In Memory of Bonnie by Jan Druckenmiller

THE SACRED PORTION CHILDREN’S OUTREACH A Child Caring Ministry

Fall 2011 “And you...shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your god has given you and your household. And you...shall say before the Lord your God. I have removed the sacred portion from my house, and have given it to...the orphan according to all thy commandments which thou has commanded me...I have listened to the voice of the Lord my God.” Deuteronomy 26: 11, 12, & 14

Our Mission In Memory of Bonnie By Jan Druckenmiller

I did not know Bonnie Burgard as a child, nor as a teenager or even as a young adult. My personal acquaintance with Bonnie spanned only a segment of the 49 years of her life, beginning with a The Sacred Portion Children’s relationship through church Outreach is a non-profit and later expanding into a organization dedicated to providing common interest in for the needy children of the world adoption and orphan care. who are without homes or families. As we moved in this realm with Bonnie and her Formerly known in our community husband, Mike, I came to as Southwood Child and Family know Bonnie for the woman Education Center, the organization that she was. Her passion was directly involved for 22 years in for children needing families the development and operation of was profound and played an early childhood program. In 1997 the organization passed the out in her own life through care and continuation of that the adoption of seven program into another’s hands and children. When she passed away in June 2006 from cancer, a the founders, Craig and Jan sizable memorial gift gave rise to the vision of a new baby home Druckenmiller, turned their hearts built in Bonnie’s memory as an expansion of the Rehoboth to serving a more needy population Children’s Home. That gift combined with other contributions of the world’s children. made it possible to acquire a piece of ground in Sampaloc, Philippines as a first step towards the realization of a larger and With a new name and a new more adequate facility to care for the infants and toddlers at mission, the organization seeks to Rehoboth. Memorial gifts designated for Bonnie’s Heart Baby provide better environments for Home trickled in over the next few years, but it seemed that it children living in orphanages and to would be forever in raising the $100,000 needed for the ultimately move them on to brighter construction of this facility. futures through adoption.

Continued on page 2 total amount needed for the Baby Home! We are amazed at what God has brought forth through the Hill’s determination to see Bonnie’s Heart Baby Home become a reality.

Now that we are almost guaranteed to have the $100,000 necessary for construction, the Hills have shifted their focus towards equipping the Baby Home and raising funds for operating costs. To assure construction of an excellent building as designed by Engineering Ministries International (eMi), they also want to have an additional $10,000 available as a construction contingency. In response to the love and generosity that has been shown in the first eight months of what began as a 24-month campaign, the Hills have now lifted their objective to $125,000 which will provide $110,000 for construction and $15,000 for furnishings. All funds raised above $125,000 will Bonnie’s parents, Dick and be applied to the operating budget of the Baby Home. Muriel Hill, and her sister, Betty Hill, must have felt the same way and decided to get serious about raising the money. The Hills from Virginia launched a Family and Friends Campaign on February 14, 2011. Five immediate family members pledged $20,000 with hopes that other relatives and old friends of Bonnie’s would join them in raising an additional $20,000. That amount combined with the $10,000 in gifts that had been received since 2006 would take us halfway to the goal of $100,000. The hope was that the money raised would then bring forth a matching grant to complete the funding needed for the construction of the The Burgard Family in June 2004 Baby Home. We are so very grateful to the Hills for taking this project to heart People responded and, as and are astounded at how God has expanded their timid goal each month went by, the of $40,000 beyond what any of us ever imagined. We are spreadsheet tracking thankful for the people who knew and loved Bonnie and have donations and pledges inched given so generously from their personal resources. We are closer to the Hill’s goal. By May equally thankful to those people who perhaps did not know this 2011, the total had crossed amazing woman, but whose hearts have been touched by this over the $50,000 mark and project and have responded accordingly. The Rehoboth continued to increase in June Children’s Home is constantly full to capacity. Bonnie’s Heart and July. Then, in August, we Baby Home will meet a great need in allowing us to serve more received a “mystery check” children and to care for the youngest of these children in a more that bumped the funds up to adequately designed facility. How exciting that it is actually $95,000, just $5,000 short of the going to happen!

2 What’s Next?

With the success of Bonnie’s Heart Baby Home Family and Friends Campaign, construction of the Baby Home is scheduled to begin in the early part of 2012. We, the Druckenmillers, have plans to move our family to the Philippines in June of 2012 for a nine-month stay to oversee the construction of the Baby Home. There are so many day-to-day decisions that have to be made during the construction process and it is very important to us that the Baby Home be built in a way that will make it an excellent facility for caring for infants and toddlers. This upcoming adventure is very daunting to us as a family. Yet, we know that it will be a rich experience and have long looked to the day when we could become a part of the daily heartbeat of the Rehoboth Children’s Home rather than just travelers coming and going. I have posted the following inspirational words by my desk in the office and look at them whenever the thought of transporting a family of six overseas feels too crazy and overwhelming!

Fear not the risks of braving the wilds and unknown in your service for God. Fear more the regret of never having the opportunity to serve Him in that special way again.

