December 2017
A Publication of
From the President We have been using the word transformation to discuss the changes in our organization. As in every other area of life, the work we do and the environment in which we do it are both rapidly changing. It is both exciting and challenging. It is exciting because new opportunities will help us provide truly personalized services for each individual. Personalized services are led by the desires and goals of the person served, instead of being determined by what’s available. It is challenging because what has been familiar is changing. Mosaic doesn’t ‘look’ the same as it did a decade ago—some services are changing, or maybe even disappearing. The best examples right now are our residential services. In a few of the states we serve, we no longer operate any group homes. People live instead in supported environments in host homes, apartments and family homes. Yet, in other states, our primary service is still group homes. Both models of service are a part of our mission; it is not one or the other, it’s both. Why is Mosaic changing? We are responding to what people want and to the need to find more efficient models of service as Medicaid funding reductions occur. In the 1980s and 1990s, group homes offered a great alternative to the institutions in which many people had spent much of their lives. Many of those families and individuals still believe in and want group home living. Today, many younger people and families do not want group home living and they seek services where fewer people live together. So we find alternatives; the people we serve should drive the services we offer. In the future, Mosaic will not ‘look’ the same as we once did. We are much less about places and much more about focusing on people. But our values and mission remain intact: to serve and advocate will always be at the heart of Mosaic. Thank you for being a partner in Mosaic’s mission. We cannot do what we do without the help and support of many people. I also wish you the best of the holiday season. May you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Sincerely,
Linda Timmons, President and Chief Executive Officer
IN THIS ISSUE Mission Embracing God’s call to serve in the world, Mosaic advocates for people with intellectual disabilities and provides opportunities for them to enjoy a full life.
Mosaic Board of Directors Conrad Theodore Swanson Chairperson
The Mosaic Foundation Board of Directors Kent Cattarello Chairperson
James Olmsted Vice Chairperson
Robert Graulich Vice Chairperson
Linda Burt Second Vice Chairperson
Ramona Edwards Secretary
The Rev. Keith Hohly Secretary
Devin Gorman
Edward L. Barker James S. Bowen The Rev. Daniel Forehand Megan Gustafson Kathy Patrick Akash Sethi Sandra Scott
Richard Herman Susan Lutz Kevin Meyer Mark Nicholson Pamela Spadaro Conrad Theodore Swanson ex-officio
Pamela Spadaro James Totsch
Embracing a Broader Definition of Communication. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Communication Was Key During Harvey. . . . 7 A Little Support Goes a Long Way . . . . . . . . . 8 Mosaic Donors Help Hurricane Victims Get Back on Their Feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Student-Designed Emergency Operations Plan Meets Regulatory Requirements. . . . . . 10 Meaningful Gift Honors Multi-Generation Legacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 First Class of Students Graduates from BCC’s Young Adult Program . . . . . . . . 15 Landscaping Skills Put to Good Use on “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday . . . . . . . 18 Service and Justice Trip Shatters Expectations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
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Unless otherwise noted, all stories written by Taylour Kumpf, Marketing and Communications Specialist. Publisher: Renee Coughlin, Senior Vice President of Mission Advancement Editor: Randall Donner, Communications Director Promise shares stories and insights about the ministry of Mosaic. Copyright ©2017, Mosaic. Mosaic is a 501(c)(3) organization. 4980 S. 118th Street | Omaha, NE 68137-2220 info@mosaicinfo.org | 877.366.7242
Our cover features Marcus Capozzelli, who receives support from Mosaic in Southeast Texas. Read how he supports his community on page 8.
mosaicinfo.org mosaicpossible.org
Mosaic is an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and a member of Lutheran Services in America.
@mosaicpossible
Mosaic will not discriminate in matters of employment or service delivery on the basis of race, creed, age, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status or veteran status.
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@mosicpossible
Embracing a Broader Definition of
COMMUNICATION
Deb has always wanted to help people. Through her job at HyVee, she’s able to do that.
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All my life, I’ve wanted to help people, so this means a lot to me. The word “communication” has several definitions. It is described as “the exchanging of information,” “social contact” and “the successful sharing of ideas and feelings.”
