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Cultivating Anchored Community
Our Story WHO WE ARE... From 2007 to 2012 the Millers adopt their first three children, a preschooler on the autism spectrum and two babies with Down syndrome. They publish their first issue of Plain Values in 2012 to highlight Biblical ministries, share the beauty of adoption, and to cultivate anchored community. In 2018 they welcome their fourth child in a surprise adoption, this time a baby with Mosaic Down syndrome.
WHAT WE BELIEVE... Our values are plain values, steeped in the rich traditions of yesterday. We enjoy the simple things in life. Gathering eggs from the coop, getting our hands in the dirt to grow food, and cooking meals from scratch. Sometimes we sit around a fire and share life. We strive to walk humbly to strengthen authentic relationships with our families and neighbors. And, yes, we have taken a fresh pie to a front porch and surprised a friend… we didn’t even text them before! We just stopped by, walked up the steps and knocked on the door! Just the way our grandparents used to do on a Sunday evening. They called it living in community. We seek to serve our neighbors. Plain Values began with a prayer hoping to play a small role in connecting a child with Down syndrome to his or her forever family. We have checked that box nearly a dozen times in the last ten years and we will not stop until the orphanages are empty! We will rest in Heaven!
HOW YOU CAN HELP... Subscribe today. Join us as we pursue a more authentic life. By subscribing to Plain Values you help fund the work of the non-profit and bring awareness to children with special needs.
Our Team PUBLISHER
OFFICE + PRODUCTION
EDITORIAL
Marlin Miller
Bethany Troyer, bookkeeping
Nic Stoltzfus, editorial manager
Jan Schlabach, customer service
Sabrina Schlabach, quality assurance
ADVERTISING
Isaac Hershberger, production manager
Elaine Tomski, contributing writer
Matt Yoder, Ohio sales advisor
Seth Yoder, graphic artist
Merissa A. Alink, Homestead + Roots
Aaron Stutzman, Indiana + Michigan sales advisor
Landon Troyer, photographer
Joel Salatin, Confessions of a Steward Ferree Hardy, The Widow's Path Elam Stoltzfus, Our Heritage Jim Zumbo, All Things Outdoors
JANUARY AD CLOSE
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December 6, 2021
Plain Values is published monthly by Plain Target Marketing, LLC. Please contact us with any questions.
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W W W. P L AI N VALU E S . CO M This publication and its contents are © 2021, Plain Target Marketing, LLC. 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.
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contents
December 2021 // Issue 102
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NOT FORGOTTEN Helping the Children of Eastern Europe words by: Elaine Tomski "Tiny sparrows huddle in the nest until father and mother return. Helpless, they must wait for seeds to fill their hungry stomachs. If their parents do not return, the chicks' peeps of desperation fall silent, and the little ones remain hopeless. Many children in this world are like these sparrows — lost. Unseen, lacking a voice, and missing the gentle touch of a parent, millions of precious children hope for the love of a family. According to the Lost Sparrows website, there are an estimated 7.3 million orphans in Eastern Europe alone. We wonder how such a massive problem can find a solution."
simple living 29
HOMESTEAD + ROOTS Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix column by: Merissa A. Alink "A super simple homemade hot chocolate mix (without powdered milk)!"
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CONFESSIONS OF A STEWARD Carbon Development on the Farm column by: Joel Salatin "From bison on the prairie to wildebeests on the Serengeti, perennial prairie polycultures pruned by herbivores chased by predators built the deepest and most fertile soils on the planet. That's the big picture, but how do we apply it to our gardens and farms? "
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ONE MINUTE WITH MARLIN
ON THE COVER
FUNDS AND BENEFITS
Thoughts and ramblings from Marlin Miller, publisher of Plain Values.
Siblings, Israel and Zorey Gagnon, both adopted from an orphanage in Eastern Europe.
Every month we provide a listing of opportunities to help out those in need.
support 37
THE WIDOW'S PATH The Comfort of Christmas Kindness column by: Ferree Hardy "Everyone needs comfort this Christmas. For some, it would be the best gift of all. Do you know someone who might be alone? Someone you could comfort with your presence and kindness?"
history 41
OUR HERITAGE History of the Amish Parochial School: Wisconsin v. Yoder guest columnist: Elam Stoltzfus “...required attendance past the eighth grade interfered with the right of Amish parents to direct the religious upbringing of their children... In essence, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that Amish parents’ right to freedom of religion outweighed the state’s interest in educating their children."
nature 47
ALL THINGS OUTDOORS Antelope: The Fastest Animal in the United States column by: Jim Zumbo "They had to be pronghorn antelope! I can’t remember ever being more excited. We must be in Wyoming! I made a vow that someday I’d live in that state, based on articles I’d read on the Wild West, and now, being so enchanted with the view out the window."