Rehoboth Expansion Project Time Table

Finalization of blueprints for Baby Home December 2011 Druckenmillers travel to Philippines to finish details of Medical Clinic January 2012 Spring break work team March 9 - 17, 2012 Break ground on Baby Home March 2012 Grand opening of Medical Clinic April 1, 2012 Druckenmillers move to Philippines for nine months June 2012 Construction of Baby Home March 2012 to April 2013

3 Bonnie’s Heart Baby Home Contributors From November 2006 to November 2011

Robert & Cheryl Darling Karel Foti Dr. Christian & Elizabeth Knudsen Beatrice Tourtellotte Ron & Micki Huisenga Bruce & Donna Betts Paul & Arlene Wylie Paul & Mary Darling Michael & Kathy Danielson Claire Kimm Arthur Darken Robert Hoyt & Ann Yoshihashi Jack & Tana Devine Frederick & Barbara Kenney Ruth Yoshihashi Judith Worley Thomas & Lori Vassar George & Deborah Haynes Brian & Peggy Swanson Andy Yousko Berryville Baptist Church Ken & Corrine Zichovich Carl & Helen Shuster Jack & M. Jane Bentley Robert & Kathleen Braaksma Phyliss Wolff Matt & Kathy Black Diane Johnson Ken & Brenda Easton Stephen Plays Diane & Edwin Wolf David & Evelyn Dicky Wade & Julie Louthan Harris & Weiel Financial Group Nancy Hall Barbara Plays John & Kathleen Allen Robert & Sharron Hill Betty Hill (in memory of her sister Richard & Muriel Hill Thomas & Glory Sullivan Bonnie’s birthday on Nov. 17; in Rick & Carla Radovich Beverly Zbryowski memory of Phyllis Clark; in honor Joseph Ahern Doug & Linda Nydam of parents Dick and Muriel Hill’s Vernon & Ruth Ann Tourtellotte Capt. USN/Ret. Hal & Doris MIller anniversary; in honor of Bob and John & Beverly Tromsness Steven & Christine Carpenter Sharron Hill on the occasion of Stanley & Lois Burgard Craig & Valerie Deeney their birthdays) Michael Burgard Mary MacFarlane Margery Hill Miriam Rasmussen

If you would like to make a contribution to Bonnie’s Heart Baby Home Family and Friends Campaign, please make your check out to the Sacred Portion Children’s Outreach with a notation that it is for Bonnie’s Heart Baby Home. Making a pledge of an amount to be gifted over the next few years is another option that some people find easier on their finances. Thank you so much!

Spring Break Mission Trip 2012

A work team to the Rehoboth Children’s Home is being planned for March 9 - 17, 2012. This short-term mission trip is open to people of all ages who would like to serve in some capacity. Manual labor will definitely be involved for those who are able to help with the beginning stages of construction of Bonnie’s Heart Baby Home. This will involve a lot of digging, hauling buckets of concrete, shoveling gravel and sand, and laying concrete block. People who are not able to do manual labor can serve in other ways such as holding babies, providing activities for the older children at Rehoboth, or helping to solve technological problems with computers. There is something for everyone!

People who are interested in participating in a mission trip but need to raise the money to go can do deputized fundraising through The Sacred Portion Children’s Outreach.

For more information on this work team opportunity, please contact Craig Druckenmiller at The Sacred Portion Children’s Outreach - (406) 586-5773.

4 Rehoboth Medical Clinic Nearly Complete

The construction of the Rehoboth Medical Clinic is nearly complete, lacking only bathroom fixtures and cabinetry. A grant for $1 million has been applied for through USAID for equipping the clinic and three years of operating expenses. It is our hope and prayer that this grant comes through so that the clinic can get up and running as soon as possible. The clinic will be a great benefit to the community of Sampaloc in providing affordable, accessible medical The Bozeman Lion’s Club, Big Sky Dance Ensemble, and the Main Street Dance Theatre will once again be presenting T’was the Night Before Christmas holiday show and donating the proceeds to the Rehoboth Medical Clinic. Money raised from this Christmas production will be used to purchase cabinetry and bathroom fixtures and to landscape the front of the clinic.

Saturday, December 17 Shows at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM Wilson Auditorium services. It will also allow for Ticket Prices: Before Show: the children residing at $15 Adults; $7 Children 4 - 12; ages 3 & under Free Rehoboth to have free Day of Show: $17 Adults; $9 Children 4 - 12 medical care, significantly helping the budget for the Tickets can be purchased at Cactus Records and Main Street Dance Children’s Home. The clinic will utilize local doctors, but will also be an opportunity for medical mission teams to come and serve.

We are grateful for the crew of local Filipino workers who did a commendable job in building the clinic. It’s beautiful! We are also very appreciative of the Lion’s Club International Foundation for providing a grant for the clinic.

5 Summer of Hope 2011

This was our 9th summer to do the Summer of Hope program. Our annual Hope Walk was a success and generated the funds needed to cover the cost of bringing the children from overseas for the summer program.

