Forest of Hope | July 2020

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Cultivating Anchored Community MARLIN MILLER KEVIN BILLE SUE WENGERD PHIL BARKMAN MATT YODER

PUBLISHER GENERAL MANAGER SENIOR EDITOR COPY EDITOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

ISAAC HERSHBERGER

GRAPHIC ARTIST

SETH YODER

GRAPHIC ARTIST

LANDON TROYER

PHOTOGRAPHER

BETHANY TROYER

CUSTOMER SERVICE

JAN SCHLABACH

CUSTOMER SERVICE

ELAINE TOMSKI

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

DR. DAVID MENTON

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

FERREE HARDY

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

MERISSA A. ALINK

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

NORITA YODER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

TORRY MARTIN & DOUG PETERSON

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

DR. TERESA HOXWORTH

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

AUGUST AD SALES DEADLINE

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JULY 7, 2020

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CONT

ISSUE 85

OLD DUTCH WORDS CROSSWORD PUZZLE

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This reader-favorite activity is back– this time with a focus on food!

FOREST OF HOPE

MARGRET HOTTINGER

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They teach soil and land management to challenged farmers, provide Proverbs principles for the character training of communities, and partner with impoverished people to create sustainable businesses and a cycle of generosity...

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PUBLISHER'S MESSAGE

Thoughts and ramblings from Marlin Miller, publisher of Plain Values. // page 9

FUNDS AND BENEFITS

Every month we provide a listing of opportunities to help out those in need. // page 50

ON THE COVER

A village in Uganda, Africa, that is ripe for sewing the seeds of hope.

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// 37

Margret came by her zeal honestly, since she was surrounded by examples of courage.

ENTS BIRD'S EYE VIEW

// 25

As a group, birds have the keenest eyes of all vertebrates... three times sharper than our human eye.

THE FLAVOR OF STUPID // 42 A humorous tale of how Torry Martin learned the real use of pepper spray.

HOMEMADE GARDENER'S HAND SCRUB // 29

WIDOWS PRAY

J U LY 2 0 2 0

// 30

After working in the garden for hours, you hands need some love.

When we look at widows in the Bible, we see the great value that God places on them.

INFERTILITY

GOOD STUFF WITH KEVIN

// 47

Ideas and things to think about if you have one or several females that are experiencing infertility problems.

// 51

You can focus on what gets your attention, or you can focus on what deserves your attention.

This new section of Plain Values is devoted to showcasing local goods and services to our readers. Each reader will enjoy one of four editions, depending on where they live. Our hope is that the "Plain Pages” can be a resource to find local businesses to assist you in your needs, as well as your wants. // between pages 34 and 35

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ANGEL OAK, ONE OF THE OLDEST LIVING OAK TREES EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. (~500 years old)

MESSAGE from the

PUBLISHER words by: MARLIN MILLER

Trees have fascinated me since my childhood. I

have discovered that trees count, share resources, and

remember climbing into the heights of our white pines

really do communicate with each other, using a system

to get Frisbees—or whatever else we had thrown up

they call the “wood wide web.” The mycorrhizal network

there—and then wondering how they knew what to

under our feet connects the trees in much the same way

do. How do trees know how to grow? How do the oaks

the neurons in our brains connect with each other and

and maples know the right time to change their foliage

share information.

to brilliant yellow, orange, and red? How aware of the

What a wonderful thing to realize all over again

surrounding world is a tree?

that science backs up the truths in the Bible! Jesus

Have you ever noticed how often God talks about

Himself created trees and then, on a wooden cross,

trees in the Bible? Only people, and God Himself, are

offered Himself to build a way, a bridge for us to get back

mentioned more than trees. In Genesis 2, God formed

to the tree of life.

As always, may you find joy in the simple things. //

Adam with His hands, and as soon as He breathed life into the first man, He planted a garden with every tree pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Strangely enough, the Scripture portrays trees as things that communicate. They clap their hands (Isa. 55:12), shout for joy (1 Chron. 16:33), and even argue (Judges 9:7-15). Over the last twenty years, scientists

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FEATURE STORY

GOD OF WONDERS

WIDOW'S PATH

HOMESTEAD + ROOTS

OUR HERITAGE

GREAT OUTDOORS

CANINE CORNER

FOREST OF HOPE words by: ELAINE TOMSKI

Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world.

Red and yellow, black and white, All are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Tim Troyer has known the far-reaching love of God for as long as he can remember. During his childhood years, Tim’s family of seven lived in the Philippines and then in Nepal. His missionary dad and mom were linguists with Wycliffe Bible Translators and served people who could not yet read or write. Tim says, “My dad would go in and make an alphabet for them.” All to share the good news of God’s love.

Now a grown man, Tim continues to follow the example set by his parents. He shares God’s message wherever he goes. At home in Sugarcreek, Ohio, and in places across the globe, Tim tells people, “God loves you, so much.” Then he helps them make a living and a life.

TWO CHILDREN IN UGANDA WITH EYES FULL OF HOPE

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Tim, the founder of The Reckoning International

they don’t have the resources or courage to try.” The

(TRI), along with a group of like-minded individuals, helps

widow, Cilla, had a fantastic idea. TRI brought the

people overcome poverty with opportunity. TRI began in

resources. And God supplied the courage. Let’s see

1998 in Nepal. With the help of partners and donors, TRI

how it all unfolded.

When Tim first met Cilla, she was sick and

redeemed 150 people from slavery, taught them to live in

destined to stay that way. Infected with HIV/AIDS by

freedom, and showed them how to make a living.

TRI has partnered with people in impoverished

her unfaithful husband, then widowed, Cilla was a

areas of Central America, Ukraine, Uganda, Burundi,

mother unable to afford many necessities, including her

Kenya, Egypt, Columbia, and Brazil. They teach soil

medications. She needed help for herself and her three

and land management to challenged farmers, provide

fatherless children.

Proverbs principles for the character training of

Tim assured Cilla, “God loves you so much!” Tim

communities, and partner with impoverished people to

wanted to help her find a way out of her poverty.

create sustainable businesses and a cycle of generosity,

Cilla replied, “I’m a widow; what can I do?” Tim

just to name a few.

said, “Well, according to the Bible, I’m supposed to encourage you to get married, or work, become a

A SURPRISE IN KENYA

businesswoman. Which do you prefer?” Cilla laughed.

Forest of Hope began as a project of TRI, but it

“I’ve already been married,” she said. “It’s time for me

was a wise widow in Kenya who gave them the idea.

to be a businesswoman. But I’m tired all of the time.”

Tim says, “So many poor people have great ideas, but

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Tim reassured Cilla that God wanted to help her and 12

CILLA AND HER

wouldn’t ask her to do something she couldn’t do. Tim

CHILDREN IN KENYA

said, “You seem smart to me. I think you’ll do great!”

Cilla thought Tim was funny, but she trusted him.