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one minute with Marlin
WHAT WAS IT LIKE for Joseph and Mary to change baby Jesus’ diaper? To feed and care for him? From all appearances, Jesus was a typical baby boy — except for that little detail of being fully God in human form! I wonder at times if Joseph and Mary’s lives were any different from our own? The Son of God was in their midst — but did they also deal with the normalcy and mundaneness of everyday life that we parents struggle with? Did baby Jesus ever get into the pantry and accidentally break jars as he learned how to use his physical body? Did He even have to “learn” that part of life, or did it just happen automatically? How old was Jesus when he learned to scoot around on the floor, crawl, and then totter back and forth on his feet? Is it not incredible to think the God who created everything chose to send His Son to this earth, experience life much the same as we do, and then give His life for us in death? Jesus, through His incarnation, validates and verifies the sanctity of human life from birth to death. What an unbelievable thing He has done for us! I read recently of a Guinness world record that I’d never heard of before. In 2010, a hotel in Abu Dhabi built the world’s most expensive Christmas tree. It was more than 40 feet tall and held ornaments worth more than $11,000,000. So, in case the conversation ever comes up about keeping Christ in Christmas, you can pull that factoid out of your back pocket to make your point. Christmas is more than expensive trees and gifts. I wonder: how far have we veered from the real purpose of celebrating Jesus’ birth? The gift that’s worth the most is who God gave to the world — His only son Jesus. May you and your family have a wonderfully blessed Christmas time, and as always, may you find joy in the simple things. //
The $11 million Christmas tree in the hall of Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi.
MARLIN MILLER
publisher, always looking for more friends
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feature NOT FORGOTTEN
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HELPING the CHILDREN of EASTERN EUROPE
words by: ELAINE TOMSKI
TINY SPARROWS huddle in the nest until father and mother return. Helpless, they must wait for seeds to fill their hungry stomachs. If their parents do not return, the chicks' peeps of desperation fall silent, and the little ones remain hopeless. Many children in this world are like these sparrows — lost. Unseen, lacking a voice, and missing the gentle touch of a parent, millions of precious children hope for the love of a family. According to the Lost Sparrows website, there are an estimated 7.3 million orphans in Eastern Europe alone. We wonder how such a massive problem can find a solution.
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"He alone is big enough to see the whole picture, and Darren and Stacey know they are small enough to need His guidance."
Darren and Stacey Gagnon spend their days seeking solutions. They believe children belong in families. After years of looking for answers, the Gagnons understand their obedience to God brings desired results. He alone is big enough to see the whole picture, and Darren and Stacey know they are small enough to need His guidance. "If God asks us to do it, we need to do it," says Darren. "God takes care of the details." Plain Values first introduced you to the Gagnon family and their non-profit organization, Lost Sparrows, in our April 2020 issue. Darren and Stacey are the parents of seven children: two biological children and five special needs children chosen through adoption. Their two youngest children, Israel and Zorey, were rescued from an orphanage in Bulgaria. In Eastern Europe, it is common, even expected, that children born with physical impairments and special needs are placed in government-funded orphanages. Israel was born with spina-bifida, and he laid tied to a crib in such an orphanage at the age of four. Alone, Israel laid in silence, along with many other neglected children, on a liquid diet and never feeling sunshine on his face. That is, until the blessed day Darren and Stacey
Israel Gagnon and his sister, Zorey
before adoption
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took him home. In 2016, the Gagnons returned for
Israel
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mission statement reads, "Because no child should be forgotten, Lost Sparrows advocates for the safe closure of orphanages, equips parents and caregivers with trauma-informed education, and provides resources to partners around the globe." Let's look at some of the ways God uses his people to expand the reach of Lost Sparrows.