“Verbal” is not a prerequisite for communication, yet many people default to this mode, ignoring more nuanced expressions. Living with cerebral palsy, Deb Arguello has a broader understanding of communication than most, and said she wishes people were better listeners. “It frustrates me when people don’t understand me,” Arguello said. “So, I get frustrated that I’m not able to talk better. What people say or ask doesn’t usually bother me, but it’s how people stare at me that’s frustrating. They just don’t take the time to listen.” Arguello, who is supported by Mosaic in Central Iowa, said she has encountered many people who are just not quite sure how to approach her.
“I think people don’t know what to think or how to treat me,” she said. “I wish they would see me! I wish they would talk to me instead of my staff and treat me as the adult I am.”
There have been times when this lack of understanding has left her feeling uncomfortable in the workplace, Arguello said. “When I worked at a hospital in 1995, my wheelchair broke down and I got very mad,” she explained. “The doctors automatically assumed I was having a seizure because of my behavior. I felt so uncomfortable that I didn’t go back. I thought they wouldn’t think of me the same way.”
Taking matters into her own hands, Arguello started a cerebral palsy support group for people with similar frustrations. While the group no longer meets, Arguello said, “It was a group of people like me that have communication devices. I called it Happy Voices. Our goal was to teach each other how to better use our communication devices. We used to meet once a month. Happy Voices was up and running for a
year, but unfortunately with so many different schedules, it was hard for people to get there.” Arguello’s motivation to start Happy Voices was her desire to make a difference in people’s lives. “I wanted to help people with their communication devices because I know their struggle,” she said. “I feel people with communication devices should be able to communicate better with their device. People don’t take the time to listen to those who have communication devices. As people use their devices more, they become more comfortable talking with others.”
One of her hopes is that people can overcome the perceived barriers when communicating with individuals with cerebral palsy. “I wish people knew how to talk to us,” she said. “I wish they would try to get to know us more instead of thinking or seeing that something is ‘wrong’ with us.” Promise | 3
Those close to Arguello describe her as a champion for disability rights. “I am proud of myself,” she said. “I advocate for myself and others. It’s an honor to hear that others see me as an advocate, too.” She said living with cerebral palsy does not make her inherently inspirational. “I have to live with it!” she said. “There’s no choice in the matter. However, it does make me feel better that people see me as an inspiration.” Beyond her efforts to ensure people with cerebral palsy have a voice, Arguello lives a meaningful life in a variety of ways. Her job at HyVee is just one example.
“I feel like I’m helping people, which is something I love to do,” she said. “All my life, I’ve wanted to help people, so this means a lot to me. I feel very accomplished and proud of myself because I never expected to be able to have a job.” “This month marks my one-year anniversary at HyVee, so I’m pretty excited about that!” she added. Arguello, 47, said the job has also helped her achieve greater independence. “I’ve learned how to be a good worker and how to work with others in the community,” she said. “I’ve also learned how to do some problem-solving, which has helped me become more independent.”
Arguello has been with Mosaic for seven years and lives in a group home. “I love Mosaic!” she said. “Before I moved here, I didn’t get out into the community much with the other organizations I was with. I really like that each home has its own van. I have more staff helping me at Mosaic, as well.”
Since she has been at Mosaic, Arguello said she spends more time doing things she enjoys. “I love Facebook! And email. I also like to get out of the house. I like to go to the movies when I’m able to. I go to church every week. I also like to hang out my cat, Cowboy. We watch movies in my room sometimes. Chick flicks, of course!”
Advocate for People with Disabilities with Mosaic Allied Voices Mosaic envisions a world where everyone can lead their best life—but we can’t do it alone. Joining Mosaic Allied Voices is one of the easiest ways you can make a difference. All you need is an email address. Mosaic Allied Voices volunteers promote public awareness of disability issues, advocate for equality and help advance policies that support people like Deb. Mosaic provides information about issues that affect people with disabilities and helps volunteers contact elected officials using an easy-to-use messaging system. Sign up at mosaicalliedvoices.org.
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Read about these stories and more at mosaicpossible.org.
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Saretta’s Driving Experience
Coming Soon to Mosaic Possible: “The Waiver Waiting List”
This past summer, Saretta Jones received her driver’s license after the seventh attempt to pass the road test. That’s persistence. That’s Saretta. (posted Fri, 12/08/2017)
To live full lives, people with disabilities and their families rely on home and community based services (HCBS), which cover everything from residential supports, day supports and employment services to personal attendant care. Mosaic is dedicated to providing these services, which mean the people we support can do things they choose during the day, they can get the support they need to communicate their wants, needs and goals, and they can live meaningful lives in their communities.
