Our Story WHO WE ARE... From 2007 to 2012 we, the Millers, adopted our first three children, a preschooler on the autism spectrum and two babies with Down syndrome. We published our first issue of Plain Values in 2012 to highlight Biblical ministries, share the beauty of adoption, and to cultivate anchored community. In 2018 we welcomed our 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, a portion of each subscription goes directly to Room to Bloom, our non-profit that supports children with special needs.
Our Team PUBLISHER
OFFICE
WRITERS
Marlin Miller
Nic Stoltzfus, editorial manager
Sabrina Schlabach, Serving Our Neighbor
Sabrina Schlabach, quality assurance
Stacey Gagnon, Whispers of Hope
Bethany Troyer, bookkeeping
Rory Feek, Roots + Wings
Jan Schlabach, customer service
Shawn & Beth Dougherty, Homestead + Roots
Isaac Hershberger, production manager
Joel Salatin, Confessions of a Steward
Seth Yoder, graphic artist
Ferree Hardy, The Widow's Path
ADVERTISING Matt Yoder, Ohio sales advisor Aaron Stutzman, Indiana + Michigan sales advisor
JUNE AD CLOSE
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Elam Stoltzfus, Our Heritage
May 6, 2022
Jim Zumbo, All Things Outdoors
Plain Values is published monthly by Plain Target Marketing, LLC. Please contact us with any questions.
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FEBRUARY 2022
contents
May 2022 // Issue 107
serving our neighbor 13
NYANDENGOH! "You Are Beautiful" words by: Sabrina Schlabach The heart of Nyandengoh! is to show that children with disabilities are respected as image-bearers of God and, together with their families, that they are accepted and included in their communities.
simple living 35
HOMESTEAD + ROOTS Spring on a Traditional Family Farm column by: Shawn + Beth Dougherty Shawn and Beth Dougherty share practical insights on how they integrate grass-fed dairy cows to their farm.
39
CONFESSIONS OF A STEWARD Water (part one) column by: Joel Salatin This month, Joel begins to share the importance of water management on the farm.
resources 10
WHISPERS OF HOPE Straight Jackets and Bulletproof Vests column by: Stacey Gagnon
21
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT The Water Solution PLAIN VALUES
4
6
58
ONE MINUTE WITH MARLIN
ON THE COVER
FUNDS AND BENEFITS
Thoughts and ramblings from Marlin Miller, publisher of Plain Values.
A child with special needs in Sierra Leone, Africa, with his caretaker.
Every month we provide a listing of opportunities to help out those in need.
community 27
ROOTS + WINGS Staying Local column by: Rory Feek I mean, who would purposely choose a slower, harder way of traveling over something faster and much easier… beside the Amish, that is? But then it occurred to me that, well, I would.
45
THE WIDOW'S PATH Sunsets column by: Ferree Hardy What time will the sun set by you today? When will it set for each of our own lives? Eternity is so close; it’s only a heartbeat away.
history 49
OUR HERITAGE Printing the Ausbund
(part five)
column by: Elam Stoltzfus The Amish Book Committee agreed to print the Ausbund with Kutztown Publishing Company. In a January 20, 1922 letter from Esser to Stoltzfus, he shared that Kutztown had shipped the first hundred pages of the proofs to Lancaster.
outdoors 53
ALL THINGS OUTDOORS Catfish column by: Jim Zumbo In my opinion, this is food fit for a king, and it doesn’t cost much, which is one of many reasons to love the catfish! 5
MAY 2022
one minute with Marlin THE OTHER DAY it hit me squarely in the face: Jesus has
We adopted our oldest son when he was almost four
scars on his body! The body with which He walked through
years old. The circumstances of his life those first few years
walls, His eternal body, that one has scars on it.
caused scars, which are not visible, but he carries with
Creation, the Fall, free will, and His sovereignty: God
him. I will not understand the reason this side of Heaven,
created everything, with mankind being the crown jewel.
