Dear friends,
There are so many things to be thankful for this year, and your unwavering support is one of them. It has made a huge and lasting difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in eight different countries.
I can often get lost in the numbers—the number of countries we work in, the number of people served, the number of trees planted, the number of meals eaten—but it is frequently more effective to let our partners tell their own stories. Many come to mind, but I was recently touched when I heard Gertrude’s story.
Gertrude, who lives with her family in the Rombo district of Tanzania, tells of a time in the recent past when she had to beg to get enough food to feed her children. She remembers the terrible day she was called to the school because her son had fainted from hunger. At her wit’s end, she says, “I had no choice but to pray to God.”
Shortly thereafter she heard about Plant With Purpose and was “fascinated by the things the organization does.” She joined a Purpose Group, where she learned to save, and practice regenerative agriculture techniques. She began to grow green vegetables, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins. With the money she earned from that she was able to build a chicken coop. She began to prosper.
She shares, “I used to have a poor and rickety outhouse, which was dangerous, especially at night. One night, a hyena passed by, and I was so scared … God protected me that night. Now I have a modern toilet, and I even feel comfortable welcoming a guest to my home.
“I used to be the one begging for food, but now I produce enough that I can help feed the less fortunate … My relationship with God is different after joining the group, for I was an angry person who drank alcohol. [Now I am] free from life’s stress. I am no longer the person I used to be.”
Gertrude’s story reminds me of the significance of the work we are doing with your support. Amazingly, it is representative of tens of thousands of others. By partnering with us, you are not just lifting people out of poverty, you are giving them peace of mind and the confidence to thrive. You are answering God’s call to love your neighbor. None of this could be done without your partnership.
For people and planet,
Scott Sabin