So, TRI gave her some business training and loaned her

“I have a small piece of land, and I planted trees on

thirty-five dollars. Cilla started a small one-room shop

my land. I have enough trees to pay for my children’s

in her house. Tim says, “She was able to get her needs

education, but I want you to promise me that when I

met and her health back. She could even pay her kids’

go to be with the Lord, your group will watch out for

school fees.” Finally, Cilla was able to pay the thirty-five

my kids.” Cilla instructed the people she’d come to trust

dollars back, and TRI loaned it out to another person.

to pay her children’s yearly school fees by cutting down

Cilla had received only three years of education in

a tree each time the payments are due. Tim didn’t think

her lifetime, but that didn’t keep her from being wise. She

it possible for the proceeds from her trees to cover

realized God had been kind to her. Many of her problems

the cost of school fees, so he consulted a forester. The

found a resolution, but a huge one still bothered her.

forester confirmed Cilla’s calculations, saying, “Yeah,

She came to Tim and said, “You know, I’ve been thinking

she’s got it. Easy!”

about it. If the Lord tarries and there’s not a miracle, I’m

Cilla told Tim, “When I go to be with the Lord, my

going to die from AIDS. I’m at peace, and I’ve forgiven my

children can’t hug me anymore, but they can hug these

husband, but the thing I worry about is my children.”

trees.” Tim says, “Their mom loved them so much. I went

Cilla had a plan, but she needed someone willing

and hugged the trees!”

to carry out her wishes in her absence. Cilla told Tim, 13

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Tim claims the best ideas come from impoverished

Forest of Hope had taken on a life of its own, so TRI

people. He says, “It’s like the Lord led us to Cilla because

applied for a separate 501(c) (3) license. They established

we weren’t smart enough to figure it out.” Tim and the

a new board, hired consultants, and began to seek

people of TRI have watched this truth lived out. He says,

donors. The Forest of Hope model is simple. “Trees are

“Just receiving donations can hurt people instead of

planted. And the generated revenues upon harvest

helping them. People don’t need a hand-out; they need

are used to pay for the school fees of orphaned and

a hand-up.”

fatherless children.”

Tim wondered, How do we generate resources

TREES FOR UGANDA

there? What do they have? The answer is soil. What do

“In the next fifteen years, the future of Uganda

they lack? Trees. So, TRI bought some land in Kenya and

actually depends on trees,” says Tim. “Otherwise, it goes

started planting trees. “We figured we could plant maybe

the way of Haiti. Deforested.” Poverty has created a

twenty trees to pay for one orphan’s entire education

shortage of trees in Uganda, and it will only get worse if

through the first year of university.”

people cannot grasp a vision for the future. Tim explains,

Tim’s mom had been praying for a woman she

“The poor spend up to fifty percent of their income for

could support. Using more than $400 of saved change,

fuel to cook their food. Saving indigenous trees doesn’t

she helped a Kenyan woman plant five acres of trees.

mean anything to hungry people. They will cut down a

When those trees were ready for harvest, TRI bought

tree to cook their food to survive. They lack vision past

the trees and the land from the Kenyan woman, then

their next meal.”

turned around and bought thirty-five acres of land in

The vision Forest of Hope brings to Uganda focuses

Uganda. “Let’s start planting some trees and doing the

on education for orphans and the reforestation of a

same thing. There has to be a way to generate money in

nation. As in Kenya, school in Uganda is supposed to be

Uganda for Ugandans.”

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A GIFT FOR TIM AND HIS CREW–A LARGE BASKET OF HAND-ROASTED PEANUTS FROM THE FAMILY GARDEN.

On the night before they were to go home, Tim free. Still, many in poverty cannot afford school fees.

stopped by the neighbor’s house. He said, “We love you.

Therefore, families might send only one boy to school.

You’re a neighbor who’s always there for us. We want

Or they may send a different child to school every year,

to invest in your daughter’s life. Here’s the money for

requiring the others to sit out.

her school fees.” Tim says the widow shouted like a kid

Tim came to know the little girl of a widow living

at Christmas, and the girl was jumping up and down,

next to one of their Forest of Hope properties. He says,

“hugging her mom and hugging us.”

“She is a precious, precocious, cool, little girl. Her mom

The next day, the little girl gifted Tim and his crew

has helped us plant trees.” However, her mom didn’t

with a large basket of hand-roasted peanuts from their

have enough money to pay school fees for both of her

family garden. Tim will never forget what she said.

school-age children. She said, “They are expensive, very

“I wanted to go to school so badly! I was jealous. I got

expensive!” That year, she could only afford to send her

sadder every day. Thank you so much!” Tim says, “One

son to school.

of our donors, ProVia CEO Brian Miller, was there with

A week into the school year, Tim asked their

me and got to see what we’re sowing into. We were part

Ugandan executive director to find out the cost of fees.

of something so big for such a small amount!” Today,

He returned to Tim with tears in his eyes. This poor

that intelligent little neighbor girl achieves some of the

woman could not afford to pay the shillings equivalent

highest grades in her school.

to twenty American dollars. Tim said, “We’re always

Tim believes people in the United States become

careful with finances (not giving handouts), but this

overwhelmed by poverty. He says, “I tell people all the

was our neighbor girl. This is what we do; help kids go to

time, poverty is not a big problem. It’s not! It’s a hive of

school. God has a plan for this girl. Why delay?”

tons of little, tiny problems, of twenty-dollar problems.”

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TRANSFORMING THE MIND “Ideas have consequences,” says Tim. In Central Africa, there are over three hundred language groups.

Until a generation ago, there were no words in any of these languages to describe the future because they revere the past. Tim says, “They worship their ancestors and tell stories of how ancestors could just walk outside, reach up, and pull fruit from the trees to eat. They say, back then, animals were friendly and could talk. They believe they’re moving farther and farther from the ideal.” In our Judeo-Christian world view, we envision a glorious future and strive to do better. But many Africans believe life will only get worse.

When we expect the worst, we may not act the best.

The people of Forest of Hope experienced some of the worst after they bought thirty-five acres in Uganda.

They encountered squatters, people who settled on the land without right or title to it. Five dishonest, cunning, and conniving people had buried the bones of their ancestors on sections of land they did not own to claim possession of it.

As the land for Forest of Hope was surveyed, the squatters became irritated. When Tim’s assistant, Jamada Simewa, went to work on Forest of Hope’s legally purchased land, the squatters attempted to kill him.

So, Forest of Hope had their property surveyed again, just to be sure they were within their rights, and not infringing on anyone else’s rights. Even more irritated, the squatters tried to take Jamada’s life again.

Tim says, “We didn’t know what to do. These were poor people, and we felt sorry for them, but this was not their land. What would the Lord want us to do? We want to plant trees here to help people NOT be poor.”

“So,” Tim says, “We called in the village elders, police, and officials.” Jamada addressed the squatters in the presence of witnesses. Jamada said, “I could have you arrested because you tried to kill me twice. Instead, we will give you the land. We need to move some of you because you’re right in the middle of the field. But we will give you the deed to the land if you move to the plots we survey for you. And, if you sell the land, you must give us the first opportunity to buy it. In fact, we’ll buy it now.”