“A wonderful thing ... to worship together” Enjoy a personal testimony from Pam Abbott that highlights the respect and value a family felt because of Rejoicing Spirits, a ministry of Mosaic. (Posted Mon, 11/06/2017)
This January, we will launch a six-part blog series exploring the challenges people with disabilities face when trying to secure Medicaid waivers for these services, which are deemed optional, rather than mandatory by the government. The series will feature personal stories from people in service and their parents and guardians, many of whom had to wait months and sometimes years for waiver spots to open up. We will also share tips on how you can help people on the waiting list through natural supports and much more.
Discover “The Waiver Waiting List” at mosaicpossible.org this January.
HOUSTONSTRONG
Communication Was Key During Harvey By Carrie Gubsch As the waters of Hurricane Harvey surrounded his house, Dewan Graves was sheltered away on the second floor of his next door neighbor’s house. His main focus? Firing off emails and searching his phone—making sure his contractors had what they needed to support people with intellectual disabilities in Mosaic’s care. Graves was one of several Mosaic employees charged with ensuring that the people Mosaic supports could survive Hurricane Harvey. Harvey, a Category 4 hurricane, wreaked havoc on the Houston area, killing 77 people, threatening millions more and causing an estimated $180 billion in damage. “Even while that was imminent he continued to work,” said Jenniffer leDoux, Executive Director of Mosaic in Southeast Texas.
Hurricanes and other natural disasters are especially dangerous for people with disabilities, who are often left out of community disaster planning and have unique needs in emergencies. Studies from the United Nations and the Red Cross show that people with disabilities and the elderly are more likely to be left behind. Mosaic’s teams in the Houston and San Angelo areas gathered before Harvey hit.
Because most of Mosaic’s services are provided using the Mosaic at Home model, planning to support independent contractors and family members was key. “We talked about how to keep in contact with individuals on a daily basis,” said Steven Roberts, Mosaic’s Vice President of Operations in Texas. Mosaic’s case managers made it a priority to contact each person in service several times a day, making sure they had food, clothing, medications and any other essentials needed to survive the storm. When it became difficult to reach people through phone calls, the team started reaching out to family members on social media to confirm that everyone was okay. “Keeping our folks out of large evacuation shelters was a priority for us,” leDoux said. Large shelters can be disorienting for people with disabilities, especially for those who are nonverbal. Many shelters are also not equipped to provide for people with disabilities. “The people we support look to us to be an intermediary in these situations,” Roberts added. “Someone has to help bridge some of those gaps. We have connections with these folks and that relationship helps.”
In total, 15 of the people Mosaic supports in the Houston area were displaced from their homes because of the storm. None had to spend time in shelters. “We consistently heard from our families and contractors how grateful they were for the support,” leDoux said. “We were able to provide support when it was so badly needed.” When one Mosaic at Home provider, her family and the person she supported had to evacuate their home, Mosaic employees worked together to ensure that they had a hotel room, delivered groceries and medication and checked in on a constant basis. “This was all while they were all trapped in their own cul-de-sacs,” leDoux added. “I am most fortunate to have highly competent case managers.” Both Roberts and leDoux stressed how incredible it was to see staff put their fears and worries aside to support people and each other. “Despite this being a really tragic event, it ended up really strengthening the relationships with a lot of the people we serve,” leDoux said. “We were quite concerned for each other and it was a time of deep appreciation for our team.”
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A Little Support Goes a Long Way Joy is often found in helping others. This couldn’t be more true for Marcus Capozzelli, a volunteer firefighter who stepped up to support his community during Hurricane Harvey.
“Helping people is in my blood,” Capozzelli said. “It’s my thing. I’ve always wanted to do it.” As wind and rain barraged the Houston area, Capozzelli was on-hand at Needham Fire & Rescue preparing meals and taking calls. As search and rescue needs increased, Capozzelli joined in recovery efforts and helped transport people out of flood zones to safety. Capozzelli, 28, who receives support from Mosaic in Southeast Texas, said coming to the aid of others is just what he does. “I have a big heart,” Capozzelli said. “I don’t care what color you are or what race you are, I’m going to help you no matter what.” “Marcus is always the first to say, ‘What can I help with?’” said Deborah Fulgham, his longtime advocate and intermittent care provider. “He’s very community oriented. He likes to be involved.” Nine years ago, life was quite different for Capozzelli.
