PLAIN VALUES
4
Cultivating Anchored Community MARLIN MILLER
PUBLISHER
KEVIN BILLE
GENERAL MANAGER
MATT YODER
ACCOUNT MANAGER // OHIO
AARON STUTZMAN ELAM STOLTZFUS
ACCOUNT MANAGER // INDIANA ACCOUNT MANAGER // PENNSYLVANIA
NIC STOLTZFUS
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
JAN SCHLABACH
CUSTOMER SERVICE
BETHANY TROYER ISAAC HERSHBERGER
BOOKKEEPING // CUSTOMER SERVICE PRODUCTION MANAGER
SETH YODER
GRAPHIC ARTIST
LANDON TROYER
PHOTOGRAPHER
ELAINE TOMSKI
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
NIC STOLTZFUS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
DR. DAVID MENTON
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
FERREE HARDY
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
MERISSA A. ALINK
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
MARCUS A. YODER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
DAVID AND KARIN HOLDER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
DR. TERESA HOXWORTH
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
JANUARY AD SALES DEADLINE
/
DECEMBER 4, 2020
Plain Values is published monthly by Room to Bloom. Room to Bloom is a nonprofit, tax-exempt Section 501(c)(3) organization. Please contact us with any questions regarding Plain Values.
PO Box 201/2106 Main Street, Winesburg, OH 44690 Phone: (844) 260-4578 | Fax: (330) 601-4099 www.plainvalues.com | reachout@plainvalues.com
THE FORMALITIES This publication and its contents are © 2020, Room to Bloom. Individual copyrighted items, trademarks, etc. contained within are the property of their respective copyright holders. No part of this publication may be reproduced or redistributed by any means without authorization from the publisher. Publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ offers, products, or services, and publication neither expresses or implies an endorsement.
5
DECEMBER 2020
ISSUE 90
CONT PUFF PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREE
// 22
An easy Christmas dessert for your holiday family gatherings.
PLENTY OF ROOM: FAMILY KEYS INTERNATIONAL
// 12
Horace and Phyllis Leister have created a home for an enormous family. Their forty-four foster children have a God-stamped identity and purpose on every single one of them.
PLAIN VALUES
HOMEMADE RICOTTA CHEESE
// 37
This is one of those things you should never need to buy from the store.
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
GOOD STUFF WITH KEVIN BILLE
This month, Kevin discusses the importance of gratefulness. // page 51
ON THE COVER
A graphic showing just how large the Leister family is in Africa. 6
ENTS MillerTech
SKIN: OUR LIVING ARMOR
// 25
// 29
DECEMBER 2020
HOLDING HANDS // 33
MillerTech has expanded beyond selling lithium batteries; they are a distributor of renewable energy products.
God’s handiwork in creation is evident in everything He has made — even our skin.
“You hold me by my right hand” (Psalm 73:23). Can you believe God is holding your hand?
COLONIES OF WEALTH
FEAR
WORMS: THE INTERNAL PARASITES
// 39
...the Russian Mennonites grew rapidly and had a tremendous financial, cultural and social influence on the society...
// 42
Part two of Tanner's story – discover if Tanner's bear hunt will end in success or in fear.
// 47
This month we will cover internal parasites, namely–worms.
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 in finding local businesses to assist you in your needs as well as in your wants. // pages 34
7
DECEMBER 2020
MESSAGE from the PUBLISHER words by: MARLIN MILLER Is it just me, or are we seeing right and wrong switching
may move his heart to compassion at the right time. Here’s
places almost everywhere we look? In Isaiah 5:20 we read, “Woe
my point: let’s not stay silent anymore. No one will know your
to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for
perspective unless you share it. Let’s be bold.
light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet
~
for bitter!” As followers of Jesus, we need to be wary of those who switch right for wrong and those who replaced truth
~
~
~
~
A wise and humble preacher (in his 70s) recently gave a
with lies. We are called to a higher standard of righteousness
beautiful description of life I just can’t forget, and I want to
and truth; God’s standard of compassion and love for the
share his words with you:
downtrodden and those in need.
“God is working out his plan in history through imperfect
A good friend recently made a profound observation. He
people and in less than ideal circumstances. Think about your
said, “the only way to change a person’s view is dialog, genuine
own life, think about your own family history, think about the
deep dialog.” It struck me powerfully because a few days before,
foolish decisions that each of us have made along the way.