A total of nine children were hosted in Montana which included four children from the Philippines and five children from Ethiopia. Two children were hosted by families in Billings, one in Big Sky and the rest in the Bozeman area. This was our first time to bring children from Ethiopia which was very fun and exciting! It was also the first summer to have all single children participating in the program as we normally have quite a few sibling pairs or sibling groups.

The children from the Philippines arrived on July 6 and the children from Ethiopia on July 8. The children participated in the usual summer program activities and had a great time. We had record attendance at our weekly community picnics with 120 to 140 people at each event which included past host/adoptive families and other interested persons. It is so encouraging to see the adoption community that has developed over the years as a result of the summer program.

The children were graciously served once again by the medical community with each child having a basic physical exam, dental exam, vision and hearing screening.

The children returned to their respective countries and orphanages on August 6 and August 8. We are pleased to announce that all nine children have families moving forward with adoption! Thanks be to God!

We are very grateful to all of the families who opened their hearts and homes to the children, to the volunteers in our community who helped us organize the Hope Walk and other aspects of the summer program, and to all of the businesses and people who generously donated to make Summer of Hope 2011 possible.

6 THANK YOU TO TIM AND MARY BARNARD FOR GENEROUSLY SUPPORTING SUMMER OF HOPE FOR SEVEN YEARS RUNNING!

A special thank you to the following medical professionals who donated services

BOZEMAN BILLINGS

Dr. Joel Sayre/Gallatin Valley Pediatric Dentistry Dr. Brian Starr/Billings Clinic Pediatrics For providing dental exams for seven children For providing basic medical exams for two children

Dr. Jeff Squire/Eyes on Main Dr. Laighton Jones/Wicks Dental Clinic For providing vision screenings for seven children For providing a dental exam for one child

Dr. Cathy Waterman-Grace & Dr. Collette Dr. Rob Currence/Beartooth Vision Center Kirchhoff/Family Practice Associates For providing a vision exam for one child For providing basic medical exams for seven children Dr. Douglas Rehder/Rehder Hearing & Balance Clinic Trang Rogers/Big Sky ENT For providing assistance to one of the SOH children For providing hearing screenings for seven children with hearing aids

7 Summer of Hope 2011 Host Families

We are very grateful to each of the families who participated in Summer of Hope 2011, making it possible for a child to enjoy a fun, summer vacation and have the chance to find a permanent family through adoption. Due to Ethiopia’s strict regulations on posting any pictures or identifying information on the children, we are not able to show pictures here of the families and hosted children from Ethiopia. Our heart-felt gratitude is extended to the Davis family of Billings, MT, the Koroiyale/Olson family, Herzog family, and Shultz family all of Bozeman, MT, and the Heaton family of Belgrade, MT.

The Platt family of Billlings, MT hosted Noel, age 8, from the Philippines. The Wilson family of Big Sky, MT The Andriolo family of Bozeman, hosted John Levy, age 7, from MT hosted Joyce Ann, age 10, the Philippines. from the Philippines.

The Jardstrom family of Bozeman, MT hosted Sheila May, age 10, from the Philippines.

8 After the Airport By Jen Hatmaker

I’m going to tell you something; a restraint. insecurity. Transitions: help us, little confession, if you will. Some Jesus. She has asked us every of you will pull your hair out and But this is not a post about single day since July 22nd if she is smear your faces with ashes and homeschooling or public going back to Ethiopia. Every. put all my books on eBay and quit schooling. The reason I am Single. Day. When I discovered believing in God, but I’m willing to happy my kids are in school is cashews to be a winning legume take that risk: not because I lack the for her impossible palate, I told organization to educate five kids her: “Yay! Good job! Cashews I’m really, really glad all my kids (which I do), it’s not because are good for you and will help you are back in school. I’ve chosen a career with a grow big and strong!” moderate workload (which I There, I said it. The three children have), and it’s not because I’m “Big? Ah-Rrrremy? Big? that I birthed and nursed and a little sloppy on details and my Cashews?” raised from scratch, and the two kids would likely graduate with a children we begged and cried sixth-grade education (which “Yes!” and screeched for and fetched they would). from Africa...all five of these kids She pushes them away and starts are in school. And I am happy, so It’s because parenting right now crying. Once again, I am happy, happy, happy, happy, is EXHAUSTING and the mental bewildered and befuddled. hip-hip-hooray Mary Poppins break is keeping me afloat. happy. “No! No Ah-Rrremy grow big! Me On July 22nd we came down big, then go back to Ethiopia! No! For my friends and readers who the escalator at the Austin Dis is no!” homeschool, I tip my hat and say airport with Remy. On August to you, “Well done, good and 21st we came down the same When a child fears that cashews faithful servants.” And believe escalator with Ben. These were will once again leave her me, I have a couple of besties two of the happiest days of my abandoned on this earth who paddle in that stream, and life. After an arduous adoption because she will grow out of the paddle it well. For some kids in journey, our kids were safe in our age we might still want to parent some cities in some families in arms, tucked into their bunk her, you are dealing with some districts, this is the very right beds their dad built with his own heartbreaking fragility. thing. The end. Why people feel two hands, surrounded by the the need to make a fuss about dearest, most sincere Her fear comes out as 1) how other parents decide to community we have ever defiance, 2) terror, 3) catatonic educate their children is beyond known. God delivered them disassociation, in that order. me. Let’s live and let live, y’all. from poverty and abandonment We’ve been spit on, kicked, For the love of Pete. back into a family, no longer disobeyed, refused, clung to, alone in this big world; now begged for, adored, ignored, and But I cannot educate my own wanted and loved and rejected. Triggers are children, people, unless I am OK welcomed with great fervor. unpredictable. Yesterday, we with us all becoming homicidal. entered an hour-long The end. Armageddon because she Plus, we’re in a nice little Bermuda wouldn’t put her bike up. This triangle where our kids feed into Not. turned into defiance and fabulous schools with vested disrespect, deal breakers as we teachers that make me want to Remy gave us about 12 hours of establish safe boundaries. When weep with gratitude. The honeymooning until her terror at long last her angry, dark face language resources for my burst onto the scene. relented, and she finally uttered in Amharic speakers is over the top, Sometimes her fear is so the smallest voice: “I’m sorry and I have a free pass to attend palpable, it literally takes my Mommy. I’m sorry Daddy,” the school each and every day, breath away. New places: dam broke and she cried for thirty which I have exercised with zero terror. New faces: total minutes, telling us over and over