Two crafty squatters took the money right away.

One lady has since passed away, and her daughter sold the land back to Forest of Hope. Tim says, “The main

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THE FOREST OF HOPE BOARD MEMBERS VISITING ONE OF THE PLANTING SITES

one, the ringleader of the murderers, was so thankful.

He couldn’t believe it! He had the deed!”

Within a year, the ringleader became seriously ill.

Jamada stopped to visit, supplied medicine, and prayed for him. Tim says, “Ten days later, the guy called Jamada to say, ‘I’m fine! Here I tried to kill you. And yet, while I was on my deathbed, you came to give me medicine and prayed to your God for me. I will always be grateful to you for all you’ve done.’ ” A man without hope has received hope because Jamada gave him an example of God’s forgiveness and love.

FROM PLANTING TO HARVEST Forest of Hope has planted an estimated 30,000 trees on their thirty-five acres in Uganda. They grow eucalyptus and cypress trees, which are quickly ready for harvest. Tim says, “They grow really fast because there’s no winter. The trees go through two growing seasons, instead of one, each year. In just six to eight years, the trees are ready for harvest.”

Tim adds, “You plant them pretty tight, then they grow to a certain point, and you thin them. The first trees taken out are for construction poles. Then the other trees grow bigger.” Tim is excited because 2020 is the first year of harvest for Forest of Hope in both Kenya and Uganda. The construction poles will be sold and used for scaffolding. When the remaining trees are big enough, they’ll be harvested and sold to the government as telephone poles. Also, Tim says, “Foreign buyers will buy timber, or we can take them to our sawmill and cut them into boards for more than we can sell the tree.” Tim’s goal is to use the offcuts for charcoal, and extract oil from the eucalyptus trees. He says, “Harvest and plant. Harvest and plant. Keep the cycle going.”

The hope is also to keep the operation growing.

Tim says, “Uganda has three million orphans, and the country is a little bigger than Arizona. Compare that to the United States, where we have between 400 and 450 thousand orphans.”

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GENEROSITY “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

In God’s economy, generosity doesn’t have anything to do with the surplus. It has everything to do with a way of life. Tim tells of a little girl with eight dollars who chose to give it all. Eight dollars was all Tim needed to redeem a 65-year-old man from slavery. Just eight dollars freed a broken down, worn out, third-generation slave who could not read, write, or spell his name. All he could do was count to five. Thank the Lord for a generous little girl who could count to eight and gave it all away.

Tim says, “You don’t need a lot of money.” Think of the neighbor girl in Uganda who went to school because of generosity. “You need twenty bucks. I can buy a pizza for twenty bucks! So, what’s stopping me from changing the world?” $20 = 20 trees = 1 educated, grateful, generous, child. “At Forest of Hope, we want everyone to live in a cycle of generosity fueled by God’s love. The opposite of poverty isn’t riches. It’s generosity.”

Forest of Hope partners with people poor in the eyes of man. God sees these same people as rich in faith.

They don’t label the people they help as clients, but rather partners. Tim says, “We’re in a partnership, needing change as much as they do. We have possessions, but they have a lot of spiritual wealth.” Tim tells their African partners, “You have something to give to our donors, and that’s your love and your prayers.” Tim says, “They pray for our donors and ask me about them by name.”

“We do it together,” says Tim. Donors give, people receive dignity through work, partners pray, and all find meaning for their lives in the process. Forest of Hope demonstrates how giving is part of the rhythm of life. They teach their partners to dig a hole, plant a tree seedling, and watch it grow to provide for the future.

Tim says, “Look at your feet, and you can only see the days’ end. But lift your eyes, and you can see ten years from now. We tell our partners; the goal isn’t just for you to become self-sufficient and prosper. We want you to produce more than you consume. Then save, and give. Make as much as you can, save as much as you can, and give as much as you can.” It’s a lifestyle of generosity, no matter how small or large the paycheck.

THE HARVEST The first round of cut trees will soon provide shillings for school fees. The orphan problem may seem vast, but Forest of Hope is doing what God has called them to do. Now, just nine years after planting the very first trees, a group of widows helps oversee the projects, advises the distribution of funds, and partners with educators for the future of orphaned and fatherless children in their communities.

“Generosity is the solution,” says Tim. Generosity changes a person’s mind and heart, providing a vision for the future. “The value of an individual comes from realizing your purpose.” And a purpose is given to each child from our Loving God. God loves his children no matter their age, gender, nationality, or skin color. Orphan, widow, sick, or healthy, in His Spirit, all are wealthy. Jesus died for all the children of the world.

If you are interested in donating toward the purchase of trees, please contact Forest of Hope. //

FOREST OF HOPE

P.O. Box 422

//

Berlin, OH 44610

//

(330) 763-4786

IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF PLAIN VALUES MAGAZINE, WE’LL DISCOVER HOW TIM TROYER RECEIVED A DESIRE FROM GOD AT A SURPRISINGLY EARLY AGE. HOW CAN GOD USE A BOY, A FIRE, AND A HAMMER TO PROVIDE HOPE FOR THE FATHERLESS? CHECK BACK NEXT MONTH TO FIND OUT.

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BIRD'S EYE VIEW

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FEATURE STORY

GOD OF WONDERS

WIDOW'S PATH

HOMESTEAD + ROOTS

OUR HERITAGE

GREAT OUTDOORS

CANINE CORNER

words by: DR. DAVID MENTON When you see a hawk soaring high overhead, have you wondered what the view looks like from up there? Well, the bird’seye view involves much more than the panoramic view we see from an airplane.

For starters, birds can see a wider range of colors than we humans can. Apparently, most birds can see all the colors we see, plus colors in the ultraviolet range that are invisible to us. This is possible because birds have four different types of color-sensitive cone cells in their retina, while humans have only three.

It’s difficult for us to appreciate what the bird’s expanded color vision would look like since we can’t even imagine colors we have never seen. But studies have shown that birds can see ultraviolet colors in the feathers of other birds, as well as in some flowers, fruits, and berries. This ability appears to play an important role in mate selection, as well as in foraging for food.

BIRDS ARE “EAGLE-EYES” As a group, birds have the keenest eyes of all vertebrates. The bird’s eye is estimated to be up to three times sharper than our

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human eye. For example, flycatchers and hawks can see

individual eye estimates distances by comparing the

insects and other small moving prey at long distances.

apparent movement of close and distant objects.

Binocular vision is especially well-developed in

Even seedeaters can spot tiny morsels that would go

owls and birds of prey, such as hawks, that have more

unnoticed by humans.

One reason for the high visual acuity in birds is

forward-facing eyes. This permits both eyes to have

that they have very large eyes. Our human eyes make

partially overlapping vision fields that the brain uses to

up no more than two percent of the weight of our head,

create stereovision. But most birds’ eyes are positioned

while the eyes of birds can be up to 15 percent of their

along the sides of their head. This arrangement gives

head weight. Another feature of the bird’s eye is that it

them broad peripheral vision, allowing small birds, for

has a relatively flat lens mounted at a greater distance

example, to keep an eye out for predators.