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He was misdiagnosed and was, therefore, not receiving the benefits or support he needed to live a meaningful life. Over two and a half years, Fulgham and Capozzelli fought to discover his true diagnosis and get him proper benefits. “We took on the Social Security system together,” Fulgham said. “It was political and stressful, but we kept pushing through doors. It’s been a journey for both of us.” “We’ve gone through a lot together,” Capozzelli added. “Others would have quit a long time ago. There is no other person out there who’s done as much as her. We went from being complete strangers to now like family. She deserves an award.” Now, Fulgham and Capozzelli meet a few times a week and talk on the phone every day. Fulgham helps Capozzelli pay bills, manage his schedule and clean his apartment. Fulgham comes to Capozzelli’s aid so he can focus on helping others.
Mosaic Donors Help Hurricane Victims Get Back on Their Feet By Carrie Gubsch Shortly after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and Mosaic’s offices in the Houston area, Mosaic donors from across the nation stepped up to help. Deborah Fulgham and Marcus Capozzelli fought to discover his true diagnosis and get him proper benefits.
Capozzelli grew up in a firefighting household, so his inclination to lend a hand runs deep. His father, a career firefighter who retired from Needham Fire & Rescue, would take Capozzelli and his older brother, now a firefighter himself, out on rescues as kids. The CPR-certified Capozzelli said he started volunteering with the fire department himself as early as his freshmen year of high school. As Capozzelli works toward becoming a full-time firefighter, he serves the needs of his community in a variety of other ways. In addition to volunteering at the fire department, he builds fences, does yard work and is often the first on the scene of accidents in the neighborhood.
With Fulgham’s help, Capozzelli continues to pursue his goals. “We talk about his life, future plans, dreams, struggles and the reality of those things,” Fulgham said. “Sometimes he struggles through things that hold him back, like he can’t go to college full time because he’ll lose his apartment. It’s a lot of give and take. When we work through these struggles, I tell him there are other ways to get through that door, can we find them?” In May of this year, Capozzelli earned his probationary shield from the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department, and he is currently studying for the Firefighter 1 Exam. Fulgham has also arranged for Capozzelli to begin speech pathology soon.
Within a week of the hurricane hitting, Mosaic donors had given more than $6,000 to support recovery efforts for the people affected by the storm. “It’s heartwarming,” said Steven Roberts, Mosaic’s Vice President of Operations in Texas. “I was really touched by the generosity of people from so far away and from in our own state.” Financial support was especially important since people with disabilities often lack the financial resources to recover when large expenses happen. A person Mosaic supports and his family lost nearly everything they owned when their home flooded. They evacuated their home with nothing but a small bag of personal belongings before the storm hit and everything had to be replaced. “It was tremendous to have the support of Mosaic donors across the country,” said Jenniffer leDoux, Mosaic’s Executive Director in Southeast Texas. So far, funds have been used to help people in service purchase clothing, therapy items, medical bed rails and many more supplies that had been destroyed by flooding from the hurricane. More than 15 people supported by Mosaic were evacuated because of the storm. While most of those who were displaced are back in their homes and doing well, two people have yet to return because of severe flood damage. “Donors from thousands of miles away wanted to know how they could help,” Roberts added. “We know that they would step up even more on a moment’s notice.”
Always moving forward, Capozzelli said, “If I want it, I’m going to get it.” Promise | 9
Student-Designed Emergency Operations Plan Meets Regulatory Requirements When natural disasters and other emergency situations strike, people with disabilities are among the most vulnerable. Disability acts as a multiplier, intensifying risk from both natural and human forces. People with disabilities often cannot evacuate on their own, or they struggle to carry life-preserving medical equipment with them. Thanks to a robust Emergency Operations Plan designed by several student interns from the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) Emergency Services Program, Mosaic is ready to meet the needs of the people it serves in emergencies.
The 126-page plan, the result of months of work by Jennifer Miller, Kain Martin, Kevin Wendt, Monica Rivera and their instructor Tyler Davis, meets federal regulatory requirements, is scalable and can easily be adapted for Mosaic’s 36 agencies.
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The timing of the project’s completion could not have been better, as many of the nation’s healthcare providers, including Mosaic, were up against a tight Nov. 15 deadline to implement new requirements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that standardize emergency response. “The value is over $100,000 just in plan creation and does not account for CMS reimbursements that Mosaic will continue to qualify for,” Davis said. To create the plan, the student intern team referred to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s “Comprehensive Preparedness Guide” and resources from the Department of Health and Human Services.