Nik's Heart of Hope Eric and Blythe Royaards already had three children when they felt God was leading them to adopt. Some friends introduced them to an orphanage in Bulgaria where the Boyaards met their blessing named Nikolas. He was born with cerebral palsy, yet God's image shines brightly through him. Nik's dad says, "Since Nik has become part of our family, he brings a joy and just a whole new sense of what it means to give, and what it means to be selfless." With all of the effort he can muster, Nik says, "Love is strong, and God wants us to love people." Eleven-year-old Nik's heart is so full it
Eric and Blythe Royaards with Nikolas
overflows into a contagious smile. He has come a long way from living in an orphanage as a cold, shamed, and forgotten child.
two-year-old Zorey, born with only one complete limb,
Stacey Gagnon first met Nik when his adoptive
her right hand and arm. Because Zorey has congenital
parents picked him up at the orphanage in Bulgaria,
limb differences, medical researchers so devalued her
where the Gagnon's found Israel and Zorey. She says,
life that they performed experiments on her precious
"Nik was just a tiny scrap of a kid. He remembers a lot
little body. Darren and Stacey were able and willing
because he was a little over six years old when he was
to quickly rescue Zorey and adopt her before further
adopted. Because Nik had cerebral palsy, he was treated
research took place, completing the Gagnon family.
very poorly, but cognitively he understood everything
Since Darren and Stacey cannot adopt all children
going on around him." The Royaards and Gagnons
needing homes, they do their best to make a difference
became fast friends, supporting each other in special-
every day. They also invite others who believe children
needs adoption. They have also served together in Lost
belong in families into the journey. Lost Sparrows'
Sparrows from the start.
before adoption
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Nik's memories of his life at the orphanage helped Lost Sparrows choose projects to improve the lives of orphans left behind. Stacey says, "Nik would say things like, 'I remember being cold,' and he cried for all the kids, so we took blankets to several of the orphanages." In another project, Lost Sparrows raised funds for the installation of an elevator at the orphanage because Nik said, "I remember I would get in trouble because I couldn't walk the stairs quickly." Nik wants to help kids like himself. He knows he's a child of God and believes the Holy Spirit whispers to him—When you get older, you can do crazy things and help other people. And crazy things, in the eyes of man, Nik does. Now an older kid of eleven, he operates his own business called Nik's Heart of Hope (NHOH). According to his mom, Nik delivers a large bucket to the homes of willing neighbors, asking them to save their aluminum cans for him. Then on Saturdays, Nik collects the cans, spends six or more hours crushing them one-by-one, organizes them into bags, and then exchanges them for money at the recycling center. His mom says, "That's how he raised nearly five thousand dollars." In addition to recycling cans, Nik sponsors other fundraisers and recently spoke about his cause at church. Lost Sparrows comes alongside Nik to magnify his voice, and Nik helps Lost Sparrows meet the needs of orphans. The little boy, who once had no voice and struggles to speak well because of his cerebral palsy, now speaks volumes for the voiceless. Recently, funds from NHOH provided resources for boys moving into the Wide Awake International (WAI) duplex in Ukraine. Perhaps you remember Jed and Kim Johnson's story from our February 2021 issue of Plain Values ? The Johnsons said yes to moving from the USA Nik collecting items for children in need
to Ukraine, where they rescue older, special-needs boys
before adoption
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Sophia
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after adoption
from the orphanage and give them the family, life, and love they desperately need. Nik went through a list of items needed to outfit the newly completed second side of the Wide Awake International duplex. Nik chose things he thought the boys would like, including rocking chairs for the outside deck. He says, "That was really cool!" Once sitting, forgotten, inside the orphanage, boys now sit outside swaying peacefully in awe of God's creation. Nik remembers. He doesn't want to leave them behind. So, Nik is doing every crazy thing God gives him to do to love them. Nik's Heart of Hope also helps fund the Foster Closet, yet another outreach of Lost Sparrows in Bulgaria.
A Foster Closet on the Move Foster Closets located throughout the United States exist to provide much-needed support for foster families. Generous donors supply Foster Closets with necessary items to help families offset the costs of the foster children in their care. Darren and Stacey Gagnon received Foster Closet support while caring for foster children in their homes, so they understand the immense benefit it provides. Creating a Foster Closet in Bulgaria may seem like a good idea, but it's so much more in reality. It's a God idea. We know God can take a bad situation and redeem it for good. According to Stacey, COVID-19 facilitated the shutdown of disability orphanages in Bulgaria. Thankfully, many special needs children were instead placed into foster families for the first time. Unfortunately, that means generous foster families face challenges like never before. Ann Todorov and her team work diligently to help meet those challenges with the help of generous donors and a Foster Closet established in the church pastored by her husband.
before adoption
Cora
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DECEMBER 2021