Since most birds can’t move their eyes, it might

from the retina, giving a long focal length that brings objects closer, like a telescope.

seem that birds with side-facing eyes would lack

BIRDS GO “HUMAN WATCHING”

side-facing eyes that give them both binocular and

WITH BINOCULARS!

peripheral vision at the same time! This is accomplished

binocular vision. But more than half of all birds have

Birds that dive at high speed to catch their prey, or

by having two foveas in each eye, unlike human eyes,

even those merely flying among the branches of trees,

which have only one. The fovea is a small spot on the

require good depth perception. Birds achieve this feat

retina that has a high density of color-sensitive cone

in one of two ways: either both eyes work together by

cells and produces the sharpest vision spot in the

creating overlapping images (binocular vision) or each

center of the vision field.

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TWO EYES IN ONE Many birds have two spots in the back of their eyes, not one, to focus light from different angles. These spots, called In humans and other mammals, the fovea is

foveas, are clusters of high-density cells

located in the center of the retina and is thus called

that sharpen vision. Each eye can focus

the fovea centralis. Birds with dual foveas have one in

independently toward the side (monocular

the center of their retina that faces laterally, and one

vision), or both eyes can focus forward

positioned near the rear edge of the retina that faces

(binocular vision).

mostly forward (see figure). This is essentially like having two eyes in each eye, one to look forward with binocular vision and one to look laterally.

BUT GOD GIVES US EYES THAT TRULY SEE While our human eyes may in some ways seem inferior to the eyes of birds, we may be sure that God has given us eyes perfectly suited to our own unique needs.

But most important, the Lord has uniquely blessed Christians with eyes that can truly see His works and ears that can hear His Word (Matthew 13:16). //

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FEATURE STORY

GOD OF WONDERS

WIDOW'S PATH

HOMESTEAD + ROOTS

homestead

OUR HERITAGE

+

GREAT OUTDOORS

CANINE CORNER

roots

words by: MERISSA A. ALINK Gardening time is one of my favorite times of the year, but it always leaves my hands looking rather rough, brown, or even stained with green. (That just means I’m doing it right, right?) After putting up with rough gardener hands for a few years, I decided that a good homemade hand scrub was a must. Not only would it clean my hands during the summer garden season, but it would also help repair dry and damaged skin during the cold winter months!

This homemade gardener’s hand scrub is just what you need to keep your winter or summer hands moisturized and exfoliated. It’s incredibly simple and takes only a few minutes to put together; you will wonder why you haven’t made it already!

.............................................................................. homemade gardener's hand scrub ..............................................................................

• 1 cup Sugar ~ white or brown • 1 tablespoon Sea Salt • 1/2 cup Coconut Oil • 5 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil

...................

ingredients

Making this scrub is very simple, considering that it’s so effective! Place your coconut oil in a small bowl and melt to a liquid, then add in the sugar, salt, and essential oil (if desired).

Stir all the ingredients together until the mixture is fully combined. Place the scrub into a jar or another airtight container and store it in a cool place until you are ready to use it.

To use the scrub – scoop out a small amount and scrub over dirty, gardenstained hands. Rinse with warm water and pat dry with a towel. If your hands feel greasy after use, you can wash them again with regular hand soap.

..............................................................................

Need a quick gift idea? Place your homemade hand scrub in a glass jar with a fabric square on top, and you have a homemade gem that anyone would love to receive!

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FEATURE STORY

GOD OF WONDERS

WIDOW'S PATH

HOMESTEAD + ROOTS

OUR HERITAGE

GREAT OUTDOORS

WIDOWS PRAY Harnessing the Heartache

words by: FERREE HARDY Did you know that widows are mentioned at many key points in the Bible? Here are just a few examples: Old Testament laws specifically commanded caring for widows; taking care of New Testament widows was one of the first duties charged to the early church; widows are in the genealogy of Jesus Christ; miraculous resurrections happened for widows’ children in both the Old Testament and the New, and Jesus pointed out the offering of a widow who gave all she had as a convicting example to hypocritical Pharisees.

“I almost feel like God chose me to be a widow!” a lady exclaimed to me after she’d heard me speak in greater detail about this. I more than agreed with her; if our lives are in God’s hands, then yes, He has chosen us! He chooses and allows the paths and positions in which we find ourselves.

I speak from the other side of widowhood now. For one thing, I’m remarried, and it’s been twenty years since my first husband

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CANINE CORNER

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...faith and prayer are not based on feelings, they are based on the actions of sacrifice, persistence, and fervency that are grounded in the righteousness of Jesus.

died. Some think it’s odd I’m still attending to widows

That’s not an easy thing. Don’t picture a saintly

and their issues. Certainly, not all widows are expected

lady kneeling with her hands gently folded in prayer,

to do as I do.

her soft face beaming and looking up to heaven all

For me, though, time has softened the sharp

night and day.

scratches of grief, yet I will never forget it was the

Generally, prayer is a struggle. We like to think

hardest time of my life. I still remember the pain of the

that God wraps a warm, fuzzy comforter around her

early days, the loneliness later on. I still know the help

shoulders. But a widow often has to fight off loneliness,

that I needed. But I’m far enough removed now that

isolation, and even feelings of abandonment. If she’s

it doesn’t hurt, and I can be more objective. I’m not a

like I was, she might feel that her prayers bounce right

grief coach or a professional counselor, but God has

off the ceiling and go nowhere.

impassioned me to do what I can do—and I do know

That’s where a widow’s faith steps in. Prayer is the

the Bible. I’ve been learning it for sixty years. I know

right thing to do, and she really has nowhere else to turn.

that it has “everything we need for life and godliness,”

Her heavenly Father understands, He sees, and He cares. It

and I am always excited to share it with the women I

doesn’t matter how positive and happy and confident she

admire most—widows.

feels because faith and prayer are not based on feelings,

If only widows could know that their life is not

they are based on the actions of sacrifice, persistence,

over! When we look at widows in the Bible, we see the

and fervency that are grounded in the righteousness of

great value that God places on them. They have very

Jesus. We don’t need to feel guilty, either, if our praying

pointed and important messages and missions for this

sometimes turns into crying. That’s pretty normal for

sin-scarred and grief-filled world. Deep in her heart, I

people in grief. God still hears and understands through

believe a Christian widow knows this, but she might be

our wadded up hankies and tissues.

too clouded and confused with grief to gather hope yet.

