The Leaves Spring 2023 Newsletter

Working Together

Much wonderful growth is going on at The Leaves! Our focus has been on thinking of the whole and making connections We've been building bridges with other Christian Science nursing facilities and organizations with the intent of cooperation and forward movement together We know that we are stronger when we work together to support the Christian Science Movement

& Staff Spotlight - p.

Healing is Happening - p. 3 Church Workshops - p. 4 Christian Science Nursing Training - p. 5

The theme for our upcoming 2023 Annual Meeting this year is: Visit theleaves.org/2023AnnualMeeting

" be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." (Phil. 2:2)

Exec. Director Note - p.6 Facilities & Friends Tour - p.7

I love this feeling of fellowship at The Leaves. It makes everyone want to work that much harder to make this the best for our patients, residents, and staff.

Below: The Leaves staff and their families gathered together to celebrate Christmas in early December. In true Texas style, we came together and ate at a local BBQ restaurant and learned some country line dancing steps. Fun was had by all!

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WHAT'S INSIDE S P R I N G 2 0 2 3

Focus

OutgoingBoardMember:TyBennett

Reintroducing Ty Bennett in a new role. Ty joined The Leaves Board of Trustees a year ago In November, he traded in his Board of Trustees hat to become The Leaves Development and Operations Manager We're grateful to have Ty join our team with boots on the ground assistance Ty has served in a variety of ways to support Christian Science organizations over the course of his career He was a Development Officer at Adventure Unlimited for the past five years For the five years prior to that, he served as an Admissions Counselor at Principia College, where he earned his degree in Communications. He said, "I am grateful for this opportunity to serve in Christian Science nursing and fully support the progress and good happening here at The Leaves."

IncomingBoardMember:GiftyAryeeteyAboro

Welcoming Gifty Aryeetey Aboro. Gifty lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three year old son Gifty was born and raised in Accra, Ghana She graduated from Principia College with a degree in Business Administration and then earned her MBA from the University of Missouri, St Louis Christian Science informs how she loves and cares for her family as a wife and mom In Gifty's professional work, she has learned through Christian Science that God provides the knowledge, the understanding, and the moral courage that she needs to do her job well, making each task an expression of God! She said, "I am grateful to serve on the Board for The Leaves I am excited to support the metaphysical work being done by all the members of the organization: the patients, the Christian Science nurses, and the staff members"

A Change on the Board Staff Spotlight

DirectorofChristianScienceNursing:YvonneFitzwilliams

Yvonne Fitzwilliams was born in Elmina, Ghana Yvonne started nursing as a young woman when her mother suffered from the belief of severe asthma Yvonne would help her mother with basic needs including bathing, dressing and reading the Bible Lesson When Yvonne just started learning to drive, she drove her mother (who at the time was too weak to drive herself) to visit a Christian Science practitioner about an hour away. During their visit, another young woman was leaving and the Christian Science practitioner mentioned to me that she was about to start her training as a Christian Science nurse. After asking the Christian Science practitioner questions about Christian Science nursing, she knew she wanted to begin her own practice of Christian Science nursing As soon as Yvonne finished high school, she applied to a few Christian Science nursing facilities and decided to get her training at Tenacre Foundation in New Jersey After marrying her husband, she moved to Texas and finished her on-the-job training at The Leaves in 1989, and has been here ever since The Leaves is deeply grateful for Yvonne's many years of committed service She serves as our Director of Christian Science Nursing and we love her inspired thought and metaphysical clarity that she demonstrates “I love to work as a Christian Science nurse My favorite part is working with the patients one-on-one I like to think of caring for the patients like I would care for my own family Sharing truths with them and witnessing healings is an honor” She said, “This is the best job in the world because everyone you work with is of the same Mind It’s a beautiful unity of holy purpose”

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P L E A S E W E L C O M E O U R N E W B O A R D M E M B E R G E T T O K N O W T H E T E A M

Healing is Happening

WITNESSING GOD'S HEALING POWER EVERYDAY

In one week, we received two inquiry calls that were cases of sudden needs where it seemed like the caller needed assistance right away. We were able to talk with each caller and tell them that we had availability for them to come in the same day. Each individual felt reassured that we could help and ended up seeing progress and having healings and not needing to come in. We rejoiced with them!

A few months back, I seemed to have a stroke Two weeks later, I seemed to have a reoccurrence of the problem A co-worker helped me get into work Two Christian Science nurses helped me to a room for care I don’t normally study Christian Science, but I started to work with a Christian Science practitioner when this challenge occurred She told me that God is in control and because I reflect God, I get to command my thought The Christian Science practitioner said to “Put all your worries in God’s hands” So, I did, and I started feeling better The Christian Science nurses kept reminding me of the Christian Science practitioner’s message; that I control my body because God gave me that right and He is the source of all movement and function So with that in mind, I got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and I was able to get there by myself I was a bit shaky but felt a lot better than I had been This was a turning point of progress, which has been steady ever since and I’m now able to be back at work. The Christian Science nurses gave me lots to read and study and I am inspired to learn how I was healed. I’m grateful for the power of prayer, The Leaves and these kind co-workers who supported me during this experience. - staff member at The Leaves