University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) Emergency Services Program interns (Kain Martin, Monica Rivera, Jennifer Miller and Kevin Wendt) designed an Emergency Operations Plan for Mosaic.
“We wanted to use a national recipe,” Davis said. “There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel.” “We also went out and did the research and asked the questions,” he continued. “We determined who’s in charge during emergencies, where the gaps are and where improvements are needed. There are a million questions to think through, and the sad thing is there are no solid answers to these questions in the U.S.” Davis believes Mosaic can champion change in this realm of emergency management.
“If a strong organization like Mosaic is dedicated to driving the conversation forward and asking questions about life safety for people with disabilities, people will answer,” Davis said. “Organizations like Mosaic need to be part of the training process with emergency services,” he added. “No one else is filling that gap. Experts need to come together to develop best practices because they don’t exist right now.” Discussing the Emergency Operations Plan, Davis spoke highly of his team of student interns, who are all veterans. “You couldn’t do this with regular undergrads without military experience,” he said. “This is actually graduate level work in my opinion. These students should be able to hit the ground running after this program.” Wendt, one of the interns, shared that this was a rare opportunity as a student to be able to design a plan for an actual organization. “Just the simple fact that this project gave me knowledge about the questions I need to ask and things I need to think about when I go into this field after I graduate is invaluable,” he said.
Chris Grimm, proudly displays his official safety manager gear.
Students Look to Chris for Inspiration At the onset of the project, students in the Emergency Services Program had the opportunity to meet Chris Grimm, who receives services from Mosaic in Omaha, and his mother, Janey. Chris and Janey regularly share their story as part of Mosaic’s Discover the Possibilities tours. On Nov. 15, program director Patrick O’Neil named Chris an honorary emergency manager. “It takes a lot of courage to go out and tell your story,” said Tyler Davis, an instructor in program. To find a Discover the Possibilities tour near you, please visit www.mosaicinfo.org. Promise | 11
Meaningful Gift Honors Multi-Generation Legacy Originally a gift to Nels Lindquist from his father, a Swedish Bible has been passed down through Nels’s family for generations and presently resides with Kevin Meyer, his great-grandson.
“It was just something you did in Axtell,” said Meyer’s sister, Karna Converse. “You helped out organizations in the local community, and the whole community embraced Bethphage.”
It was in the pages of this Bible that Meyer recently uncovered a receipt for a $10 gift to Bethphage, one of Mosaic’s legacy organizations, dating back to 1925.
Growing up, Bethphage was simply part of life for Meyer and Converse, whose parents, Janet and Rex Meyer, were just as committed to the organization as previous generations.
“We can now say our family has been connected to Bethphage for at least 92 years,” Meyer said. “It’s exciting to know we go back that far, that our family was aware of Bethphage back then and supported it.”
“I remember going to the campus as a kid when we visited our grandparents,” Meyer said. “My dad, who was a Sunday School superintendent [at our church in Grand Island, Nebraska], would collect Christmas gifts for the campus every year.”
Meyer’s great-grandfather homesteaded about eight miles from Mosaic at Bethphage Village in Axtell, Nebraska and his grandparents, Carl and Esther Lindquist, actively supported Bethphage throughout their lifetimes.
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“We helped collect the gifts at Christmastime,” Converse said. “That was the way my parents brought the message of Bethphage to the Grand Island area.”
Meyer and Converse said they feel it is important to honor their parents’ legacy.
“I think it’s always good to recognize and remember what was important to previous generations and learn why it was important to them,” Converse said. Meyer, who serves on The Mosaic Foundation Board of Directors, said the family’s multi-generation legacy of supporting Mosaic’s mission is “pretty meaningful.” “It shows our family values,” he said. “They existed three generations before me and continue today. Each generation has believed in Mosaic and what it does.” “We like the story of the legacy, but it’s more than that,” Meyer continued. “We each make the choice to continue that legacy, and
we make sure our kids are aware of what Mosaic does and why it’s important to us.”
Meyer’s mother Janet was influential in his decision to join the Board, which she also served on from 1995-2003. “Throughout my life, she was always supportive, but would never push,” Meyer said. “Except when it came to me joining the Mosaic board. She was very direct about it and said, ‘I think you should do this.’” Upon her passing in early 2017, Janet gifted half of the proceeds from the sale of her family’s land near Axtell to Mosaic—a gift that carried with it generations of meaning. “The land had only ever been in our family’s hands,” Meyer said. “By donating the proceeds of the sale to Mosaic, that land continues to support the values of our family.” Meyer shared that his family discussed the decision to make this gift in advance.
