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FIELD
Marco and Jennine, together with their four children, serve as part of the economic development team. This team develops economic enterprises that provide resources for ministry. The funds generated support indigenous pastors and their new church plants as well as much-needed community projects, such as wells for clean drinking water.

In 2003, Marco and Jennine trained and worked with a sustainable agriculture for missions program in Nicaragua. In 2007 the Varlesis lived and served in Mexico, where Marco participated in a project building and installing over 200 clean water filters alongside a national pastor. During that time Jennine and the children ministered to women and children in the community. They also initiated a bathroom and shower project, worked with feeding centers, an orphanage, and other ministries reaching the community with the gospel of Christ.

While they worked on the water project in the poverty-stricken colonias of Mexico, they noticed a large portion of the outlying communities relied on feeding programs and assistance with basic nutrition. Those feeding programs were not always funded, so assistance was not consistent. Those not living close to a feeding project simply went without.

God has placed passion in their hearts to teach sustainable gardening practices, intertwined with the gospel message, to those who would like to learn to feed themselves, ultimately replacing reliance with sustainability. The program is taught in communities alongside a local pastor, or to a group of national pastors and missionaries in order to reach their communities.

FAITH
Marco came to know the Lord as a young child. He describes a very challenging childhood and adolescence. By age 21 his wisdom and experiences were beyond his years and his faith was strong. He has been missions minded for as long as he can remember.

Jennine also came to know the Lord as a young child, growing spiritually with each passing year. She has an incredible faith she attributes to a blessed childhood. Experiencing her mom’s faith and relationship with God and the constant love and provision God poured out on their family, she came to trust the Lord implicitly.

FAMILY
Marco and Jennine married in 1994 andhave been blessed with four beautiful children.

EDUCATION
Both Marco and Jennine were formally trained for agriculture in missions through Mercy Ships, participating in a hands-on training in Nicaragua, specific to agriculture and missions.
Marco: B.S. in agriculture with a minor in international agricultural development from Oregon State University.
Jennine: B.S. in accounting from Linfield College