9 that we don’t love her and she is That does not mean we are not bone-chilling fear. Parents who going back to Africa. exhausted. are willing to become the safe place, the Forever these children Meanwhile, Ben sidled up quietly I know what else you might be hope for but are too terrified to next to me as Brandon held thinking: Are you trying to scare believe in just yet. Remy’s flailing legs, and asked in people away from adoption? a whisper: “Mom? Forever?” Because this is pretty good But ”yet” is a powerful word in the propaganda for turning a blind context of faith, if we are indeed Is this family forever, even with this eye to this mess. No I’m not. to believe in the unseen and hysterical girl? Are you forever, While adoption is clearly not the hope for what has not even though she is draining the answer for the 170 million materialized. lifeblood out of you and Dad? orphans on earth, it is one Am I forever, once my junk starts answer, and I’ll go to the grave I followed a God into this story coming out that I’m holding in? begging more people to open who heals and redeems, who Are you forever to her? For me? their homes and minds and restores wasted years and mends Should I be worried that you’ll only hearts to abandoned children broken places. This God put up with this level of chaos for who are praying for a Mom and specializes in the Destroyed. I’ve so long? Dad and a God who might still seen it. I’ve been a part of it. I see them. have His ancient Word that tells of God love them. it. I love a Jesus who made But Brandon and I decided reconciliation his whole mission. We are parenting damaged, some time ago to go at this My children will not remain traumatized children; don’t let the honestly, with truthful words and broken. They are loved by too pictures fool you. We’re in the actual experiences that might good a Savior. I will not remain weeds. Every minute is on; there is encourage the weary heart or exhausted and spent. I am loved no off. We’ve arrived late, battle some of the fluffy, by too merciful a Father. cancelled altogether, hunkered damaging semi-truths about down in therapy mode, missed adopting. Because let me tell So today, I’m writing for you who appointments, failed to answer you something: If you are are somewhere “after the hundreds of emails in a timely intrigued by the idea of airport.” The big moment is over manner, left voicemails unlistened adoption, with the crescendoing and you are living in the to, texts unread, we’ve storyline and happy airport aftermath when the collective restructured, regrouped, pictures and the sigh-inducing grief or euphoria has passed. You replanned, reorganized, we’ve family portrait with the different lost a parent, a sibling, a friend, a punted and called audibles, skin colors and the feely-feel child. The experience mobilized we’ve left the bigs on their own, good parts of the narrative, every single human being who hoping they are functioning well please find another way to see loves you and they rallied, on auto-pilot after a lifetime of God’s kingdom come. gathered, carried you. And now healthy stability, and sometimes, it’s three months later on a we put “Tangled” on for the You cannot just be into adoption random Tuesday, and the sting eleventh time and cry in the to adopt; you have to be into has worn off for everyone else, bathroom. parenting. and you are left in your sorrow.

