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FEBRUARY 2021
Carpathians Mountain, Ukraine
PLAIN VALUES
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Cultivating Anchored Community MARLIN MILLER
Publisher
KEVIN BILLE
General Manager
MATT YODER
Sales Advisor // Ohio
AARON STUTZMAN ELAM STOLTZFUS
Sales Advisor // Indiana Sales Advisor // Penn.
NIC STOLTZFUS
Editorial Director
JAN SCHLABACH
Customer Service
BETHANY TROYER
Bookkeeping
ISAAC HERSHBERGER
Graphic Artist
SETH YODER
Graphic Artist
LANDON TROYER
Photographer
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Elaine Tomski
Merissa A. Alink
Sherri Romig
Marcus A. Yoder
Joel Ebert
David and Karin Holder
Ferree Hardy
Dr. Teresa Hoxworth
MARCH AD SALES DEADLINE
//
February 5, 2021
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.
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ISSUE 92
CONT WHAT'S DIFFERENT
// 20
There are twelve differences between the two winter-themed coloring pages, can you find them all?
WIDE AWAKE: WHERE ALL ARE BELOVED
// 11
A three-letter word makes all the difference. Jed and Kim Johnson say YES to Jesus every day with eyes wide open and hearts wide awake. They "bring hope, dignity, and love to orphans with disabilities in Ukraine."
PUBLISHER'S MESSAGE
PLAIN VALUES
HOMEMADE BUTTER IN A BLENDER // 37 Learn how to quickly make homemade butter using your blender.
Thoughts and ramblings from Marlin Miller, publisher of Plain Values. // page 7
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 execution. // page 51
ON THE COVER
Joy fills the eyes of a young man in Ukraine who has been given a second chance at life. 4
ENTS
FEBRUARY 202 1
IMMUNITY THERAPY CENTER // 22
SLOW LORIS: FUZZY CAN BE FATAL // 27
Affordable treatments for cancer and other diseases.
Slow lorises are small primates that dwell in the jungles of Southeast Asia.
Every year she took out a special vase, filled it with a dozen silk red roses, and topped it with a small card.
ANABAPTIST WORLD OF 1800
NEVER GIVE UP
CANINE HERPESVIRUS
// 39
The Ohio settlement would begin in 1809, followed by Indiana and Illinois.
// 42
While leading an elk hunt in Montana, I learned firsthand just how quickly life can take a drastic turn.
A VALENTINE // 3 1
// 47
Canine herpesvirus can affect dogs of all ages, but it usually only causes death in very young pups.
This 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
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FEBRUARY 2021
MESSAGE from the PUBLISHER words by: MARLIN MILLER “I need more friends.” That's what the back of my
with family, a friend, or a total stranger. What do you talk
business card says, and I put it there for a few reasons. First,
about? How do you talk with one another?
it’s the truth, and secondly, it's a great icebreaker to start a
Another friend told me he doesn’t think real change
relationship with almost anyone I meet. This transparency–a
can be made in someone’s worldview without genuine and
willingness to be vulnerable–is unexpected, and it draws
honest conversation. In my experience, the best way to
people toward a conversation. In my opinion, friendship is
change someone’s mind is by having a conversation with
one of the most valuable things God ever created.
them one-to-one. The weather, a recent hunt, maybe politics
Back in August, Kevin (our GM) introduced me to a
or the pandemic all make conversation topics. We have the
good friend of his, Mike, and today I am so very glad he did.
opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, but only
But to tell you the truth, the only reason I agreed to the
when we engage with thoughtful conversation.
meeting was because I trust Kevin, and if he says I need to
If you read between the lines, you will notice I may have
meet someone I will do it. Period. Moving on to the point,
more friends than brains! But that's fine with me, because
Mike has become a trusted advisor and friend, someone I
that's how I learn the most. Good friends encourage us and
know I can call anytime about anything. Mike has a lifetime
help us to be less selfish. And isn’t that the point of living in
of business and leadership experience, and I’ve come to
community, anyway? As always, may you find joy in the simple things. //
discover that there is much wisdom under that white hair! He is a talented communicator who has a way of compressing multiple layers of meaning in one sentence. For example, one nugget of wisdom that Mike frequently shared is this piece: “the conversation is the relationship.” It took me a few times hearing that phrase and then chewing on it before I really understood how deep it goes. “The conversation is the relationship.” Think about the last few chats you’ve had
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PLAIN VALUES
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FEBRUARY 2021
Wide Awake International Where all are Beloved
words by: ELAINE TOMSKI
A three-letter word makes all the difference. Jed and Kim Johnson say YES to Jesus every day with eyes wide open and hearts wide awake. They "bring hope, dignity, and love to orphans with disabilities in Ukraine." In 2002, Jed and Kim were married where they grew up, in the Pacific Northwest
of
the
United
States.