“It’s an important conversation for people to have,” he said. “What your parents’ estate plan is, what gifts they’d like to make through that plan and then supporting choices that are important to them.” “Mosaic was very important to my mother for many different reasons,” Meyer said. “It was a real tie to her childhood and lineage. One of the reasons she made a gift of this magnitude is that it became a gift from her family. She had a great emotional attachment to that land, as well as an emotional attachment to Bethphage. She was proud that something that started in Axtell has now expanded far beyond Nebraska. She had trust in the people at Mosaic and the way they led the organization. Because of that trust, she felt comfortable making the gift.” “Mom was always proud to say she was from Axtell and proud that the community supported Bethphage,” Converse said. “She was also proud of the forward movement of the organization, making it stronger and more viable for the future.”
Have you included Mosaic in your estate planning? You, too, can make great things happen for people with disabilities for generations to come by including Mosaic in your estate plan. There are ways to increase your income now or in the future and save money on taxes. With a planned gift, you can also ensure that Mosaic’s mission of providing a life of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities continues long into the future. Contact Jaime Corsar at 877.366.7242 or jaime.corsar@mosaicinfo.org to discuss how planned giving can help you.
With Building a Caring Community 14 | Promise
First Class of Students Graduates from BCC’s Young Adult Program In December, Building a Caring Community (BCC) ushered its first group of graduates from the Young Adult Program into the working world. The Young Adult Program focuses on vocational training and ensures young adults with disabilities will be able to earn a living throughout their lives.
Congratulations to the Class of 2017!
Jonathan
Emmanuel
Before the Moshi center opened, Jonathan’s mother brought him everywhere with her, including to funerals. At a young age, Jonathan loved being around the pastors and being part of the service. Although he cannot read, he carries a psalm book and a Bible to refer to when he prays. According to his job coach, when Jonathan prays, “You can’t imagine that he is a person with a disability. If you don’t know him, you wouldn’t know that he isn’t a pastor. He likes to pray when we have visitors because he believes the visitors are a blessing.”
Ema joined BCC five years ago. Previously, he spent a lot of time alone, wandering the streets. He did not speak much when he first came to BCC. Now, Ema is a leader on the Young Adult Farm. He is confident and articulate. He takes direction well and is able to delegate tasks to others. He keeps track of the tools and other supplies. When he sees his friends are tired from working, he offers help and encouragement. He even tends the farms on weekends, when no one else is around.
Staff is working with the parish to develop a role that would enable Jonathan to be close to pastoral work after his graduation. The Young Adult Program has given him the skills to be an independent and successful adult, as well as the confidence to act on his faith.
After graduation, Ema would like a job doing landscaping and gardening, to utilize the skills he has gained through working on the Young Adult Farm.
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Living
Janeth
Elias
Living attended a public primary school until age 10. However, he could not write, speak or do mathematics, and he struggled with isolation and exclusion. Now a young adult having found supports, Living is flourishing.
When Janeth was a child, she was denied entry to the local public school. She became isolated and lonely. When she started attending a BCC center in 2008, it was the first time anyone had ever told her mother what Down syndrome was. This gave the family hope. Janeth was in her 20s by then.
Elias is the youngest of six children by 10 years. When he was a year old, he began to sit up on his own, and at the age of three, he learned to walk. When he was old enough, Elias began attending the special unit at his local public school, where he learned to talk. Once, when he was still a little boy, he slipped away from his mother during church. She only realized he was gone when everyone spotted him up front dancing with the choir!
At BCC, Living found teachers who believe in him, his capacity to learn and his future. He has mastered functional math, reading and writing. He can independently manage money. He is a leader on the Young Adult Farm, and is trusted and well respected by the staff and his peers. Upon graduation, Living will receive a small loan to start his own business selling chickens and eggs. He is also interested in working with his father, a mason, and helping on his family’s farm, leveraging the skills he learned at BCC.