We are exhausted beyond And it is hard, hard, intentional, I’m writing for those of you who measure. laborious work. Children who had the oh-so-wanted baby after have been abused, the cheers and showers and I know what you’re thinking. You abandoned, neglected, given Facebook fervor, and now you’re asked for this. Yes we did. And away, given up, and left alone struggling with a depression so we’d ask for it again, with full are shaken so deeply, so dark and deep, you are afraid to disclosure and foreknowledge. intrinsically, they absolutely say it out loud. To you who We would. We would say yes to require parents who are willing moved across the country in adoption, to Ben, to Remy. We to wholly invest in their healing; obedience - you left your family, would do it all over again. We through the screaming, the fits, church, community, your jobs - might do it all over again in the the anger, the shame, the and now the headline has passed future. entitlement, the bed-wetting, and you are lonely and the spitting, the rejection, the unanchored. For my friends

10 who’ve brought their adopted started a church last year? Bring down. No one. Good plan. children home and the media him a lasagna and do not be frenzy has died down, and you alarmed if he sobs into his Oh let us be a community who are holding a screaming toddler, French bread. loves each other well. Because a fragile kindergartener, an angry someone is always struggling teen, trying to catch your breath We are still in the thick of hard, through the “after the airport” and make it through the day exhausting work, so if you ask me phase, when the chords of human without bawling while everyone if these are the happiest days of kindness become a lifeline of else has gone back to their my life (which a ton of you salvation. Let us watch for the regularly scheduled have), and my eyes kind of struggling members of our tribe, programs...I’m with you today. glaze over and I say through a faking it through sarcasm or self- tight-lipped smile like a robot, deprecation or a cheerfully false More importantly, God is with you “Yes. Sure. Of course. This is my report. May we refuse to let today. He remains in the chaos dream life”...I am lying. I am someone get swallowed up in long after it has lost its shine. lying so you won’t feel isolation, drowning in grief or When the delivered meals have uncomfortable when I tell you, difficulties that seem too heavy to stopped and the attention has “Actually, I haven’t had a let anyone else carry. Let’s live waned, Jesus remains. He sticks shower in three days, I lost my this big beautiful Life together, with us long after it is convenient temper with my uncontrollable rescuing each other from the or interesting. If you feel alone daughter this morning and had brink and exposing the unending today in your new normal, would to walk outside, I’m constantly compassion of our Jesus who you please receive this bit of cleaning up pee because called us to this high level of beauty: this simple Scripture uncircumcised tee-tee goes community; past the romantic recited billions of times throughout sideways onto walls, and beginning, through the messy and the ages, perhaps without the sometimes when my two little mundane middles, and all the poetry of David or the precision of ones are asleep and we’re way to the depths. Paul, but with enough truth to downstairs with the original three sustain the weariest traveler: kids who are so stable and Printed with permission of Jen healthy and easy, it creates a Hatmaker. If you are interested in “Be strong and courageous. Do nostalgia so intense, I think I reading more of Jen Hatmaker’s not be afraid or terrified because might perish. But enough about writings, visit her blog at http:// of them, for the Lord your God me. How are you?” jenhatmaker.com/blog. Jen has goes with you; He will never leave also authored a number of you nor forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6) But that would be weird. So I spiritual books for women and say, “Yes, I am so happy.” does speaking engagements. He will never leave. If you are living “after the Never forsake. airport,” how I wish I could November is National transplant my community into Never. your life; friends who have loved Adoption Awareness Month. us so completely and Take some time this month to For my readers who love someone exhaustively, I could weep just wrap around an adoptive living “after the airport,” the big thinking about it. Maybe one of moment - be it a blessed high or a the most brilliant ways God family that you know: devastating low - is never the “never leaves us” and “never completion. The grief and forsakes us” is through the love ● Take them a meal struggle, the work and effort, the of each other. Maybe He knew ● Offer to run errands or do healing and restoring comes later. that receiving love from people some shopping Will you call your friend who lost with skin on is the most excellent ● Do their laundry or clean her mom to cancer five months way, so He gave us an entire set ago? Will you check in on your of Scriptures founded on their house friends who adopted this spring? community and sacrificial love ● Provide a respite break Email your neighbor who took a for one another. I guess He ● Lend an ear big risk and moved or changed realized that if we obeyed, if we jobs or quit to stay home. For the became more like His Son, then ● Pray for them love of Moses, do you have a no one would every want for friend who stepped out and mercy when their chips were

11 EQUIP

A Support Group To Equip Parents As They Begin The Adoption Journey

WHAT: 9-month Parent Support Group Free of Charge* WHO: For Pre-Adoptive, New Adoptive Parents & Interested Others WHERE: Evangelical Free Church, S. 19th St. Bozeman, MT, Room 102 WHEN: The second Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

This group is designed for parents who are interested in adoption, in the process of adopting, those who have newly adopted, and interested others. EQUIP is a structured, psycho-educationally based group lead by a licensed therapist. Each month, we will concentrate on a specific topic relevant to adoption and have time for both teaching and discussion. This group is designed to support those beginning the adoption journey who would like information and the camaraderie of other families at the same early stage in the process. For parents who need the support of other families in dealing with specific challenges usually encountered once their adoptees are settled in (~ 1 year or more into the adoption), we offer the CONNECT group, also available once a month. Please contact Jan Druckenmiller or Kate Cremer-Vogel for more information about this option. We hope you’ll join us as we launch EQUIP for the first season this fall 2011! We look forward to seeing you there!

Child care will be available if this is determined to be a need of the group.

*Insurance billing is optional if a family is insured and wants to use their insurance to help defray the overhead of providing this group for the community. Please contact Kate Cremer-Vogel at 582-5480 or by email at [email protected] if you would like more information about this option.