Are you interested in more inspiration? Visit theleaves.org/testimonials & follow us on social media

TOUR FOR CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PRACTITIONERS AND TEACHERS

We're delighted to welcome Christian Science Practitioners and Teachers to The Leaves on Friday, June 16, 2023 for a tour and informational session about Christian Science nursing at The Leaves They will have an opportunity to ask questions, get informed as to steps we are taking to ensure success for Christian Science nursing at The Leaves, hear from The Principle Foundation and Sunnyside Foundation, and connect with other Christian Science Practitioners and Teachers from around our region Are you a Christian Science practitioner but didn't get an invite? We have some returned invites with no forwarding address Contact Ty Bennett at tbennett@theleavesorg

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SCHEDULE CHURCH WORKSHOPS Forworkshopdescriptions &toRSVPpleasevisit: theleaves.org/workshops WORKSHOP 4 D E S I G N E D T O I N F O R M , I N S P I R E , A N D E N G A G E " S I N C E R E S E E K E R S " I N O U R R E G I O N AREBACK! OFFERINGS Irving, TX El Paso, TX Albuquerque, NM Santa Fe, NM The Woodlands, TX Houston, TX Dallas, TX Fort Worth, TX Austin, TX Spiritual Dimension of Care Workshop Care Committee Workshop Medicare Workshop Future of Christian Science Nursing at The Leaves

New Christian Science Nurses

I'm happy to be a part of a place where everyone is so dedicated The warm professionalism at The Leaves was something I noticed right away At home, I served as the clerk and was very active in my branch church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo I worked as a communications manager for a foundation for a school there I found I really wanted to serve Christian Science and help humanity on a larger scale and I found that in Christian Science nursing It has been fun to come here and serve with my sister, Sarah!

-Merveille Makengo

My family has strong Christian Science roots in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where my dad is a Christian Science Teacher I served as my branch church's treasurer It has been wonderful to come to The Leaves to serve I felt that there was more that I could do before and I really appreciated the specific guidance from the instructor and mentors here Supporting others after this training as a Christian Science nurse, I feel like I am better able to help

-Sarah Makengo

Being the business manager at The Leaves, I have such a respect for what Christian Science nursing does and I'm drawn to wanting to learn and help more This training will help me use these qualities and skills in any facet of The Leaves and I'm happy to serve in any way that's needed

-Susie West

I am from Ghana, and while I was finishing my Master's degree, I was praying about roles that had a hands-on capacity I was willing to listen and be obedient to Love's direction. This led me to Christian Science Nursing. I love how prevalent Love is here at The Leaves. Everyone is welcoming and knowing that we're all here to help serve with a unified purpose.

-Anorkor Andoh

I served in the Christian Science Nursing Youth Service Corps (CSNYSC) at The Leaves and got a taste for what it was like to work in Christian Science nursing. Both of my parents are Christian Science nurses but it was good to learn firsthand what this work is about I wanted to help more after the 9 months in the CSNYSC and took Level 1 training as a Christian Science nurse I'm really glad I did and get to help in Christian Science more

-Diana Waweru

T A K I N G L E V E L 1 T R A I N I N G A T T H E L E A V E S

Dear friends,

In January and February, I had the opportunity to visit various Christian Science organizations in California, Arizona, and Colorado See the photos on the next page! It was a fruitful time full of fellowship and collaboration These 12 days of travel were an inspiring way to live The Leaves Annual Meeting theme for this year: “Working Together with One Purpose ” This theme is modeled after Philippians 2:2 - “be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind ” We were on a mission for this trip! Our motive was to make connections and build collaboration amongst one another. We also wanted to learn from each organization with a goal of applying relevant ideas to our own practice.

Development and Operations Manager Ty Bennett and I had the pleasure of visiting Broadview, Sunland Home Foundation, Mankowski Homes, Asher Student Foundation, Fern Lodge, Albert Baker Fund, Olive Glen Foundation, Twelveacres, Wide Horizon, and Desert View. We met with staff at each organization and found it encouraging and informative. Many inspiring stories were shared, continually drawing us back to the chief purpose of Christian Science nursing: caring for one another and witnessing progress and healing

The integral part of The Leaves is helping one another We aid our patients by providing spiritual reassurance, and skilled, practical care to those relying on Christian Science prayer for healing We join with our community and offer church workshops and events We show love for our staff to support them in their healing work of witnessing God’s allness We communicate stories of progress and healing to spread news of the good going on And we connect with other Christian Science organizations to support them in our common goal of a thriving Cause that will last for generations to come

Each Christian Science nursing facility is unique Through its leadership, staff, and patients, beautiful qualities are expressed individually and collectively, and it was wonderful to get a feel for each facility and those who work there We learned much and we still have many more we’d like to visit!

This loving work of building bridges and learning together directly confronts error ’ s lies of competition, lack, stagnation, misconception, and disinterest, and replaces these with the reality of cooperation, abundance, progress, clarity, and engagement. We see collaborative efforts such as this as an important step toward a future where Christian Science nursing is stronger than ever, and its members working together with one purpose – seeing humanity healed, united together in Love.

Executive Director