Better yet, “God is close to the brokenhearted and

That’s where I, and others like me, can come along to

saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). Did

hold her up until she begins to see God’s mission for her.

you catch that? “God is close…” Some people I know

God’s mission for each widow varies as much

(myself included) will specifically ask widows to pray for

as each widow. But one mission God has for many is

them when they face important situations. There’s just

praying. In the Bible, some widows prayed “night and

something about a widow and the nearness of God. At the

day!” (Luke 2:37; I Timothy 5:5).

very first widow conference I ever attended, the director mentioned how she urged businesses to hire widows to not only give them a job, but that part of the job should be praying for the business and its clients. She’d seen real

A MOSAIC OF RUTH FROM A CHURCH IN JERUSALEM,

results and blessings from widows’ prayers.

ONE OF THE MOST WELL KNOWN WIDOWS IN THE BIBLE

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Where does one start, though? I don’t think these are the same as mealtime or bedtime prayers. Widows’ prayers are more like “Casting your care upon him; for he careth for you” (I Peter 5:7). And that word, “casting?”

That doesn’t merely describe a fisherman lazily casting his line into a peaceful stream or lake. I found another definition describing a better way to picture it: throw something forcefully in a specified direction.

Widows are a force to be dealt with! They have cares and pent-up heartaches, and sometimes they really do throw them forcefully. But if they harness all that heartache and throw it as hard as they can in prayer, our Savior is moved with compassion. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

I’ve been mulling about this kind of prayer for months. Finally, an easy way to remember it came to me. I call it, “Casting Our Cares Prayers.” Four points cut through the fog of days when it’s hard to concentrate: Confession, Adoration, Supplication, Thanksgiving.

LET’S HARNESS OUR HEARTACHES AND CAST THE REINS TO GOD. SEND A SELFADDRESSED, STAMPED ENVELOPE TO MY ADDRESS BELOW IF YOU’D LIKE A FURTHER EXPLANATION.

If you look at the first letter of each of those four words, what do they spell? C.A.S.T. Let’s harness our heartaches and CAST the reins to God. Send a selfaddressed, stamped envelope to my address below if you’d like a further explanation. There’s no need to add a note if your mail is postmarked during this month.

If you’re a widow or a widower, I hope you now have a sense of wonder—“Might God really have a message and a mission for me in this world?” I hope you will take all your burdens, worries, and wounds and “forcefully throw them in a specific direction.” And I hope that you will soon know that God is near. He is “close to the brokenhearted...” and He’s close to you too. // Until next month,

ferree l ADDRESS CHANGE! To learn more about widowhood, order a copy of Postcards from the Widows’ Path – Gleaning Hope and Purpose from the Book of Ruth. It’s a gentle, biblical guide for widows that has many saying, “This is the best I’ve ever read!” Contact your local Christian bookstore or mail a check for $14.99/copy (paperback, 248 pgs.), along with your address to: Ferree Hardy, 122 Breckenridge Dr., North Augusta, SC 49841. Allow 2 – 3 weeks for delivery. Free shipping for all Plain Values readers! www.WidowsChristianPlace.com

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35

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FEATURE STORY

GOD OF WONDERS

WIDOW'S PATH

HOMESTEAD + ROOTS

OUR HERITAGE

GREAT OUTDOORS

CANINE CORNER

MARGRET HOTTINGER At the Crossroads of Early Anabaptism

words by: NORITA YODER In times of great change, such as the Reformation, it is not only the leaders but also the common people who share in the excitement.

Margret Hottinger and her family were some of those people. A middle-class peasant family in the small village of Zollikon, a suburb of Zurich, their home was at the epicenter of the reforms that swept through Zurich in the early 1520s.

As Ulrich Zwingli began to defy the state church, the reading of scripture, Bible studies, the exciting exchange of ideas, and the actions of reform were all encouraged in the Hottinger household. It was here the first Anabaptist congregation developed, with Margret’s father,

MARGRET HOTTINGER, STANDING BEHIND THE WOMAN HOLDING THE CANDLE

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Jakob, as the Elder. 1 Margret’s family and town stood at the early crossroads of the Anabaptist movement, and it must have been an electrifying environment. 2 When Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five points on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1517, it led to times of upheaval and violence. War broke out among the peasants in 1524 over issues such as mandatory tithes and taxes and infant baptism. The conflicts affected their religious beliefs, political structure, trade, and commerce, since all of these were closely intertwined. Systems began to crumble, and the very fabric of people’s lives began to tear apart.3 In the tumult that surrounded the first rebaptisms, Margret’s extended family was deeply involved. In fact, thirty-one Hottingers were among those first arrested.

Margret stands out among them, a young girl with deep faith and a zeal that matched her convictions.4 Margret came by her zeal honestly, since she was surrounded by examples of courage. Her uncle Claus Hottinger, a close friend and comrade of Conrad Grebel, is named as the first martyr in early Zwinglian reforms.

He was a salt merchant and shoemaker living in Zurich.5 Claus was present at the Ash Wednesday incident in March 1522, where Zwingli’s followers ate sausage during Lent—an incident viewed as the beginning of the Reformation in Switzerland. His reforming activities culminated in September 1523 when he helped destroy a large crucifix to “sell the materials… and give the money to the poor.”6 For this, he was banished from Zurich, then arrested in the Catholic city of Lucern. He was martyred on March 9, 1524.7 Had Claus not been martyred by the time of the first rebaptisms, held less than a year later, he most certainly would have been there, front, center, and active.

Although Claus was martyred as an early Zwinglian reformer, Margret’s father had participated in some of the earliest activities alongside Claus. He was unusual in that he was a lower-class peasant with the ability to both read and write. With the ability to read, Jakob became one of the peasant “readers” who held Bible studies in their homes. From these studies sprang a new idea of “particular brilliance” for Jakob Hottinger.

It was “the idea of personal religious freedom and the free church.”8 The idea of a church separate from the state and the ability to choose faith for oneself was a shining vision that put its early roots down in the little village of Zollikon.9 PLAIN VALUES

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That we know something of peasant women like Margret is extraordinary, and it is due to their arrests that we are privileged to hear their voices.

Jakob’s knowledge of Scripture was evidenced in

rebaptisms occurred at these meetings. Leaders read

his rebukes of priests and the pulpit disturbances he

the Scriptures, preached, and baptized those who were

initiated prior to the first rebaptism. In 1522, Jakob

repentant and wished to listen to “God’s spirit.”12 On

rebuked a visiting priest from Zurich for telling them

Wednesday, Felix Manz rebaptized Margret’s father.

the communion bread was the actual body of Christ.

Anabaptism was putting down its first roots to form a

“This,” he said, “is not true; and you should no longer lie

church in the village of Zollikon.

from the chancel.”