but that’s ok. I don’t have to understand it all right now. It
He knew we would mess it all up, but He still gave us
is enough to know God is with us —no matter what pain and
free will. In the middle of our broken world that so often
brokenness comes our way — and in the middle of it all, He
cuts deep, our Creator walks with us, bringing hope and
brings joy! I guess that’s what Paul meant when he talks
peace. The joy He brings in the middle of it all makes no
about the “peace that surpasses all understanding.” May
sense to me. How does He do it?! 2nd Corinthians 6:10
we never take that peace for granted.
says the following, “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet
Allow me for a second to do what I've never done before… tease you with next month’s story. October of
possessing everything.” Jesus came to the earth He made, fully God and fully
last year; a kidnapping in Haiti; a daring escape to freedom
man. Perfect. He lived a while, then He died. He rose with
in the dark of night. The whole story, top to bottom and
scars on a perfect body. The scars are there right this
front to back, is coming next month in Plain Values.
second. I don’t know what it all means and how deep As always, may you find joy in the simple things. //
it goes, but I’m not soon giving up trying to work that reality out in my own life. If you permit me, I’d love to think about this further. On a very superficial level, this life brings scars. Just as there are a million ways to hurt yourself physically, there are a million ways to hurt and be hurt below the skin, on a heart level. We are broken
MARLIN MILLER
people, living in a very broken world.
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publisher, always looking for more friends 6
Isaac in the hospital after his surgery.
speaking of miracles and scars... FOR EIGHT YEARS, Isaac Hershberger has been the
Meanwhile, 9-month-old Isaac stood at his mom’s
Production Manager at Plain Values —meaning he digitally
feet, as his uncle tried coaxing Isaac into walking towards
constructs the magazine set before you. As we talked
him. Suddenly, a Lawn Jart flew over Isaac’s mom and
about Marlin’s recent messages about miracles and scars,
lodged in his head! In a panic, Isaac’s uncle rushed over
Isaac shared this incredible tale…
and pulled out the Jart. Isaac began profusely bleeding. 911 was called and he was rushed to the hospital.
During the hot, dry summer of 1992, Isaac’s parents were invited to a cookout. A day that started out relaxed
After emergency surgery, Isaac’s parents learned just
with food, fellowship, and yard games, soon turned to the
how close he had come to dying. The Jart went through
unthinkable.
Isaac’s skull, into his brain, and directly through a major
A couple of boys at the cookout were playing Lawn
artery. Isaac should have bled to death, but, by a miracle,
Jarts, a game where two rings are placed on the ground
two pieces of the broken skull shifted to block the artery.
approximately 30 feet apart and 12-inch metal darts
It slowed the bleeding and saved Isaac’s life. Although Isaac still has a scar, he also has a testimony
thrown at them. One of the boys gave his Jart a wild
of the miracle God performed. //
throw, and it began to soar through the air. 7
MAY 2022
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MAY 2022
whispers of hope
SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO FOSTER + ADOPT
STRAIGHT JACKETS & BULLETPROOF VESTS column by: STACEY GAGNON
THERE'S WAR in Eastern Europe, and
threatening to escape, and his frail body
because
it’s very easy to insulate oneself from
could not hold up his own head. His
comes with great cost. And the price
the realities of living in such violence.
legs and arms were bent at odd angles
is understanding that infant-sized
It’s easy to bury myself in the daily
as they had grown within the confines
children lie hidden and restrained in
chores of laundry, dishes, and raising
of a metal crib. As I carried him onto
orphanages; if I open my eyes to the
children. But my mind won’t rest as
the plane, I felt his heart flutter against
most vulnerable, I will never be able to
it keeps reminding me of straight
my chest, and his shallow breaths were
unsee this level of darkness.
jackets and bulletproof vests.
seeing
these
atrocities
barely felt on my cheek. I thought he
And yet, the highest form of
My first experience in Ukraine
might die in my arms over the ocean,
abuse is indifference. To “not see.” To
was when I flew in as a medical
and I was terrified to carry a dead child
look away from the pain, the dark, the
professional to help bring home a very
off the plane.
straight jacket.
fragile fifteen-year-old named Daniel.