However, they shared the hope of becoming missionaries. Kim studied nursing since she held the dream of being a nurse to orphans. "We knew orphan care was important to us and that one day we would live overseas. Somehow. We were just waiting for God to show us the place and the time." Jed and Kim were saying, "Yes!" But they sensed God saying, "Not, yet." 11
FEBRUARY 2021
Jed and Kim Johnson
Get Ready
divine direction, I stumbled upon the story of a woman
In the waiting, God was getting them ready. Kim
who had just adopted two little girls with Down
served as a pediatric nurse in their local hospital, and
syndrome from Ukraine. With each journal entry, the
Jed managed local non-profit organizations serving
woman described in detail the plight of Ukrainian
families and children at risk. Jed and Kim had three
orphans with special needs. Several hours and a box
children: Addy, Ezra, and Havalah. And, the waiting on
of tissues later, I finished reading every entry." For the
God's time and place for missionary service continued.
first time, Kim realized that people were still being
A wise Christian friend pointed out how foster
treated like animals in institutions overseas. No one
kids are America's orphans. "While you're waiting, why
deserves to live in the stench of urine, tied to their
don't you start working toward that dream?" "So," Kim
beds, and isolated in silence. When Jed returned home
says, "we became foster parents in Oregon and ended
from work, Kim sobbed, "We have to do something! We
up adopting one of the foster babies in our care." In
have to pray about this!"
2010, little Seth, who had been born in drug-addiction,
Get Set
became a beloved family member. One evening, while
After praying, the possibilities began to come. Kim
Kim was up late, caring for their newest son, she
says, "We felt really drawn to a little boy in Ukraine
stumbled upon a need she never knew existed.
who needed a family. He had Apert syndrome." Apert
"I remember the night very well. The kids were
syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes facial, skull,
tucked into their beds for the night. Jed was working
finger, and toe abnormalities. The bones in the face and
late, and I was reading a blog. By chance, or perhaps
PLAIN VALUES
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"ARE WE OKAY WITH THIS BEING OUR FUTURE?" AFTER LOTS OF PRAYERS, THE ANSWER CAME: YES."
skull fuse together too early in prenatal development,
the brakes, and I'm always the gas, which makes for a
and many times a child's fingers and toes also fuse,
good balance."
creating a claw-like effect. Kim says, "I always thought
Later, while Jed was mowing the lawn, Kim says,
I wasn't cut out to adopt a child with special needs."
"He was talking to the Lord like, ‘God, what's this all
But God was using this little boy to turn their hearts
about?’ He felt God saying to him, 'Jed, I needed you to
toward Ukraine.
love that little boy like a father because I need you to
Jed and Kim realized adopting a boy with special
love a lot of boys like a father.'" So, Jed and Kim began
needs meant there would be no empty nest for them.
researching how orphans with disabilities in Ukraine
They would be caring for this little boy well into their
were being served. They discovered more than just
elder years. Could they make such a commitment?
children. Kim says, "There was a mix of all ages." They
They asked themselves, "Are we okay with this being
also found a quality-of-life crisis. Young men and boys
our future?" After lots of prayers, the answer came: Yes.
created in the image of God reeked of urine, existed
The Johnsons started preparing all of the
tied to metal bars and ignored. "No one should have to live like an animal, so what can we do about that?"
documents. "When you adopt from Ukraine," says Kim, "you don't get matched with a child until you are in
In 2012, Jed and Kim flew to Ukraine and traveled
Ukraine. So, while we were preparing the documents,
around to find answers to their questions: What's
another family adopted him. I was super devastated!"
happening here? What is God doing in Ukraine? How
Kim immediately wanted to adopt another child, but
are we supposed to respond? Kim says, "At the end of
Jed suggested they remain calm. Kim says, "He's always
that trip, we saw that a lot of churches had programs
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