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PLAIN VALUES
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PLAIN VALUES
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Cultivating Anchored Community MARLIN MILLER KEVIN BILLE SUE WENGERD PHIL BARKMAN MATT YODER
PUBLISHER GENERAL MANAGER SENIOR EDITOR COPY EDITOR ACCOUNT MANAGER
ISAAC HERSHBERGER
GRAPHIC ARTIST
SETH YODER
GRAPHIC ARTIST
LANDON TROYER
PHOTOGRAPHER
BETHANY TROYER
CUSTOMER SERVICE
JAN SCHLABACH
CUSTOMER SERVICE
ELAINE TOMSKI
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
DR. DAVID MENTON
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
FERREE HARDY
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
MERISSA A. ALINK
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
NORITA YODER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
TORRY MARTIN & DOUG PETERSON
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
DR. TERESA HOXWORTH
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
AUGUST AD SALES DEADLINE
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JULY 7, 2020
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CONT
ISSUE 85
OLD DUTCH WORDS CROSSWORD PUZZLE
// 22
This reader-favorite activity is back– this time with a focus on food!
FOREST OF HOPE
MARGRET HOTTINGER
// 11
They teach soil and land management to challenged farmers, provide Proverbs principles for the character training of communities, and partner with impoverished people to create sustainable businesses and a cycle of generosity...
PLAIN VALUES
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
ON THE COVER
A village in Uganda, Africa, that is ripe for sewing the seeds of hope.
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// 37
Margret came by her zeal honestly, since she was surrounded by examples of courage.
ENTS BIRD'S EYE VIEW
// 25
As a group, birds have the keenest eyes of all vertebrates... three times sharper than our human eye.
THE FLAVOR OF STUPID // 42 A humorous tale of how Torry Martin learned the real use of pepper spray.
HOMEMADE GARDENER'S HAND SCRUB // 29
WIDOWS PRAY
J U LY 2 0 2 0
// 30
After working in the garden for hours, you hands need some love.
When we look at widows in the Bible, we see the great value that God places on them.
INFERTILITY
GOOD STUFF WITH KEVIN
// 47
Ideas and things to think about if you have one or several females that are experiencing infertility problems.
// 51
You can focus on what gets your attention, or you can focus on what deserves your attention.
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 to find local businesses to assist you in your needs, as well as your wants. // between pages 34 and 35
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ANGEL OAK, ONE OF THE OLDEST LIVING OAK TREES EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. (~500 years old)
MESSAGE from the
PUBLISHER words by: MARLIN MILLER
Trees have fascinated me since my childhood. I
have discovered that trees count, share resources, and
remember climbing into the heights of our white pines
really do communicate with each other, using a system
to get Frisbees—or whatever else we had thrown up
they call the “wood wide web.” The mycorrhizal network
there—and then wondering how they knew what to
under our feet connects the trees in much the same way
do. How do trees know how to grow? How do the oaks
the neurons in our brains connect with each other and
and maples know the right time to change their foliage
share information.
to brilliant yellow, orange, and red? How aware of the
What a wonderful thing to realize all over again
surrounding world is a tree?
that science backs up the truths in the Bible! Jesus
Have you ever noticed how often God talks about
Himself created trees and then, on a wooden cross,
trees in the Bible? Only people, and God Himself, are
offered Himself to build a way, a bridge for us to get back
mentioned more than trees. In Genesis 2, God formed
to the tree of life. As always, may you find joy in the simple things. //
Adam with His hands, and as soon as He breathed life into the first man, He planted a garden with every tree pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Strangely enough, the Scripture portrays trees as things that communicate. They clap their hands (Isa. 55:12), shout for joy (1 Chron. 16:33), and even argue (Judges 9:7-15). Over the last twenty years, scientists
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FEATURE STORY
GOD OF WONDERS
WIDOW'S PATH
HOMESTEAD + ROOTS
OUR HERITAGE
GREAT OUTDOORS
CANINE CORNER
FOREST OF HOPE words by: ELAINE TOMSKI
Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, All are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world. Tim Troyer has known the far-reaching love of God for as long as he can remember. During his childhood years, Tim’s family of seven lived in the Philippines and then in Nepal. His missionary dad and mom were linguists with Wycliffe Bible Translators and served people who could not yet read or write. Tim says, “My dad would go in and make an alphabet for them.” All to share the good news of God’s love. Now a grown man, Tim continues to follow the example set by his parents. He shares God’s message wherever he goes. At home in Sugarcreek, Ohio, and in places across the globe, Tim tells people, “God loves you, so much.” Then he helps them make a living and a life.