At the BCC center, Janeth learned to count, read, write and take care of herself. She had a group of friends. When the Young Adult Program started, Janeth began earning a salary for the work she was already doing around the center, and the staff helped formalize her training. They now rely on her to help with the cooking and cleaning so they have more time to care for the younger children. Janeth also enjoys playing with the younger kids. She is proud of her accomplishments and recognizes that what she has learned will be beneficial to her future. Upon graduation, Janeth would like to continue working in the center and the church. She has become an irreplaceable member of the staff.
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Now a gentle, kind, young man, Elias still loves to dance and sing. He is also an excellent artist. Through the Young Adult Program, he has learned to care for chickens, clean and farm. However, he does not enjoy work that involves getting dirty, so upon graduation he will receive a loan to start his own shoe-shine business.
DISCOVER THE POSSIBILITIES You are invited to discover the possibilities with Mosaic International.
DISCOVERY TRIP July 24–Aug. 8, 2018 | Moshi, Tanzania Immerse yourself in Tanzanian culture and experience the life-changing mission of Mosaic International. Working hands-on with children and young adults with disabilities, as well as staff in the program, trip participants will be able to contribute their talents to enhance the lives of those we serve. The all-inclusive trip also features a safari to the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park.
For more information or to secure your spot on the trip, contact Charles Cooper at 402.896.3884 x 31089 or charles.cooper@mosaicinfo.org.
“BCC, Mosaic’s partner in Tanzania, is bringing dignity to the lives of the people with intellectual disabilities that they serve in Moshi. People who may have been hidden in the back rooms are now being given the opportunities to be healthy, to be mobile, to learn and even to develop employable skills through BCC’s programs. God is at work in big ways through BCC. Sharing smiles, hugs, playing and dancing was a lifetime highlight!” — Wanda Hein, 2017 Discovery Trip participant
“Visiting Tanzania was very humbling and personally enriching. It wasn’t the most comfortable or glamorous trip I’ve ever taken, but it’s something I’m glad I did. The people I met taught me so much about hospitality, gratitude and giving, and the trip itself was extremely well structured. I always felt safe, and it’s a life experience I’ll never forget.” — Brittney Ledford, 2017 Discovery Trip participant and Mosaic employee
Landscaping Skills Put to Good Use on “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday Trey Madsen describes himself as a “green thumb.” He used to have a garden and loves being outdoors. He also did landscaping for three years. This connection with nature made Madsen an ideal candidate for volunteer yard work at Bethany Lutheran Home in Council Bluffs, Iowa on “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday. “I like the fresh air and the sense of freedom,” said Madsen, who is supported by Mosaic in Western Iowa. “There are no walls to keep you in. It’s relaxing and peaceful.” “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday is a dedicated day of service organized by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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(ELCA) intended to deepen congregations’ connections with their communities. ELCA members are called to put their faith into action by engaging in a service activity in their neighborhood or surrounding community. Since 2013, thousands of ELCA congregations have participated in this opportunity and dedicated one day to serve communities in ways that share the love of God with all people. This year, a group from Mosaic in Western Iowa, including Madsen, partnered with Our Savior Lutheran Church and did a volunteer project at Bethany, a nursing and rehabilitation center.
“I did a little landscaping, trimmed bushes, pulled weeds and picked up trash,” Madsen said. “Simple things that would have been hard for them to do. Anything they needed done, we did it.” “I think everybody should chip in somehow in the community,” he added. “For me, to be able to do that at Bethany, it made me feel good to know I could make a difference in that way. That’s why I went. If I can help at all, I want to do it.” Madsen said the experience was also enjoyable because he got to spend the day with his friend, John. “It was fun making jokes and working together,” he said. “John kept things alive by making jokes
In his short time at Mosaic, Madsen has grown tremendously. about plants. I didn’t even know there were jokes about plants. I kept things alive by sharing facts I learned from landscaping. I helped people identify weeds versus flowers. I pointed out which weeds should go.”
The freedom Madsen feels in the outdoors is important to him, as he has not always had the independence he has today. Madsen, who moved from his aunt’s home to a Mosaic group home less than a year ago, said behavioral issues used to limit his freedom. “I was tired of living with my aunt,” he said. “I was restless because I had no freedom. She got tired
of me acting out. Mosaic was a perfect fit.”
have to give on. You have to adapt and see other viewpoints.”
In his short time at Mosaic, Madsen has grown tremendously.
Madsen is incredibly entrepreneurial, and is always looking for odd jobs and volunteer opportunities.