We made it to the United States
Which brings me to today. Every
When I went to pick him up, Daniel
alive. But, while I physically carried
part of me wants to look away from
only weighed 22 pounds. When he
a fifteen-year-old boy off the plane
the atrocities of war. I want to place
left the orphanage, he was wearing a
and set him into the arms of medical
my sight upon the daily routine of
child-sized straight jacket. (See photo)
professionals, I did not set down the
home and work.
At birth, he was placed in an
image of a straight jacket—this article
But then I am contacted by a
institution due to cerebral palsy, and
of clothing worn daily by an infant-
partner of Lost Sparrows, and we are
the years of neglect and abuse showed
sized teen boy.
asked to provide bulletproof jackets to
upon his withered frame. His bones
It’s much easier to hide these
protect women and children fleeing
pressed against his skin at sharp angles
things away. It’s easier not to see
the violence and bloodshed in Ukraine.
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"When I went to pick him up, Daniel only weighed 22 pounds. When he left the orphanage, he was wearing a child-sized straight jacket."
filled with warm blankets, soft pillows,
happening, and we must fight the
and Charlie the stuffed octopus. And I
desire to remain insulated, to remain
thought of being a mother carrying
indifferent. Human suffering is every-
my child through a war-torn landscape
one’s concern. What is needed now is
wrapped in a bulletproof vest that, in
for these victims to know that they are
reality, provides minimal protection. I
not alone, that they are not forgotten.
The safe “green corridors” are not
imagine the cold wind and the press
And when their bodies cannot
safe. Innocent women and children
of humanity while I await a ticket to
walk, we will carry them. When their
are being fired upon in a war that has
safety. Mumbling prayers with the
voices are silenced, we shall speak out
no regard for the most vulnerable.
stark reality that bullets are not meant
for them. And when they are sitting
And so, my eyes are wide open, and
to tear through the flesh of children,
in darkness, we will be there to share
my mind begins figuring out how to
and this vest is too large for my six-
our light.
get the requests met with our partners
year-old.
in Europe…. wound care items, food, medicines… bulletproof vests.
If you’d like to partner with us
I might question where the hope is found.
in Eastern Europe, please consider donating to Lost Sparrows. I also ask
It wasn’t until this morning that it
Straight jackets and bulletproof
all truly hit me. I was cuddling with my
vests are not meant to be worn by
six-year-old daughter, Zorey, in her bed
children. But I have witnessed this
that you continue praying. //
Stacey Gagnon, along with her husband Darren, are the founders of Lost Sparrows. She can be reached at P.O. Box 751, Winona Lake, IN 46590. Learn more about Lost Sparrows at www.lostsparrows.org. 11
MAY 2022
serving our neighbor NYANDENGOH!
“You Are Beautiful” words by:
SABRINA SCHLABACH
IMAGINE YOUR CHILD being called a devil, witch, or demonpossessed. Why? Only because that child was born with a disability. Now you and your child are feared and treated as outcasts. Your neighbors are afraid that you are contagious and will spread disease or cause them to have a child with disabilities. Where does that leave you? What hope could you possibly have? Who will reach out to love you and your child?