Topic Agenda 2011-2012

September Introductions & Overview October What is Attachment & How Does Secure Attachment Develop? November “Under the Hood” Brain Development & Nature/Nurture December When Something Goes Wrong: What Can Be Done? January What Does the Adopted Child Need First? Your Child’s Underlying Needs February Keys to Therapeutic Parenting March Translating Behavior: Teaching Your Child Who He/She Is April Prevention Gems: How to Prevent Challenging Behaviors from Arising May Taking Care of Yourself

There will be an option of continuing this group during the summer months if there is enough interest.

EQUIP is sponsored by: The Sacred Portion Children’s Outreach & Encompass Ministry

12 CONNECT

A Support Group To Connect Parents As They Navigate the Challenges of Adoption and Parenting

WHAT: Ongoing Parent Support Group Free of Charge* WHO: For Adoptive Parents, Parents with Challenging Children & Interested Others WHERE: Evangelical Free Church, S. 19th St. Bozeman, MT, Room 102 WHEN: The last Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

This group is designed for parents who are dealing with specific challenges usually encountered once their adoptees are settled in (~ 1 year or more into the adoption), for parents with challenging children and interested others. CONNECT (formerly Together in Parenting) is a process-based support group lead by a licensed therapist that gives parents a venue in which to form an emotional connection with other parents experiencing similar issues with their children. Each month, we address concerns of parents who are present via peer support and therapeutic suggestions. Parents who are experiencing challenging times with their children find the support of other parents who have been on the adoption and parenting journey for some time to be invaluable. Therapeutic suggestions are offered when appropriate and helpful. For parents who need the support of other families who are at the beginning of the adoption journey and who would like information and the camaraderie of other families at the same early stage in the process, we offer the EQUIP support group, which also meets once a month. Please contact Jan Druckenmiller or Kate Cremer-Vogel for more information about this option. We hope you’ll join us as our CONNECT group enters its 4th year of supporting adoptive families and families raising challenging children in the Gallatin Valley! We look forward to seeing you there!

Child care will be available if this is determined to be a need of the group.

CONNECT is sponsored by: The Sacred Portion Children’s Outreach & Encompass Ministry

13 Adoption Respite Care Training

The Sacred Portion Children’s Respite Care Training for behavior, grief, and anger, the Outreach has been working on persons interested in process of forming developing a volunteer-based becoming respite care attachments, the goals of adoption respite care ministry providers. The training was misbehavior and manipulation, in recognition that adoptive presented by Brenda Quillen, limit setting and de-escalation families sometimes need a Area Director for Yellowstone techniques. A child’s physical and emotional break Boys and Girls Ranch behavior in a respite care from parenting their adopted Community Based Services. setting is often very different children. We view respite care Participants were given an from what a family as an essential post-adoption overview of what respite care experiences at home with their support service in helping to is and the goals of this type of child. A key element in respite maintain healthy families. service. They were care is the ability of respite encouraged to explore their care providers to provide Our goal in developing a motivations for becoming a support to adoptive families respite care network is to have respite provider and how without judgment or criticism. a group of respite care they envision themselves providers who can be called being a supportive resource A follow-up to the respite care upon to provide a planned to adoptive families. training was held in November break for adoptive families to help participants assess and who are also available in Brenda Quillen presented a where they are at in their emergency or crisis situations. wealth of information, more commitment to becoming a Because adopted children than could be covered in the respite care provider. Some of can present with some unique time allotted for the training! the particulars to operating a challenges, it is very important Discussion took place on respite care network were also that those persons providing some of the challenges or addressed such as procedures respite care have been barriers to respite care, for information exchange adequately trained. Respite responsibilities of a respite between the respite care providers need to be family, what to expect when provider and adoptive family. knowledgeable about the a child is in respite care, the issues and behaviors that are a importance of structure and We are very excited to have result of the trauma and loss consistency within the respite people involved who want to that many adopted children home, and clear serve in this capacity and look have suffered in their past. communication of family forward to the Adoption rules and expectations. Respite Care Network On October 7 and 8, 2011, The Brenda also covered becoming a viable service to Sacred Portion Children’s important information for adoptive families in our Outreach held an Adoption understanding a child’s community.

If you are interested in being a part of the Adoption Respite Care Network as a respite care provider, please let us know your interest.

If you are in need of or know an adoptive family that is in need of respite care, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Anna Graham Lindeen at 570-6210 or [email protected].