I had a great conversation with an older gentleman. We talked
Think about the things that we would go back and repair and
life, history and family. Then it went deep. He said if he was 20
redo and put back in place if only we could. And people say
again and his wife was expecting a baby that was not “normal”
to us, ‘Well you’re stuck now. You just have to live with those
he would push her to look at her choices.
implications forever.’ No! No, because our King, Jesus, he’s not
Then he added, “life is hard enough, I wouldn’t want to
only righteous, he’s faithful, and he’s gentle.”
add that”.
How wonderfully thankful I am for Christmas! His
I sent a barrage of mini prayers for guidance and asked if
coming is what made redemption possible! From our families
I could speak to that exact point.
to yours, Merry Christmas!
He grunted, “sure, knock yourself out.”
~
I told him it just so happens my wife and I have a son with autism and three younger children with Down syndrome.
~
~
~
~
Finally, we have been asked a few times if Room to Bloom
Before I could say anymore, he cut in and said, “What!
has a board in place, and I am happy to say it has had one from
How’d that happen?”
the very beginning. I simply did a poor job of communicating
I shared with him we adopted them all, and then I said, “I
that clearly. I do apologize. Thank you.
understand your thought on life being hard and all that but I
As always, may you find joy in the simple things. //
can tell you from experience… our kids are worth it! They have dignity and they make our life fuller and bring joy to everyone they meet. There are many times it’s not easy but it’s always worth it because our kids are worth it!” He was quiet for ten seconds and then ended our conversation with, “Difference of opinion I guess.” Now, I doubt that old guy will change his mind even in the slightest, but maybe it was a seed planted and could grow to become something more. The words I shared with him
9
DECEMBER 2020
PLAIN VALUES
10
11
DECEMBER 2020
PLENTYof ROOM
A Family of Forty-Four, and the God That Brought Them Together
Horace and Phyllis Leister have created a home
words by: ELAINE TOMSKI
for an enormous family. Because their forty-four foster children's identities require protection from
And she brought forth her firstborn son,
public display, the names listed above are fictional.
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
However, there is a real name and a God-stamped
and laid him in a manger;
identity on every single one of them. Their hope
because there was no room for them in the inn.
(in Swahili, tumaini) is in God, and their home is
LU K E 2 : 7
named accordingly. Welcome to the Tumaini Home,
Imagine Christmas dinner is ready, and mothers
PLAIN VALUES
where there is always room for love.
worldwide are calling children to the table by name.
The vision of the Tumaini Children's Home is
If the family is large, she takes a big breath before
"to see children, and people in general, who have
rattling off the list. However, Phyllis Leister must
been orphaned or abandoned know that this is
pause several times for a breath while calling her
not their identity, giving them a new truth. Their
children one-by-one. The call for dinner might sound
identity exists in their Father and Creator. Their
like this. "Leroy, Lydia, Uriah, Cindy, Amy, Ann,
future potential is as large as He is. We hope
Abigail, Ava, James, Hannah, Andrew, Rosemary,
to bring about this new knowledge of identity,
Kyle, Aaron, Thomas, Silas, Noah, Melissa, Lucas,
potential, and a promising future by creating a
Eva, Josh, Leah, Layla, Benson, Dana, Josiah, Lee
loving, Godly home and family environment for
Ann, Jason, Karen, Julianna, Landon, Leon, Lavon,
those who have been set aside and discarded,
Jeremiah, Mary, Isaac, Micah, Jesse, Loretta, Jacob,
giving them value and worth by our actions and
Ethan, Laura, Abe, and Rueben, it's time to eat!"
sacrifices as Godly parents." 12
FEATURE STORY
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
GOD OF WONDERS
WIDOW'S PATH
HOMESTEAD + ROOTS
New Beginnings
OUR HERITAGE
GREAT OUTDOORS
CANINE CORNER
children worldwide. During this meeting, Horace
How does a family gain forty-four children,
also heard God's call to missionary work in Africa.
you ask? Let's start at the beginning of the story
He first questioned that call because his son, Josh,
and discover how God's plan for the Tumaini
had always been the one with a dream to serve
family unfolds.
