March 2018

Beauty from Ashes

Have you ever seen a beautiful Crochet blanket and thought about all the work and heartache that goes into it? For the women at Sheepfold, crocheting represents the process of healing from God in their lives; making something beautiful come from the ashes of their past.

God has blessed us with wonderful volunteers who make our families feel valued by knowing there are many who want to invest in their lives. I have had the privilege of seeing the impact of one of our volunteers, Catherine, who teaches our moms how to knit and crochet. The mothers who enter our program are coming from situations of distress. Catherine creates an environment for healing by demonstrating God’s love, through her mother’s heart, for these women. She allows them the space to make mistakes, while showing them patience and explaining the same stitches countless times.

The process of being allowed to make mistakes and being met with patience and acceptance is healing for them. They see their finished work turn into something beautiful despite the imperfections. The time of fellowship is also a healing experience for many of our moms because they have not been exposed to a positive motherly role model, or they may feel the absence of their own mother who is far away.

The blankets they create represent their journey at Sheepfold. Our moms are met by God’s love and grace, after much pain, to discover who they are in Christ—beautifully made. After their hope is restored, they leave as strong and independent women.

- Amanda, House Manager

...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

- Isaiah 61:3

Disney On Ice

A few weeks ago wonderful donors generously blessed us with 10 tickets to Disney On Ice! It was the perfect amount of tickets to take all of our families from one of our second step facilities. All of the moms knew where we were going and planned to surprise their girls. It was a great surprise! The youngest to the oldest loved watching some of their favorite characters come to life right before their eyes. One little girl had been praying she could see Elsa skate on the ice and she got to—what a blessing!

It was a special treat, one these moms wouldn’t have been able to provide on their own. It was also a great reminder for them of how much God truly loves them beyond their needs. We thank all of our donors who make moments like these possible. We couldn’t do this without your support.

- Kelly, Director of Operations

Tamales, Tamales, Tamales

There is something magical about cooking together. Recently I joined the residents and staff at one of our homes to learn how to make tamales. We had masa, red chili chicken, green chili with cheese, and strawberry fillings. Unlike most tamale prep parties, no one had actually made tamales before. In fact, most of the women do not know each other very well. What we had in common was a longing for community and the desire to start a new tradition.

I wish you could have watched the boundaries fall down in the room as a table of women talked, giggled, and smiled their way through the community effort. We were so proud of our efforts that we took photos of our trays of tamales. Truth be told, the masa was too wet and the ratios were all wrong but it was one of my favorite memories and will continue to be a tradition for my family. Just another reminder that it is more about the process than the outcome.

- Carley, Shelter Supervisor

Your First Gift Matched —
Dollar for Dollar!

Thank you to all of you who have supported Sheepfold over the years with your time, talent, and treasure. 2017 brought so many blessings to the Sheepfold including two new facilities—a new home for our families and our new resale Boutique are now fully operational. In addition, all our families have ongoing needs that Sheepfold provides through your gifts.

Have you ever considered giving and felt like it might not make a difference? EVERY GIFT HELPS OUR FAMILIES—no matter the amount! In the spirit of stewardship and support for the ministry, the Sheepfold Board of Directors has created a fund of $62,000 to match “dollar for dollar” any first time gift to the Sheepfold. Every gift counts, no matter the size, and with this matching fund, your FIRST GIFT IS DOUBLED! A $20 gift becomes $40, $100 becomes $200—until the $62,000 matching fund runs out.

We make giving easy by visiting our Give Tab at www.thesheepfold.org or use the enclosed envelope. Thank YOU for your generosity and heart to serve the families of the Sheepfold. We are so grateful for our family of donors and we’re excited for you to join us. We could not do this without all of you.

- John Wildman, Executive Director
- Janice Munemitsu, Board of Directors