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Marta standing in one of her fields and holding crops

God is at work through your support to renew all things. Just ask Marta.

Marta lived in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, for many years. She worked in a textile factory, got married, had children, and “lived a normal life like any other,” she said.

But then gangs threatened her family. Her brother disappeared and was never seen again. Her entire life was turned upside down.

You were there to help her build a new life.

Seeking Refuge

Marta’s husband did not want to leave San Salvador, so she took her children and fled to a remote, rural community where she lived for a time as a child. In San Salvador, she worked in a textile factory. But in her new community, the only opportunity to earn a living was through farming.

Marta had never grown food before, and the work was difficult. Following advice from a government agency, she took out a loan and planted bananas—but then the river flooded and destroyed their crops. She and her family needed to sell part of their land in order to pay their debt.

With the brothers of Seeds of New Creation, we have learned that the Christian faith is in everything we do, in agricultural work, interpersonal relationships, caring for creation.

“Some time later we decided on corn, squash, and a little sorghum but with few results,” said Marta.

On top of their struggles producing profitable crops, many people in their region fell sick with kidney failure because of chemicals used as pesticides.

When Marta met a staff member from Seeds of New Creation, a Resonate partner, her life started to change. She eagerly accepted their invitation to join an agricultural program to learn new skills.

Walking Alongside Families

“Seeds of New Creation has been active in the region for many years, assisting local families to grow their own food in a sustainable way,” said Roland Vanderburg, one of your Resonate missionaries. Roland works with Seeds of New Creation and their programs throughout El Salvador.

Through the agriculture program, your ministry partners at Seeds of New Creation provided much-needed support for Marta and her family. They equipped Marta with knowledge, skills, and resources to help her sustainably produce quality crops that are safe for her family, the land, and her surrounding community. One key learning was to expand her crops to include nutritional fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes.

“Her tomato crop was substantial, and is encouraging her—and her neighbors—to continue to expand their production for themselves, their families, their communities, their country and for the kingdom of God,” said Roland.

Renewing All Things

Not only has Marta seen a more bountiful harvest through the program with Seeds of New Creation, she has also come to understand her work growing food as part of her work as a follower of Christ.

“With the brothers of Seeds of New Creation, we have learned that the Christian faith is in everything we do, in agricultural work, interpersonal relationships, caring for creation,” she said.

Marta is grateful to God for the new start in life that was given her in rural El Salvador.

That’s why you send Resonate missionaries like Roland into communities in your own country and throughout the world. Compelled by God’s commission to renew all things, your Resonate ministry leaders like Roland and his colleagues at Seeds of New Creation are working to engage people in the Holy Spirit’s call to live out God’s mission in every aspect of their lives!

“Marta is grateful to God for the new start in life that was given her in rural El Salvador,” said Roland. “She shows us that with our [encouragement] … people can achieve their desires, for the glory of God.”

Thank You!

Thank you for walking alongside Marta and her family. Your support of missionaries like Roland has helped Marta to provide for her family and community—and live into a new calling in farming that God has placed on her life.

“Learning never ends; it has been a process that never ends,” said Marta.

Through your Resonate missionaries and ministry partners, you will be there with her every step of the way.