in Africa. However, several months later, Horace
Horace and Phyllis were married in 1975 and,
received a word of confirmation. The Leisters sold
in their twenties, committed to fully follow Christ.
their Genesee, Idaho, home of sixteen years and
God gave them a love for children and a desire to
solidified plans to follow the call. In 2006, Horace
provide home and family for children who need
and Phyllis attended Schools for Pastors in Eldoret,
both. Living in the Pacific Northwest of the United
Kenya, and discovered the place where God was
States, they served as foster parents for eighteen
calling them to help orphaned and vulnerable
years,
children.
children. Within a year, they moved to the Eldoret
Their immediate family grew to eight children,
fostering
over
one
hundred
area, with four of their eight children. Their purpose
including five adoptions, with a growing number of
was to build not an orphanage but a home.
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Horace
served
as
a
deacon,
The Tumaini Children's Home is all about and
family. Many children who desperately needed a
ultimately an ordained pastor. Phyllis served in
elder,
family came to the home: there were children who
children's ministry, and together they taught
were rescued from garbage dumps, infants who had
marriage seminars. While attending a conference
been abandoned naked in the hot sun, and a baby
with other church leaders, Horace and Phyllis
who was rescued from a rat-infested latrine. All of
heard a presentation on providing homes for
these abandoned little ones found a place of safety, 13
DECEMBER 2020
HORACE AND PHYLLIS LEISTER // above PHYLLIS WITH HER FOSTER-SON // below
PLAIN VALUES
14
and love with the Leister family. Children continued to come until Horace and Phyllis thought they could take no more. Thirty-three children seemed like plenty enough for one family. Becoming Family Keys International As the family grew, so did their support, their mission's reach, and their building projects. Their oldest son Josh decided to remain in Kenya with his parents. He became a Certified Clinical Officer, which is similar to a physician’s assistant. Josh, along with his wife Rachel, who is a nurse, tended to the medical needs of the Kenyan people. Many infants come to the Leister family in critical condition, so Josh lovingly tends to their urgent needs and all medical needs of the Tumaini children. Gratefully, all of the abandoned, vulnerable, and malnourished children brought to the Leisters have survived. In addition to their medical mission, Josh, Rachel, and their four children, together with Horace and Phyllis, help abandoned children understand the original intent for the family. "Advancing God's Kingdom through His love of family and the generations." They are Family Keys International (FKI), and they live out the truth of Psalm 22:27, "There are no orphans in God's family and
required. Therefore, God has circled the Leisters with an
our Father lacks nothing."
invaluable team of supporters.
FKI is located on a ten-acre farm, including a vast
One such supporter is the Nussbaum family from
home, workshop, schoolhouse, playground, basketball
Dalton, Ohio. Jeremy and Kelly Nussbaum and their
court, fire pit, prayer garden, vegetable garden, and fields
children have been supporting the Tumaini Home since
of maize and beans. On the back acre is a house and barn
2015, developing a close relationship with Horace, Phyllis,
for Josh and Rachel Leister's family. FKI also leases an
and the children. Kelly is in contact with someone from
additional ten acres adjacent to their farm. Maize, beans,
the Tumaini Home almost daily.
and oats fill these fields with the hope of feeding their
The Nussbaum family first learned of the Tumaini
families and many others who cannot feed themselves.
Children's Home one day during homeschool when
Because many guests and supporters will travel to
Sandi Stoltzfus shared her experience of Kenya. Sandi
Eldoret to lend a helping hand, a guest house is also in
and her late husband, missionary aviator Brian Stoltzfus,
the works. Every structure, garden, and field has been
served with Samaritan's Purse in Eastern Africa. During
built, created, or planted by the Leisters, friends of the
Sandi's visit, she asked the Nussbaum children, "Can
mission, and through the support of generous donors.
you imagine having thirty-three brothers and sisters?"
God supplies the funds, and his people accomplish
Jeremy and Kelly’s seven-year-old son Daylan cried out
the work.
emphatically, "NO!" No way could he imagine having
Room for Support
that many siblings! He also could not imagine the
As the family grows, so must the support grow.
Tumaini children not having their own toothbrushes.
Extra hands, extra hearts, and additional funds are
However, when there are thirty-three children aged
15
DECEMBER 2020