In the Peñoles watershed of Mexico, Sara’s days used to be filled with quiet uncertainty. At 47 years old, she spent most of her time at home, supporting her husband, who worked as a farmer, and supporting their 24-year-old child. Life in their rural community was shaped by the rhythms of the land—land that was growing increasingly difficult to depend on.

Sara remembers feeling hesitant when she first heard about a Purpose Group forming in her community through Plant With Purpose. “It was difficult for me to join a Purpose Group,” she recalled. “It was the first time I was going to participate. I thought about the questions they might ask me, and I was worried about what I was going to say—if I would be able to answer.”

But something shifted when Sara attended an Environmental Care workshop at her local church. The workshop highlighted the connection between environmental health and community well-being, and it stirred something inside her. She saw the Purpose Group as an opportunity not only to improve her family’s circumstances but also to become part of something larger—a shared effort toward healing both the land and the bonds within the community.

Discovering the Power of Collective Strength

Encouraged by the workshop, Sara joined the Purpose Group. At first, she wasn’t sure what to expect, but it didn’t take long for her to recognize the benefits.

“After a few months, I saw that when someone needed money, they gave them a loan,” Sara shared. “I realized that would be a help when I needed it.” The Purpose Group offered a safety net—something that had been missing in her life before. “There are benefits in the group. When the cycle ends, we receive the savings to cover our needs.”

But the impact extended beyond financial stability. Through the Purpose Group, Sara gained access to agricultural training and resources. She learned how to make compost and participated in setting up a macrotunnel—a protected growing space that allowed her to produce tomatoes both for her family and for sale. The surplus income gave her more flexibility and confidence.

“I also started learning about nursery activities,” she said. “I planted 300 fruit tree seeds. The nursery plants have been sold, and that income helps those of us who work there.”

Through Plant With Purpose, Sara discovered that change doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Simple yet thoughtful steps—composting, planting trees, growing food in a macrotunnel—can bring significant improvements to both the land and a family’s well-being.

Facing Environmental Challenges with Faith and Action

Like many rural communities, Sara’s village faces increasingly harsh environmental conditions. Farmers struggle with unpredictable weather patterns, including heavy rains, hailstorms, and late-season frosts that can wipe out an entire crop overnight.

“The lack of rain, the hailstorms, and the frosts affect the crops. Sometimes the crops are completely lost,” Sara explained. “Now these climate changes are more extreme. Some years it rains very little; this year, it rained a lot.”

But Sara has seen how collective action can make a difference. The Purpose Group encouraged the community to work together to confront environmental challenges.

“To overcome these problems, we need to change the way we treat the land,” she said. “We need to stop throwing garbage in the streets and rivers and plant more trees.”

Community action has become a regular part of life. The parents of young children in the village organize monthly river clean-ups, and Sara has seen firsthand how these small but consistent efforts create a healthier environment.

“What’s happening in our community is encouraging,” Sara said. “We are learning to care for the land and each other.”

Strengthening Relationships Through Environmental Care

Perhaps the most profound change Sara has experienced is not just the improvement of her farm or her financial situation but the deepening of her relationships with her family and community.

“Now we live more like families and neighbors,” Sara said with warmth. “Through working in the nursery, I’ve had closer contact with my brother, sister, brother-in-law, nieces, and nephews. We agree on things, and we go as a team to bring fertilizer from the forest.”

She described how these shared activities have strengthened family bonds. “At the end of the activity, we have lunch together. It’s a good time for us.”

Plant With Purpose’s holistic approach recognizes that environmental health and social cohesion are interconnected. By working together to restore the land, Sara and her neighbors have rebuilt trust and solidarity. They are no longer facing environmental and economic challenges alone—they are facing them as a community.

Finding God in Nature’s Restoration

Through the process of restoring the land, Sara has also deepened her relationship with God.

“Nature has taught me that He provides all things,” she reflected. “God allows us to work the land to have plants and harvest the food we need. I keep that in mind when doing nursery and field activities.”

Sara’s work in the nursery has become an act of faith—a way of participating in God’s creation and honoring the gift of the earth.

Taking care of the land is more than just a means of survival; it’s a form of stewardship. Through Plant With Purpose’s training, Sara has come to see her role as a caretaker of both her family and the environment. She recognizes that working with the land—rather than exploiting it—reflects the harmony that God intended for creation.

A Hopeful Future Rooted in Community and Faith

Sara’s story illustrates the quiet but powerful impact of holistic environmental work. Healing the land and strengthening community bonds are not separate tasks—they are deeply intertwined.

Through Plant With Purpose, Sara has gained tools to navigate environmental challenges and improve her family’s financial stability. But beyond that, she has discovered the strength that comes from community solidarity. By working together to restore the land, Sara and her neighbors are reclaiming hope—a hope that was once fragile but is now rooted in shared effort and faith.

“This has given me hope for the future,” Sara said. “I know that we can face challenges together. We have the tools, the knowledge, and the faith to keep moving forward.”

Sara’s transformation reflects Plant With Purpose’s core belief that environmental restoration is not just about planting trees or improving soil health—it’s about healing relationships. When people work together to care for creation, they are also caring for one another.

Thanks to the generosity of Plant With Purpose’s supporters, Sara now faces the future with confidence and peace. Her story is a testament to the power of faith, resilience, and collective action—a story that will continue to unfold with each new seed planted and each new connection formed.