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MI trained the church members as they built a cement water tank in 2006 that provides 22 families with clean water, saving them the long hike down to the valley. The project was followed by 10 ecological latrines and 22 ecological stoves in 2007. Recipients are selected by ballot, and benefits are shared among Christians and non-Christians.

We have an impromptu lunch on the hand-carved pews as a strong breeze blows through the wall-less chapel toward the deforested hills. We dig into bowls of mole amarillo containing chicken from an MI community project that trains locals to raise better chickens in coops. Those who do well at the community garden can receive a chicken project.

In the valley sits Loma Chimedia, where we visit a women's microfinance group, one of 12 run by MI.

Isadora shows off her table decorations made out of corn husks, pine needles, and flowers. She has spent three hours of her free time from daily chores each day since 2004 on her handcrafts, which she sells in nearby towns. Her yarn purses take one month to make. Her bracelets take five minutes.

"I'm very glad to learn how to make things that I didn't know I could do," said the hardworking mother of four. "I feel better about myself, I have more self-confidence, and now I can help with the costs of the house."

Loma Chimedia first partnered with MI five years ago over their most basic need: access to water. A water tank was followed by family gardens, latrines, and ecological stoves. Then a tomato-producing greenhouse, MI's first of 20.

"Now I can't imagine carrying buckets of water or using the same old latrines. We have a better quality of life because we have water," said Alier, 26, president of Grupo Xe'e Xiki, which operates the greenhouse. The Catholic group will use proceeds to build a training center to preserve their Mixteca language.

Next we visit Rio Yutanume, where MI helps an independent missionary church provide its neighbors with family gardens and chicken projects.

"For me this work is a testimony," said Eracleo Garcia, 73, pastor of the church since he came to faith in 1984 after healing from a kidney ailment. "We can evangelize through these projects."

The adobe church with red metal doors built in 1992 offers the Community, Church, and Change workshop to helps its 40 attending families identify community members in need and bring MI projects to them.

"We share projects and share the gospel so they can have a better quality of life," said Garcia. Seven chicken projects have led to conversions. A greenhouse project brought two families to faith. This weekend Garcia is going to a nearby community where recipients of MI projects have asked to learn more about God.

MI doesn't evangelize or disciple directly. Instead they connect people to the local church. "Even though I don't always share the gospel with the Bible in my hand, my attitude is even more effective," said Eduardo Lopez Cortez, who coordinates MI's reforestation projects.

This partnership is healing souls as it heals the land. "We are completing the commandment of God to serve our neighbor," said MI director Castellanos. "We know that as Christians we are the body of Christ. Churches do worship, preaching, and evangelism. MI helps meet people's physical needs. One hand helps the other hand, and together they complete the integral mission."

Jeremy Weber is associate editor for news at Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2009 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

This article accompanies one on Floresta's work, "Trees of Life: How Floresta integrates development, discipleship, and creation care overseas."

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November (Web-Only) 2009, Vol. 53