14 SPCO Completes Hague Accreditation Self-Study

The Sacred Portion Children’s procedures developed are adamant about keeping Outreach received $60,000 in during our self-study process that ministry focus. In other grants the latter part of 2010 have become operational. If words, we do not want to and first part of 2011 for the it makes you feel tired just become an “adoption purpose of going through the reading about this, then you business.” However, the fees Hague accreditation process. can understand how we are gained from the adoption The Hague Convention which feeling at the end of what work that we do will create a took place in 2000 was a has been a very intense and, revenue stream that we movement to standardize at times, overwhelming nine- desperately need to support adoption practices and month process! our General Fund and provide reduce child trafficking. More the administrative support that than 70 countries around the Our accreditation site visit we need to carry out all of the globe have ratified the Hague went well and we are feeling focuses of this ministry. Convention which means that confident that we will be adoption agencies placing granted accreditation. The Thank you to all of you who children from those countries evaluators’ ratings on each prayed through our must be Hague accredited. of the Hague standards will accreditation site visit. We also Through the accreditation be sent in a report to be covet your prayers for a process, agencies must show reviewed by a Commission positive accreditation decision that they are in compliance that will then either approve, in January! with specific standards that defer or deny an address the overall functioning accreditation decision. We Thank you once again to the of an agency as well as the expect to receive the following foundations for agency’s adoption services. Commission’s decision making it possible to us to even sometime in January 2012. pursue this goal: The Sacred Portion Children’s Outreach began a nine-month Once we are Hague The Cora Foundation self-study process in January of accredited, we will be able 2011 which involved the to apply for international development of a myriad of licensure with the foreign The Gianforte Family policies and procedures, forms countries from which we wish Charitable Trust and documents to to place children. This will demonstrate compliance with take us to a whole new level and implementation of the of being a complete agency The Gilhousen Hague standards. A for the families we serve. Family Foundation compilation of this work was Rather than just being able to sent to the Council on do home studies, we will be Accreditation on September able to have a seamless 26. A team of two evaluators relationship in working with arrived in Bozeman on families through the entire November 5 and spent the adoption process. next three days interviewing SPCO’s Board of Directors, staff A secondary outcome of all and adoptive families served of this will be sustainability for by the organization. They the ministry. As an outreach reviewed our file records and organization for orphaned verified that the policies and and abandoned children, we

15 Rehoboth Children’s Home Update

This has been a good year for the Rehoboth Children’s Home. Aside from a broken bone, the children have been relatively healthy and there were no significant typhoons that affected the area of Sampaloc. For that we are thankful!

Also on our list of things to be thankful for is that the Rehoboth Children’s Home will be finishing out the year 2011 without a deficit! This is a bit of a miracle given that we had projected a $40,000 shortfall for 2011 at the beginning of the year. We made the need known back then and people responded by becoming child sponsors or generously gifting from their personal resources. Those gifts combined with fundraising efforts in the U.S., Australia, the U.K., and the Philippines throughout the year made up the difference in what we were lacking.

Although we are relieved to finish out 2011 without a deficit, the grim reality is that we will be completely out of funds by the end of December with nothing to start 2012. So, I am calling on the help of all of our friends and ministry partners once again and ask that you would consider what Maia’s Market in Australia level of support you might be able to commit to for the Rehoboth Children’s Home in the coming year. Perhaps you would consider sponsoring a child for $25 US per month if you are not already doing so. If you would rather not sponsor a child, a monthly commitment to Rehoboth’s general fund would be equally effective. If a monthly pledge of support is not possible for you, a one time gift of any amount would be very much appreciated.

We feel a sense of accomplishment in that we have been able to broaden our support base a bit more each year and have moved away from being so reliant on several main sponsors. We need to keep the momentum going in that direction and hope that you will all be with us again in 2012 doing what you did so well in 2011!

The Rehoboth Children’s Home saw eleven children come through its doors in 2011. Thirteen children were also discharged in 2011 including one transfer to another institution, three children reunited with family, three local adoptions and six inter-country adoptions. It certainly is a revolving door! Rehoboth is a temporary haven where children can be restored to health and a plan made for their futures. Our goal is to move them back out through that door into the arms of a permanent family as quickly as possible. Your generosity and support is what keeps Akiko at home in the Netherlands that door spinning!

Your donation can be conveniently made through Paypal by going to the Rehoboth web site at www.rehobothchildrenshome.com and clicking on the Donate button. A page will come up where you can select either General Fund or Sponsor a Child as ways to designate your support. We also have the capacity to set up automatic payments through Paypal from your bank account which you can cancel at any time. Paypal donations come through The Sacred Portion Children’s Outreach, Rehoboth’s partner organization in the U.S. We then wire the funds to Rehoboth on a regular basis. Donations can also be mailed to The Sacred Portion Children’s Outreach address.