In this mix, a Rudolph Hottinger testified that he

10

He then quoted scripture as proof, which the

baptized a young girl who “beseeched him in tears” for

priest admitted he did not know. Shortly following

baptism.13 We don’t know precisely when Margret was

this, he told (with earthy language) a group in church

baptized, but she states, “When Grebel and Mantz had

that, “people have been… deceived with the mass.” The

come to them in Zollikon and read… no one had yet

poor and lower class read the Scriptures for the first

been baptized until Blaurock came; he was the first to

time in their language, took them to heart, and acted

begin baptizing.”14 She says Blaurock baptized her, and

on them. As they began walking up the mountain of

we know she and her brothers were baptized sometime

Luther’s idea of Sola Scriptura, or “scripture alone,”

before February.15 Margret’s testimony, like all court

the climb took them higher than those in authority

testimonies, is but a small window into these events

were willing to go.

since they revealed the least possible details in court testimony. But Margret was there, one of the women

On Sunday, January 22, the day after the first

involved at the very beginning.

rebaptism, we find Conrad Grebel holding the first communion and church service at the home of

That we know something of peasant women like

Jakob Hottinger. Throughout the next week, nightly

Margret is extraordinary, and it is due to their arrests

meetings were held at different homes in Zollikon, and

that we are privileged to hear their voices. Yet, we do

11

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not hear Margret’s voice until November, since, early

In March, four months after her arrest, the official

on, authorities had overlooked women, believing they

records of Zurich show she was still imprisoned and

were insignificant to the movement.

noted, “Margret Hottinger... will stay with her baptism,

In November of 1525, only ten months after the

which she holds to be right and good.”17 She, along with

first rebaptisms were recorded, Margret was arrested,

four other women, was sentenced to be “treated in the

along with others, and charged with rebaptism. The list

same way and placed together” with the men in the

of those arrested reads like a story of important names

tower prison and given “nothing more than bread and

in Anabaptism; the group included Conrad Grebel,

water to eat, and bedded on straw,” and “thus let them

Felix Manz, George Blaurock, and Michael Sattler.

die in the tower.”18 Of nineteen testimonies, Margret

In this prestigious group was Margret Hottinger.16

was one of five women who remained steadfast.

Throughout the spring and summer, authorities

After another six months of harsh treatment, Margret

eventually became aware that women such as Margret

allowed that she “had erred” on the question of rebaptism

were key channels to the river of Anabaptism flowing

and asked for leniency; “she wishes to be obedient to

through Switzerland.

them [authorities] from now on.” This leniency they

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For the next four years we hear nothing of Margret, then, in 1530, she reappears. She and her father were captured near Ravensburg with a group of Anabaptists attempting to flee to Moravia. She was condemned to be drowned for her faith, and her father beheaded.21 Margret’s story speaks to us of a young girl at the earliest of Anabaptist beginnings. She was willing to struggle and arrive at a deep and abiding faith for which she was willing to live and, eventually, die. // If you wish to hear more historical stories like this, please call or visit the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center. We offer guided tours of "Behalt" - a 10 ft. x 265 ft. cyclorama oil-on-canvas painting that illustrates the heritage of the Amish and Mennonite people from their beginnings in Zurich, Switzerland, to the present day.

Behalt means “to keep” or “remember.” Hours: Mon-Sat 9:00-5:00. Location: 5798 County Road 77, Millersburg, OH 44654 (near Berlin). Please call (330) 893-3192 for more information or to schedule a tour.

NORITA YODER IS A HISTORIAN AND THE ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE AMISH & MENNONITE HERITAGE CENTER. [1] Blanke, Fritz, Brothers in Christ (Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1961), 70-71. Qtd. In Harder. Blanke mistakes Jakob as her brother. Later historians Snyder and Huber Hecht say Blank mistook the elder Jakob for Margaret’s younger brother, also named Jakob. This made Margaret Jakob’s daughter and Claus’ niece, rather than their sister.

MODERN-DAY

[2] Harder, Leland. Harold S. Bender, Edward Yoder, Ernst Correll. Eds., Elizabeth Horsch

ZOLLIKON, SWITZERLAND

Bender. Trans., The Sources of Swiss Anabaptism. (Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1985) 548.

[3] Williams, George Huntston, The Radical Reformation (Kirksville, MO: Truman State University Press, 2000).

[4] Snyder, C. Arnold and Linda A Huebert Hecht, Eds., Profiles of Anabaptist Women (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada: Wilfred Laurier University Press) 44-45.

generously granted her. But her adult decision to follow 19

[5] Harder has sources saying that Margret lived in Zurich with Claus prior to his

Christ proved stronger after her release.

martyrdom. This would put Margret even closer to the very beginnings of activities.

Snyder and Hueber Hecht do not address this.

In 1526, Margret appears again in the court records

[6] Harder, 233

of a nearby city, St. Gall, and here she is once again at

[7] Ibid, 166.

[8] Blanke, 70-71.

the center of activities:

[9] See Blanke and Harder, [10] Qtd. in Snyder and Huebert Hecht, 45-46.

“There arose wild and arrogant error through

[11] Blanke, 23.

the women of the Anabaptists, particularly

[13] Harder, 548.

[12] Ibid, 44

one young woman from Zollikon in the canton

[14] Harder, 440. Also Qtd. in Snyder and Huebert Hecht, 43-44 [15] Snyder and Huebert Hecht, 47

of Zurich named Margret Hottinger... who lived

[16] Harder, 440. Snyder and Huebert Hecht, 47.

a disciplined way of life, so that she was deeply

[17] Harder, 446-447. Qtd. In Snyder and Huebert Hecht, 47.

[18] Harder, 445-448.

loved and respected by the Anabaptists... she

[19] Snyder and Huebert Hecht, 48.

lived an austere life and overcame many

[20] Harder, 548.

[21] Snyder and Huebert Hecht, 51-52.

obstacles.”20

41

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FEATURE STORY

GOD OF WONDERS

WIDOW'S PATH

HOMESTEAD + ROOTS

OUR HERITAGE

GREAT OUTDOORS

PT Part

One

I

THE F L AV O R OF STUPID

words by: TORRY MARTIN & DOUG PETERSON I was hunched over my desk in the cabin writing one early evening, and I was suffering from a bad case of writer’s block, which in man-speak means that my attention was on the baseball game rather than putting words to paper. I was trying to come up with a plotline in a story called “Forsaken Bacon” about how the Big Bad Wolf became saved. But the ideas were not flowing.

Suddenly, Sam started barking and charging back and forth.

If I hadn’t been listening to the game, maybe I would have realized that his barking was more than a simple desire to go outside for a walk. I would have realized that it was a warning. Oblivious, I got up from my desk, my thoughts jumbled by baseball and bacon, and opened the cabin door to let Sam out.

I spotted the bear immediately.

Not far from the front door, it was going through the trash bag Rob had forgotten to take to work for disposal.

Bear? I thought.

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CANINE CORNER

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JULY 2020

“TORRY, YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO USE THE PEPPER SPRAY ON THE BEAR.” I closed the door and waited a couple of seconds.

Then I opened the door again.

Yep, it’s still a bear.

Slamming the door, I immediately moved into panic mode. Our cabin door did not latch shut, and we would often kick the door open whenever we were carrying something in our arms. But this also meant a bear could push open the door! So I scooted the refrigerator in front of the door to keep the bear out. This also made it handy for me to grab my last meal, should anything go awry.