Heleen Yoder has worked in Sierra Leone, Africa, primarily in Freetown, since 2003 as a trained mental health counselor. She was drawn to this country where children lived in situations where psychosocial care was unavailable for many, largely due to a devastating decadelong civil war that ended in 2002. Heleen’s heart went out to the people of Sierra Leone, and she knew that she also had an opportunity to encourage the Christian minority in the country. By 2017, Heleen and her husband, Jon — a medical doctor — were working in the small city of Mattru Jong, about five hours south of Freetown. While working there, a family brought their son in for help, as he couldn’t speak. Jon told Heleen about the boy, and she agreed to see what she could do to help him. As she worked with this child and his family, she realized that he had a disability and needed specialized help. After helping the boy, word began to spread in the community, and more and more families
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MAY 2022
began bringing in their children with disabilities. However, the hospital wasn’t equipped to handle these new patients effectively, so Jon and Heleen took action: they started an independent organization dedicated to helping children with special needs in Sierra Leone. Not knowing exactly where to start, Jon and Heleen began by throwing a Christmas party for the children and their families. “Christmas in Sierra Leone is a big deal regardless of your religion,” Heleen shared, “and we decided to host a Christmas party as a fun way to bless the children we had been helping.” One of the people Heleen invited to the Christmas party was Sylvanus French. Sylvanus had previously worked with Heleen, and he recently moved back to his hometown of Mattru Jong from Freetown. In Freetown, Sylvanus served in juvenile detention centers to help children with mental health disorders and those suffering from addictions. Sylvanus shared with the Yoders that he had returned home to get his certification to teach. The Yoders shared with Sylvanus their vision for the people of Mattru Jong: they hoped to start an organization to care for children with special needs and their families. Heleen then invited Sylvanus to join them in their organization. Heleen said, “We felt that Sylvanus’ love and compassion for children along with his leadership skills would be a perfect fit as the program manager.” Sylvanus was all in and replied with a resounding yes: “I loved the idea!” By 2019, after two years of work and planning, Nyandengoh! was born. Nyandengoh! (pronounced: nee-an-den-go) is the Mende word for ‘he/she/it is beautiful.’ Their ministry is based on Luke 14:12-13: “Then He [Jesus] also said to him who had invited Him, ‘When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.’”
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"they hoped to start an organization to care for children with special needs and their families."
The heart of Nyandengoh! is to show that children with disabilities are respected as imagebearers of God and, together with their families, that they are accepted and included in their communities. These beautiful children have value and are loved by God. This is hope. Valuing God’s children and fighting the stigma of having a disability, while also sharing the Word of God, is the inspiration that the people of Sierra Leone need. The work that Nyandengoh! provides is vital to the community. Because children with disabilities are feared and seen as outcasts, they are treated badly, and—along with their families—are often ostracized. Many teachers think that school-aged children with disabilities are difficult and unteachable, and they are frequently bullied and abused by their classmates. In addition, the children who are too young for school are often left unattended at home by parents who are away at their jobs. This is dangerous, especially for young girls, because if they wander away from home, the opportunities for others to abuse and take advantage of them increases.
Jon and Heleen Yoder
Desiring the best for their children, many families
seek
treatments
by
traditional
folk
healers in hopes of a “magic cure” that will heal
contaminated or unclean to eat because she had a
their children and “return them to normal.”
son with a disability. The woman and her son moved
“Unfortunately, they are just money makers
to a community where Nyandengoh! was present;
who often cause illness, abuse, and even some
in this community, the staff taught the people that
fatalities,” Heleen shared. “These healers are also
there was no reason to fear people with disabilities.
contributing to the spread of negative stereotypes
As a result of moving to this more welcoming
of children with disabilities.”
community, her market stand was successful, and Matthew was able to attend school and make new friends who accepted him. Nyandengoh! has worked to build trust with
People, by nature, are watchers. Every time that
the communities they serve by providing medicine,
Nyandengoh! staff interact with these children and
counseling, and now a school and daycare. Not
show that they love them for who they are, people
only do they reach the locals, but they also go out
begin to realize that the old superstitions and the
to as many villages as time and resources allow,
folk healers’ stereotypes of children with disabilities
building relationships and helping with medicine
are misguided. Sylvanus shared a story of a woman
and exercises. Three times a year, a therapy team
whose son Matthew has a condition that causes him
from Freetown comes out to prescribe and teach
to drool. As the woman attempted to sell food at the
exercises to the children and their families. The
market to make money and provide for her family,
physical therapist and rehab therapists show the
people turned away from her, afraid to buy her food.
parents how to do the exercises with their children
Customers feared that food from her stand was
to stimulate their development. Physical movement
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MAY 2022