16 The Revolving Door of Rehoboth

Our Rehoboth Family

17 scheduled our trip to include Trip to the UK some time for traveling through the Cotswolds prior to the exhibition and two days of sight-seeing in London before returning home. The rolling green countryside dotted with sheep and the quaint little villages were as picturesque as we had imagined. And it was thrilling to stand in such notable places as Stonehenge During our stay in the UK, Siloam and Westminster Abbey, and Christian Ministries graciously to tour the underground gave us the use of their ministry In May 2011, Craig and Jan cabinet war rooms from which van. Having the steering wheel Druckenmiller had the privilege Winston Churchill directed on the opposite side of the car of traveling to the UK to England’s involvement in World participate in a Christian War II. Of course, fun was Resource Exhibition held in Esher, balanced by work and we England. Siloam Christian stood for four days in the Ministries of the UK has been one exhibition booth passing out of the main supporters of the brochures on the Rehoboth Rehoboth Children’s Home since Children’s Home and talking to its inception and also supports people who stopped long many other charitable causes enough to give us their ear. throughout the world. Siloam Although there is no way to had planned to devote its booth measure what the impact will at this particular exhibition to the be of our participation in this Rehoboth Children’s Home and exhibition, we hope it sparked invited us to make a personal some interest and that Siloam presence there in an effort to Christian Ministries will raise interest in and support for experience an increased level the Home. Knowing that we of giving designated for the would probably never have this Rehoboth Children’s Home. opportunity again, we and driving on the opposite side of the road from what one is used to was a scary challenge. In lieu of traffic lights, round- abouts direct the flow of traffic in the UK so that was another huge learning curve. Craig mastered the round-abouts in a matter of a few days, but I could never get past the feeling of being on the “wrong side” of the road. At the Christian Resource Exhibition, the cops from the “Christian Cops” booth presented Craig with an Award of Excellence for “his outstanding ability to drive on the correct side of the road in a manual vehicle.” 18 OUROUR CONTRIBUTORSCONTRIBUTORS Gifts Received from 4/10/2011– 11/14/201111/14/2011 General Rehoboth General Child Sponsorship

Gordon & Gay Gallup Gabriel & Asuncion Boratgis David & Loann Aardema Karin Pogreba Paul & Shari Reasoner Jerry & Shawn Cole Evangelical Free Church Tim & Lorna Hayes Marvin & Deb Erickson John & Kristine Corcoran Joel & Carolyn Dykstra Rick & Janet Lee Allied Electrical Services Jeff Van Dyken Roger & Mary Ann Van Dyken Art & Joy Shellenberg CR Bard Foundation Loren & Sandi Van Phillip Coker Brent & Jessica Powell Middendorp CR Bard Foundation Reuben & Teresita Damaso Larry & Deborah Schulz Nikki Robbins Reynaldo & Helen Delos Joseph & Alyssa Nardinger Barbara O’Neil Reyes Calvin & Kathy Braaksma John Christiansen Michael Herber Clayton & Gail Wells David & Molly Thompson Myra Herber Carol Kleveland Carla Waters Elmo Luna E. Free Sunday School classes Robin Zetzer & Steven 360 Gigabikes Tony & Rhondda Dunne Fladhammer Elsa Perando Jon & Ceci Goodman Jack & Sharon Boston Choong Hiang Chung Josh & Brit McKenzie John & Harriet Tamminga Kevin & Bunny Brownlee Sandra Felts Jeffrey & Kristal Butler Stan & Linda Tenney Linda Davis Jeff Van Dyken Adoption Assistance Brad & Kathryn Dolesh Andrew & Michelle Warren Deborarh Gay Norman & Maria Shaw Fidelity Charitable Trust Luis & Heather Higgie David & Mary Siewert Mark & Lori Sarti Peter & Naomi Moore Steve & Kris Van Dyken Damon & April Boucher Melanie Ployhar Ron & Donna Nauta James & Christine Powers Jim & Helen Zarifirou Summer of Hope Nicholas Rauch Phil & Cindy Bruckner Kristine Regele-Cechovic Ian & Gill Sayers We simply do not have room in Curt Reese Freddie Mac Foundation this newsletter to acknowledge Joshua Turner Employee Giving all of the people who donated Brent & Jessica Powell to Summer of Hope and our David Schmitz annual Hope Walk to make Lisa Slover Gail Hendrickson Summer of Hope 2011 possible. Nicholas & Chellese Stamson Carmen Van Middendorp We are so very grateful to all of Lotus Torre Ken & Holly Van Kirk you for supporting this cause! Kevin Ulrich Thank You! Jennifer Vieth Adam & Jennifer Young Rehoboth Expansion

LexiNexis Cash for Caring Martin Eskijian Druckenmiller Enterprises, LLC Brook Ceane Jim & Helen Zarifirou Jamie Chapman

The Sacred Portion Children’s Outreach NONPROFIT ORG. 7104 Bristol Lane U.S. POSTAGE Bozeman, MT 59715 PAID (406) 586-5773 BOZEMAN MT PERMIT NO. 160

SPCO Board of Craig Druckenmiller, Jan Druckenmiller, Sandi Van Middendorp, Ramona Linabary, Jenny Mead, Tim Hart, Cal Braaksma Directors

Inside This Issue:

IN MEMORY OF BONNIE

MEDICAL CLINIC

T’WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

SPRING BREAK WORK TEAM 2012

SUMMER OF HOPE 2011

AFTER THE AIRPORT

ADOPTION SUPPORT GROUPS

ADOPTION RESPITE CARE November is National Adoption Awareness Month HAGUE ACCREDITATION which is a time to celebrate adoption and encourage families throughout the United States REHOBOTH UPDATE to open their hearts and home to children in TRIP TO UK orphanages and in foster care who are waiting to be adopted.