With the fridge in position, I glanced at my watch and saw that it was five thirty p.m., which meant that any time now Rob would be returning from work and walking up the trail. Rob would see the bear and start praying, and the bear would see Rob and think its prayers had been answered.

Leaping into action, I ran to the living room and called Rob on his cell phone to warn him. My fingers were shaking as I dialed, and I shouted into the phone: “Rob, there’s a bear right outside the cabin door!”

“Shanghai—please place order.”

Unless Rob had suddenly learned to talk in a Chinese accent, I had misdialed and reached the Chinese carryout—although as an emotional eater, an eggroll sounded pretty good at this moment.

Resisting the temptation to order dinner, I hung up and dialed again.

“Rob?” “Yeah?”

No Chinese accent this time, so I continued. “There’s a bear right outside the cabin door!”

“Where’s that can of pepper spray I gave you?”

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That was an odd question to be asking in the middle of a crisis, I thought. But I answered anyway.

“Yeah, it’s in the spice rack. But did you hear what I said? There’s a bear outside the cabin door!” I thought I was the one who had problems focusing.

An audible sigh came across the phone, followed by a condescending tone in his next words. “Torry, you’re supposed to use the pepper spray on the bear.”

Rob was still making no sense. I felt as if he were talking Chinese to me.

“I don’t really have time for cooking tips right now.

Besides, wouldn’t the bear have to be dead before I tried to season it?”

Another audible sigh. That’s when Rob finally explained to me the proper use for pepper spray. He said that a few months earlier, not long after he shot the bear in front of our cabin, his friends at work had given him a can of pepper spray in case he had to drive away another bruin. Then, when he got home from work, he gave me the pepper spray and said, “Use this if you ever have to.”

And so I did. I had been using the pepper spray to season my homemade chili and tacos and burritos for the longest time. I should have suspected it wasn’t a spice because the pepper spray gave my chili a strange, chemical taste when I used too much. I also thought it

and these were two places where you’d think it would be

was pretty odd that the pepper spray came out in a cone-

most needed. Evidently, carjackers in LA were using the

shaped mist, but I figured the nozzle was just broken. I

weapon to temporarily blind motorists so they couldn’t

learned to carefully position the nozzle close to the food

identify the person stealing their car. In New York,

so the mist wouldn’t drift back into my face and cause my

muggers were spraying people and then grabbing their

eyes to sting.

purses and wallets.

This wasn’t the only time I had accidentally used

So I thought I had a good excuse for not knowing

creative ingredients in my food. In another case, I

what pepper spray was, but Rob wasn’t quite as

purchased a lemon-scented furniture polish and a butter-

sympathetic with my ignorance. He said these words—

flavored pan spray from Walmart, and they just happened

and I quote this exactly because Rob is the type of guy

to come in almost identical generic yellow spray cans. So I

who hates to be misquoted.

mistakenly placed the lemon-scented furniture polish in

“What flavor of stupid are you?”

my cupboard and the nonstick pan spray under the sink.

I paused for a moment. Stupid comes in flavors?

That explained why my pancakes tasted so lemony and

“Just put the phone down, spray the bear, and come

why our pets kept swarming the furniture and licking it

back and tell me what happened,” he said. //

madly. The good news was that by using nonstick spray on the couch, I never stuck to the pleather.

to be co n t i n u e d

Of course, my penchant for mistakes still doesn’t explain why I didn’t know what pepper spray was used for. In my defense, I didn’t know anything about pepper

TAKEN FROM: OF MOOSE AND MEN. COPYRIGHT © 2016 BY TORRY MARTIN

spray because Los Angeles (where I used to live) had

AND DOUG PETERSON. PUBLISHED BY HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS, EUGENE,

banned it. Pepper spray was also illegal in New York,

OREGON.

WWW.HARVESTHOUSEPUBLISHERS.COM.

USED

BY

PERMISSION.

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JULY 2020

46

FEATURE STORY

GOD OF WONDERS

WIDOW'S PATH

HOMESTEAD + ROOTS

OUR HERITAGE

GREAT OUTDOORS

CANINE CORNER

THE CANINE CORNER

INFERTILITY words by puppy expert: DR. TERESA HOXWORTH There can be many reasons for a female dog being infertile. Potential problem areas can be failure to show estrus, or heat; an abnormal cycle; having a normal cycle and breeding but still not becoming pregnant, and abortion.

There are many reasons why dogs may fail to show a heat cycle. Most dogs start to cycle from six to twenty-four months of age, but some may not cycle until they are two or three years old. This is normal for some dogs, and nothing can be done to make them cycle sooner. Some dogs do not display a lot of signs when they are in heat; for example, some dogs may only show vulvar swelling but not have the normal bloody discharge associated with being in heat. These dogs will require careful observation by the owner to determine if they are missing the heat cycle, due to a lack of bloody discharge. Some dogs can have silent heats, where their ovaries go through all the changes associated with heat, but they never show any outward signs of being in heat. If you suspect

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your dog is having silent heats, you will need to do serial

not show that they have ovulated. Females experiencing

monitoring of progesterone levels to determine if this

a split heat can show a normal cycle weeks or even up

is what is happening. An older dog that has never come

to two months after the first partial heat cycle. Other

in heat may also have some form of hermaphroditism.

females can show signs of heat but never ovulate. If a

These dogs are born with reproductive organs that

female does not ovulate, she cannot become pregnant.

have a degree of male and female parts, and are unable

The easiest way to determine if a female has ovulated is

to reproduce. Sometimes these abnormalities may

by checking the progesterone level of the blood. Other

be observed by a physical exam, but at other times,

females can have abnormally long heat cycles caused by

the abnormalities may all be internal. Other dogs

cysts or tumors that produce estrogen.

may develop cysts or tumors on their ovaries that can

One of the common problems I discuss with people

produce progesterone. If progesterone is being secreted

is, “Why did this female not have puppies after I bred

by one of these cysts or tumors, the dog will not come

her?” There are several common reasons why females do

into heat. Obviously, if a dog is sick for another reason,

not become pregnant. First, the timing of mating may

if they have a chronic disease, or if they are thin and

be incorrect. The timing can be difficult to tell by just

have a poor body condition, they are also very unlikely

observing the male and the female. Some females are

to come into heat.

receptive to the male throughout the cycle. The cycle

Several factors can cause abnormal cycles in dogs.

of female dogs can vary greatly in length, with some

One common cycle abnormality is called “split heats.”

dogs ovulating at five days after the onset of bleeding,

When split heats occur, you will see a female start to show

while some may not ovulate for twenty-one or more

early signs of heat but never really seem receptive to the

days. Progesterone testing can help eliminate some

male. If progesterone testing is being performed, these

of this variability by allowing you to more accurately

females will usually show a rise in progesterone but will

determine the proper time for breeding, and also will

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48

allow you to plan for a more accurate whelping date.

Another cause for a female not becoming pregnant is if the male is infertile. This should be suspected if several females bred by the same male have not conceived.