“I’ve learned how to cook,” he said. “Before I could barely cook a hamburger or read a recipe. Now, I can choose what I get to cook and eat, when I do laundry and when I shower. I have more freedom than before. And I get along with practically everyone, as long as they’re not yelling.” “Since I’ve been at Mosaic, I no longer get physically violent,” he continued. “I’ve learned a lot about living on my own and with roommates. There are things you
“Anything outside is what I’m looking for,” he said. “I avoid situations where I’ll get mad, like fast food. In the summer, I like to do odd jobs like mowing and landscaping.” This winter, he said he’s planning to install Christmas lights with Paradise Lawns in Omaha, Nebraska and be on call for snow removal needs.
Trey (pictured with the rake) was accompanied by Robert Davis, John Anderson and Greg Darling, who also receive supports from Mosaic, and several volunteers from Our Savior Lutheran Church.
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"IN AXTELL, A SMILE MAKES YOUR DAY."
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Service and Justice Trip Shatters Expectations “There was no huge moment in Axtell, but everything little makes so much sound there,” said Emmali Munger, one of nine students from Creighton University who spent their fall break at Mosaic in Axtell. Over the past several years, nine student groups from Creighton’s John P. Schlegel, SJ, Center for Service and Justice (SCSJ) have elected to spend their spring and fall breaks at Mosaic at Bethphage Village in Axtell, Nebraska. This meaningful partnership was initiated through conversations between David deFreese, Vice President of Church Relations at Mosaic, and the Rev. H. Ashley Hall, an associate professor in Creighton’s Theology Department.
“I love that the students come to Axtell, and they’re simply friends for the people we support,” deFreese said. “I also love the impact it has on the students. I think they gain a deep appreciation for what our direct service staff does.” Curtiss Dill, Executive Director at Mosaic in Axtell, said the service and justice trips have a positive impact on the lives of people in service. “The positive gains for us through this partnership are tremendous,” he said. “These students bring a positivity and energy to our campus that is contagious. The
simple act of spending time with another person cannot be underestimated. Many of the people we serve long for those personal relationships.” Munger and Michael Mimlitz, both Creighton seniors and co-leaders of the most recent SCSJ trip, said the experience challenged their preconceived notions about people with disabilities.
“Frankly, we were intimidated about communication coming in,” Mimlitz said. “But we just went in with an open heart and open mind.” “I really wanted some kind of verbal affirmation in the beginning,” Munger added. “But by the fifth day, I was having real conversations, but through gestures and smiles. In our daily lives, we take simple gestures for granted. In Axtell, a smile makes your day.” While there are 25 different placement options through the SCSJ, ranging from West Virginia to El Paso, Munger shared that Axtell was her top choice. “I had heard good things, plus I took a class called the History of Disability,” she said. “Reading about it is different from experiencing it. It’s a lot easier to disconnect yourself. When you’re with someone in presence, you build a relationship.”
Munger and Mimlitz said trips through the SCSJ extend beyond service and inspire students to offer a voice for those whose voices are often not heard.
“It’s not just about a service trip and it’s not just ministry,” Munger added. “We learn a lot about advocacy on these trips. We talk about what’s next.” To this end, the students had an opportunity to put their newfound knowledge to work. “We went to a Discover the Possibilities event and talked with Pastor John [Gosswein] and Curtiss about different political issues hamstringing their funding,” Mimlitz said. “The Schlegel Center also put together packets on ableism for us, and we got to contact our representatives.” Dill said he hopes the students will carry this experience with them throughout their lives. “My hope is as these students spend time with us and the people we serve, they are learning and growing. They are learning patience, tolerance and love for their fellow human being. These kids are our future and to willingly give of themselves at this point in their lives, leaves me hopeful for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities long after I am gone.”
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ces from Mosaic ing, and for the af Abas, an art teaches Daniel he is inspired by niel has shown ribbon for his ms.
4980 S. 118th Street Omaha, NE 68137-2200
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A silent night, a star above, a blessed gift of hope and love. May God’s blessings be yours this Christmas and New Year! When they saw the star, they rejoiced! Matthew 2:10
68137 mosaicinfo.org
utheran Church in America, ca. c)(3) organization.
About the artist: Daniel Young enjoys painting, and for the past several years, he has worked with Soulaf Abas, an art teacher at Indiana State University. Soulaf teaches Daniel new painting methods and styles and said she is inspired by his use of colors. Daniel has shown his art at the county fairgrounds and won a ribbon for his work. He also sells individual items.