves of floodwater to crash through my windows at any moment. When I finally slept, it was short lived.
Although I had been excited for the adventure, I have to admit I was pretty scared when I took that first dark step into the front yard water, debris and downed tree limbs floating by, the propane tank bobbing in the waves. Once I reached the safe (and higher) haven of my relative’s home next door, there was nothing much left for me to do but dry off and wait.
Wait and hope and pray that the tidewaters would stop their threatening surge. That the howling wind and the waves crashing on the doorstep (ocean waves on the doorstep?!) would recede. That the salty water wouldn’t seep into my cousin’s home, destroying floors and carpets, refrigerators and valuables.
The hurricane was terrifying enough in a house built up a few feet for storms like this. I was in a sturdy home. We had generators to supply us with power in the days that followed. We had water for drinking and bathing. We had family members who could take us in.
And that was terrifying enough for me. I can’t imagine living in a small shack, tent, or dirt home like in the Dominican Republic or Haiti. With no power, no water, no protection.
Now back at Plant With Purpose, I am thankful to report that, despite winds and flooding, the loss of life in the Dominican Republic as a result of Hurricane Irene has been minimal. Plant With Purpose was able to reach the affected communities and noted that “the farmers’ resolve is unwavering. Despite loss of animals and damage to farms, they are rebuilding their lives. Communities are mobilizing and taking care of those in need.”
The following is an update from the field on the damages sustained by the communities with whom we work.
San Cristobal
This province, where Plant With Purpose works with a few communities, suffered the most damage as intense rains caused rivers to overflow.
El Aguacero
500 cocoa seedlings and 3,000 seeds in the community tree nursery were
damaged by the rains. Community members also lost 4 cows, 2 pigs, 2 horses
and 1 mule, which are major losses to them. There is a savings group in the
community as well as Bible Study groups, which are providing support to the
victims.
La Joya
Strong winds damaged the electric grid in the community and hasn’t been
repaired yet. Farmers lost 4 hectares of cocoa, which is their primary
source of income. The flooding swept away avocado trees and 2 hectares of
rice were also damaged.
Loma Verde
Community members lost 3 cows and 3 hectares of cocoa swept away by the
risen waters. This community has two savings groups and many Bible Study
groups and the local church is mobilizing to start a literacy program using
the Church, Community, and Change methodology with Plant With Purpose.
Maizal
6 km. of roads were damaged and 4 hectares of cocoa were damaged by the
intense rains, which caused serious mudslides.
Hormigo
4 cows and 1 horse and cocoa plants were swept away by the river.
Thank you again for your prayers and support of our partners in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti. And thank you for the Plant With Purpose staff’s faithful prayers for me and my family in North Carolina!
Update on Flooding in the DR from Hurricane Irene
Last week, Hurricane Irene 
brought heavy rains and winds to the Caribbean, causing flooding in some areas of the Dominican Republic. Most of the damage in our program was concentrated in the province of San Cristobal, an area southwest of the capital, Santo Domingo. All the bridges in San Cristobal collapsed and as of last Thursday there was no way to access the communities on the other side. We are still waiting to hear from our Floresta-Dominican Republic staff to see if they were able to get through.
Overall there was a lot of damage to bridges, homes, farms, and the electric grid. Sadly, we received reports that three homes were lost in the community of La Represa and three people were missing, one of which swam after a drowning cow. The Haina River overflowed into most of the community and some homes and the school collapsed due to their proximity to the flooded river in Aguacero. Electricity was also lost.
Farmers in the community of Loma Verde lost cocoa trees and some people close to the river lost their homes.
Farmers in the community of Hormigo also lost cocoa trees, as well as cows, horses, and all their bridges.
Although there is some very substantial damage, we are grateful that the destruction was not worse. This is, in part, a testimony to the good work that Floresta-Dominican Republic has been doing for so many years. In 2004, a deforested hillside washed away during a flood and wiped out an entire community called Jimaní. Plant With Purpose works to prevent similar deadly mudslides from occurring by reforesting hillsides, constructing soil conservation barriers, and restoring watersheds.
Our Program Director, Armando Osorio, was in the Dominican Republic last week and said that the Dominican Center for Emergency Operations, which brings together most government ministries and the armed forces, is responding well to the emergency. They had helicopters rescuing people and delivering food to those that needed it.
Armando also said, “The sun is out today (last Thursday) and the waters are receding. Neighbors are helping each other. Even in the midst of the rains yesterday, Dominicans were outside getting wet and having fun.”