The female may also have anatomical problems with her reproductive tract that does not allow the sperm to reach the egg and fertilize it. As an example, I have previously performed a C-section on a dog that had one normal horn of her uterus, and the other side had an ovary but a very small, abnormal horn. This female was only able to become pregnant on one side of her uterus, but some females may have a deformity on both sides.

The only way to determine if these abnormalities are present is by exploratory surgery. Another common problem a female could have is an infection in her uterus that does not allow pregnancy to occur. Some infections can be chronic and mild, with very minimal signs that make diagnosis very difficult. There may be no signs except failure to conceive.

Finally, there can be several reasons for dogs to become pregnant and then lose the puppies either through abortion or resorption. One of the more common

causes of abortion is brucellosis, but there are many other diseases and conditions that could cause a female to abort. A thorough abortion workup will be needed to determine a cause. This will likely involve sending freshly aborted and preserved tissue and blood samples from the female to a laboratory for analysis. Some of the other causes of abortions include herpes virus, Leptospirosis, and other bacterial infections. Re-absorption of a fetus or an entire litter may result from genetic abnormalities in the fetus, abnormalities in the placenta, or uterine or hormonal abnormalities of the female.

Hopefully, this article gives you some ideas and things to think about if you have one or several females that are experiencing infertility problems. Many of these conditions are very difficult to diagnose, but I would be happy to discuss plans for working up females with infertility problems. //

DR. TERESA HOXWORTH CAN BE REACHED AT DANVILLE VETERINARY CLINIC (740-599-5991) IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR WISH TO SUGGEST FUTURE TOPICS.

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JULY 2020

FUNDS an d BENEFITS ANNA SCHWARTZ BENEFIT FUND

//

A fund has been set up for Anna, age 24. She has been to multiple places because of mental illnesses and is currently residing at Heritage Home. She also has multiple hospital bills and not much income. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Make checks payable to Anna Schwartz Benefit Fund, Bank of Monticello, Canton Branch, PO Box 250, Canton, MO 63435-0250.

//

DAVID AND RUTHIE RIEHL FUND

David and Ruthie Riehl, a young couple with six children, are struggling to make ends meet. David is off work and requires ongoing treatments due to breaking both arms in a job-site accident. He is also dealing with Rocky Mountain Disease, which is very painful, and Ruthie was in an auto/buggy accident, incurring back injuries. Please pray for the family. Make checks payable to the David Riehl Fund, The Gratz Bank, PO Box 159, Gratz, PA 17030.

//

ARLEN AND WANDA MULLET FUND

A fund has been set up for Arlen and Wanda Mullet. Arlen, 31, fell at home and fractured several vertebrae in his neck. He is currently paralyzed from his chest down. They are facing large medical and rehab expenses. They have two children, ages 2 and 7.

Thank you for your prayers and support. Make checks payable to Mt. Hope Charities Inc. Po Box 19, Mt. Hope, OH 44660. Attn: Fairview West Church.

//

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR OLIVIA GINGERICH

Olivia Gingerich has been in the hospital since mid-February. She is ten years old and awaiting her second bone marrow transplant.

Send her a line of cheer. Her parents are Brian and Sara Gingerich, and they would appreciate hearing from others who have had family doing bone marrow transplants. Send to Olivia Gingerich, c/o Children’s Hospital, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229.

//

MILLIE BONTRAGER FUND

A fund has been set up for Millie (Lavern) Bontrager, a widow in District 66. Funds will be used to help pay for a new house; we would like to start building in early August. Thank you for your support. Make checks payable to the Millie Bontrager Benefit Fund, Farmers State Bank, PO Box 1010, Shipshewana, IN 46565, or drop off at any Farmers State Bank location.

//

ROSANNA LAPP FUND

A fund has been set up for John and Rosanna Lapp. Rosanna has been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, and medical expenses are very high. Any prayers and donations will be appreciated. May God bless you. Make checks payable to Rosanna Lapp Fund, Jersey Shore State Bank, 3635 Penns Valley Road / PO Box 66, Spring Mills, PA 16875.

//

JOHN MARK AND MICHAEL HERSHBERGER FUND

A fund has been set up for John Mark, age 10, and Michael, age 15, sons of Ben and Rosanna Hershberger. They were both diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia. John Mark had a bone marrow transplant on May 20, and Michael is treating alternatively at this time but will still need a transplant. Costs are high. Thank you for sharing. God bless! Make checks payable to John Mark Hershberger Fund, The Commercial & Savings Bank, PO Box 136, Charm, OH 44617.

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Hey, what’s the good word!

Attention creates action, produces quality, and facilitates

Focus. First, let’s define what it is. The dictionary says

productivity. What you give your attention to is what

focus is "a center of activity, attraction, or attention; a point

determines your experiences. Many mistakes in our lives

of concentration; directed attention; a state or condition

come from letting the wrong things capture our attention.

permitting clear perception or understanding."

You can’t create more hours in the day, but you can

Next, read the statement below and then pause.

be more intentional with how you spend them. By being

Don’t keep reading the rest of the article until this truly

intentional, you choose to focus on what deserves your

resonates. Ready? Go!

attention rather than on what merely gets your attention.

You can focus on what gets your attention, or you can

I love James Clear’s suggestion of measuring your

focus on what deserves your attention.

progress. He says, “We all have areas of life that we say

Matthew 6:34 says, “Therefore do not worry about

are important to us, but that we aren’t measuring. That's

tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day

a shame because measurement maintains focus and

has enough trouble of its own.”

concentration. The things we measure are the things we

When I read this scripture, it puts a ton of value on one

improve. It is only through numbers and clear tracking

day and on focusing on that particular day. This helps us

that we have any idea if we are getting better or worse.”

make the most of the time given to us. But, many of us are

For example, Clear mentions, “When I measured

so caught up in what we need to accomplish on our to-do

how many pushups I did, I got stronger. When I tracked

list that we aren’t valuing today, and it’s taking up the one

my reading habit of 20 pages per day, I read more books.

thing we all wish we had more of… TIME!

And when I recorded my values, I began living with more

Attention management can assist with this. It is the

integrity.” So, ask yourself, how do you define focus in the

practice of controlling distractions, being present in the

different areas of your world, and how can you improve

moment, finding flow, and maximizing focus so that you

your focus in these areas? One way you could start is by

can unleash your genius. It's about being intentional

making the shift from time management to attention

instead of reactive. Invest in your focus. Support your

management.

Now that’s GOOD STUFF! //

attention by minimizing distractions.

Time management used to be very similar to what attention management is now. If you put it on your

Please feel free to reach me anytime with your thoughts at kevin@plainvalues.com or:

calendar, you were more likely to accomplish it. This was until the digital revolution changed the way information was generated and shared. In other words, before there

Plain Values Attn: Good Stuff with Kevin PO Box 201 Winesburg, OH 44690

were so many distractions. Allocating time to something no longer means that it will receive your attention, and without attention, your time is somewhat irrelevant.

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JULY 2020

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