TWO CHILDREN IN UGANDA WITH EYES FULL OF HOPE
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Tim, the founder of The Reckoning International
they don’t have the resources or courage to try.” The
(TRI), along with a group of like-minded individuals, helps
widow, Cilla, had a fantastic idea. TRI brought the
people overcome poverty with opportunity. TRI began in
resources. And God supplied the courage. Let’s see
1998 in Nepal. With the help of partners and donors, TRI
how it all unfolded. When Tim first met Cilla, she was sick and
redeemed 150 people from slavery, taught them to live in
destined to stay that way. Infected with HIV/AIDS by
freedom, and showed them how to make a living. TRI has partnered with people in impoverished
her unfaithful husband, then widowed, Cilla was a
areas of Central America, Ukraine, Uganda, Burundi,
mother unable to afford many necessities, including her
Kenya, Egypt, Columbia, and Brazil. They teach soil
medications. She needed help for herself and her three
and land management to challenged farmers, provide
fatherless children.
Proverbs principles for the character training of
Tim assured Cilla, “God loves you so much!” Tim
communities, and partner with impoverished people to
wanted to help her find a way out of her poverty.
create sustainable businesses and a cycle of generosity,
Cilla replied, “I’m a widow; what can I do?” Tim
just to name a few.
said, “Well, according to the Bible, I’m supposed to encourage you to get married, or work, become a
A SURPRISE IN KENYA
businesswoman. Which do you prefer?” Cilla laughed.
Forest of Hope began as a project of TRI, but it
“I’ve already been married,” she said. “It’s time for me
was a wise widow in Kenya who gave them the idea.
to be a businesswoman. But I’m tired all of the time.”
Tim says, “So many poor people have great ideas, but
PLAIN VALUES
Tim reassured Cilla that God wanted to help her and 12
CILLA AND HER
wouldn’t ask her to do something she couldn’t do. Tim
CHILDREN IN KENYA
said, “You seem smart to me. I think you’ll do great!” Cilla thought Tim was funny, but she trusted him. So, TRI gave her some business training and loaned her
“I have a small piece of land, and I planted trees on
thirty-five dollars. Cilla started a small one-room shop
my land. I have enough trees to pay for my children’s
in her house. Tim says, “She was able to get her needs
education, but I want you to promise me that when I
met and her health back. She could even pay her kids’
go to be with the Lord, your group will watch out for
school fees.” Finally, Cilla was able to pay the thirty-five
my kids.” Cilla instructed the people she’d come to trust
dollars back, and TRI loaned it out to another person.
to pay her children’s yearly school fees by cutting down
Cilla had received only three years of education in
a tree each time the payments are due. Tim didn’t think
her lifetime, but that didn’t keep her from being wise. She
it possible for the proceeds from her trees to cover
realized God had been kind to her. Many of her problems
the cost of school fees, so he consulted a forester. The
found a resolution, but a huge one still bothered her.
forester confirmed Cilla’s calculations, saying, “Yeah,
She came to Tim and said, “You know, I’ve been thinking
she’s got it. Easy!”
about it. If the Lord tarries and there’s not a miracle, I’m
Cilla told Tim, “When I go to be with the Lord, my
going to die from AIDS. I’m at peace, and I’ve forgiven my
children can’t hug me anymore, but they can hug these
husband, but the thing I worry about is my children.”
trees.” Tim says, “Their mom loved them so much. I went
Cilla had a plan, but she needed someone willing
and hugged the trees!”
to carry out her wishes in her absence. Cilla told Tim, 13
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