Please pray for our staff as they continue to assess damages and mobilize to meet the greatest needs to support communities and families. And keep Haiti and the Dominican Republic in your prayers, especially as more storms continue to form in the Caribbean and the Atlantic. We heard from our Haiti Program Director, Guy Paraison, and thankfully he said, “Thanks to God that the areas where Floresta-Haiti is working are safe!”
This bridge, which leads to the communities of La Rosa, La Represa, El Aguacero, Loma Verde, and La Joya did not collapse, but the water has overflowed, making it impossible for our truck to pass. We are waiting to hear from our in-country staff to see if they were able to get through over the weekend.
Hope Takes Root in a Second Generation in Haiti
By Kate Nare, Marketing Coordinator
Meet Elizé Calixte from the Savanette community in Haiti. He is 19 years old and lives with his mom, his step-father, and six other relatives. His mother has been working with Plant With Purpose’s Haiti program, Floresta-Haiti, since 2007. She earns a living by baking and selling bread in the market to contribute to the family’s income. Additionally, with loans she received from Floresta-Haiti she was able to construct a cistern, begin diverse farming techniques, and send Elizé to school.
Recently, Elizé graduated from high school and officially became a member of the Savanette Floresta-Haiti community group. He is using his carpentry skills to make furniture which he sells in the market. Since joining the group Elizé has contributed to the micro-watershed restoration project, which involves constructing soil conservation barriers and planting trees to restore the health of the soil and prevent erosion. He has also learned diverse agro-forestry practices, such as growing fruit trees side by side with timber trees to prevent soil erosion and increase his yields to provide food and income for his family.
Elizé’s mother said, “Floresta-Haiti has taught us many things and we are very grateful. We are excited to see our lives improving and it is a joy for me to see my son using his education to help our family. His has a very entrepreneurial spirit.”
This is what Plant With Purpose’s work is all about: families learning and implementing sustainable techniques to lift themselves out of poverty and create opportunities to break the cycle of poverty and provide hope for the next generation. Elizé’s story is one of many, and we are honored and grateful to work with these hard-working individuals.
Visit our website, www.plantwithpurpose.org, to learn how you can sponsor a village in Haiti for $30 per month. With our matching grant, this amount will be doubled to $60 per month to make an even greater impact in the lives of the rural poor in Haiti.
Sevenly.org Sells ‘Tees for Trees’ to Raise Money to Plant Trees in Haiti
Plant With Purpose is excited to partner with Sevenly, a non-profit whose mission is to raise capital and awareness for the world’s greatest causes, to raise funds and awareness to plant trees in Haiti.
Each week Sevenly.org features a different Christian non-profit and raises funds for their cause by selling a stylish, specially designed t-shirt. Tees cost $24 each, and $7 will go toward the non-profit’s cause.
Plant With Purpose’s goal is to raise $2,400 to plant thousands of trees in Haiti to restore watersheds, provide food and income, and grow hope for poor rural farmers.
This campaign will only last until next Monday (seven days!) and these fashionable tees, available in men’s and women’s sizes, will only be for sale this week. So make sure to check out the website and consider purchasing a tee to plant trees in Haiti!
Highlights from Haiti
In this picture, the children from “Immaculee Conception,” a local school in Fonds Verrettes, Haiti, are receiving seedlings from their own nursery to plant on a nearby farm. This helps them learn the tree planting process and helps them get involved with the local community.
Here, the children are being instructed on how to plant the seedlings. This is part of Floresta-Haiti’s Environmental Education program, which teaches children the long-term benefits of planting trees and how to plant them. There are 200-300 children in the school, and 50 of them have participated this year in the Environmental Education program. The technician, pictured here in the blue shirt, is supervising to make sure the children are planting the trees properly.
This fishpond was created a year ago in the Fonds Verettes community. There are about 8-dozen fish in this pond. Fishponds are an excellent way for communities to quickly produce fish to sell in the market, and also to eat, increasing their incomes and providing extra nutrition for their families. The beneficiary of this pond, Jean Robert Midiate, fished with family and friends last Easter to have food for their celebration. Right now there are preparations in the works for more fishponds in the Fonds Verretts area.
Mrs. Enette Mathurin, pictured here, is a member of the Fonds Verettes community. She recently visited the Floresta-Haiti office in Fonds Verrettes to thank Plant With Purpose for teaching her the technique of breeding her goats. Goats provide families with nourishment and income and can even increase crop yields by providing fertilizer. And, because they eat just about anything, they’re easy to raise. Enette now has four goats and says she is very thankful for Plant With Purpose’s help!
Please pray for Haiti as we enter the six-month long hurricane season, starting June 1st. The U.S. government forecasters expect it to be an above average season. We pray that Haiti will be spared and that the people we work with will be able to continue to rebuild their lives unhindered.
If you would like to support a village in Haiti, please click here.
