rural
All, Burundi, DR Congo, Tanzania
A Village Homecoming
Displacement affects about 10.7 Million people in Africa Displacement refers to somebody who has left their home due to force or a lack of safety, in most cases, conflict. This term differs from refugee status, since refugees are technically defined by crossing a national border. When regional conflicts came to the area of Dushirwe, many […]
Read More
All, Environmental Restoration, Meditations, Our Response
The Role of Empathy in Environmental Protection
Terence Lester says that “to really understand something, we often need to experience it for ourselves or at least hear the story of someone who has experienced it.” This captures the importance of empathy when it comes to problem solving. And when it comes to understanding our environment and its challenges, empathy is especially […]
Read More
All, Living Sustainably, Meditations
Rolling Up Your Sleeves for Creation Care
Perhaps you’ve been with us on the journey of environmental restoration for some time. You care deeply. You often look at the big picture of what environmental challenges look like across the globe. But for those wanting to get more involved, the big picture can sometimes look too broad. If you’re the type of person […]
Read More
All, Podcast
The Crossroads of Faith and Sustainability
The two go hand-in-hand “I’m so happy I discovered your organization. I’m a Christian and I’ve been wondering where my love for the environment fits in with my faith!” This isn’t an unusual comment for us to hear sometimes. There are many people with a deep Christian faith who hold a belief that our responsibility […]
Read More
All, Meditations
Overlooked Environmental Quotes from Historical Christian Leaders
Following Jesus and taking care of the planet go hand-in-hand. While today’s churches might easily overlook our role as stewards and caretakers of the planet, this hasn’t always been the case. Throughout church and Biblical history, our relationship with the natural world has often been seen as a reflection of our relationship with God. The […]
Read More
All, Why I Support
Paddling 22 miles for Plant With Purpose
22 miles on a paddleboard is no easy feat! Will Allen and Emily Bark will be paddling 22 miles from Catalina to Palos Verdes to support Plant With Purpose this month! They have chosen to raise money to plant trees in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of Plant With Purpose’s newer countries where communities […]
Read More
All, blog
The Geotag Debate
Horseshoe Bend. Havasupai Falls. The Happy Boulders in Bishop, California. It seems like not long ago, these places were under-the-radar beauties for outdoor adventurers. A visit would’ve been a chance to escape into solitude while admiring these natural spectacles. Actually, it wasn’t that long ago. A decade, give-or-take. Today, however, these places get visitors by […]
Read More
All, blog, Mexico
We Have Never Felt Stronger
There are times when it’s hard to feel strong. Think of a time in your life when it seems like one challenge after another kept rising up, and it started to take an emotional toll. Sometimes, it’s not just a calamity that can leave you discouraged, but a constant stream of challenges and bad news. […]
Read More
All, Haiti
Can You Reap What You Sow?
You reap what you sow, right? You’ve heard the expression, I’m sure. It comes right out of Scripture– several times. Galatians 6:7 reads, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." 2 Corinthians explains that the point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows […]
Read More
All, blog, Haiti
Haiti’s Challenges
Haiti’s challenges are deep and complex. One of the most famous images of Haiti contrasts its lack of vegetation with a neighboring National Park in the Dominican Republic. The difference is so stark that nature follows the political border. A flight into Haiti might provide another example of its environmental situation and the challenge it […]
Read More
All, Dominican Republic
Breaking Ground in the Borderlands
If you’ve been to the Dominican Republic, chances are, you saw the eastern part of the country, either the coast or the area around the capital of Santo Domingo. Statistically, these are the places most visitors go. Far fewer visitors go west. If you have, you may have more intimate knowledge of the Dominican Republic, […]
Read More
All, Dominican Republic
The only nail polish I use is dirt
Fefela stands out in her community for her hard work and dedication to restoration. In fact, Fefela might never sit down. During our team’s visit to her community of Los Piños, she was up and moving the entire time, making sure that everything was running smoothly. The community of Los Piños in the Dominican Republic […]
Read More
All, Dominican Republic
God is very much alive
Has God ever felt quiet to you? God is always present and near. But that doesn’t mean it always feels that way. Throughout the course of one’s lifetime, there may be long stretches of silence and seasons that feel unusually dry. Sometimes, our relationship with God can feel like going on a long road trip […]
Read More
About Our Work, All
Love, Hope, and Chocolate
The start of something sweet Juan urged us to come a little bit closer to look at what was growing on some of the trees on his farm. A team from Plant With Purpose was visiting Juan and some of his neighbors in his community in the Dominican Republic. For years, Plant With Purpose had […]
Read More
About Our Work, All, Resources
How layered agroforestry can help millions
In order to help people, Plant With Purpose plants trees! That’s the short version of why we exist. The longer version of that is, well, much more nuanced. The way we plant trees is just as important as the fact that we plant them. We encourage and empower locals to participate in reforestation, for starters. […]
Read More