Mark and Athena Priquette joined Protected Harbor in August as our newest Direct Support Professionals working with the clients residing in our homes. They met and married while living in Italy. After their first child was born, they discovered an intimate and personal relationship with their Savior; a realization that changed their lives forever.

Mark served in the Air Force, which demanded they often move geographically. During this time they began fostering children and caring for people in need. Since retiring from their careers, they prayed for an opportunity to do mission work. The answer arrived when they read about a need for staff at Protected Harbor.

Their prior experience as house parents for several years gave them the impetus to learn more about our ministry, eventually joining our staff. Their love for people with special needs, coupled with a keen ear to listen for God’s direction gave them confirmation that this move was God’s plan for their lives.

Since arriving, Mark and Athena have treated this less as a job and more as becoming part of an extended family. They can love one another, enjoy communal meals, laugh, play, teach, learn, and engage in the many activities that fill our clients’ daily lives.

When they have time off, the Priquettes will continue to pursue interests they had before moving to Florida: traveling, working on their home and land in Kentucky, attending their home church, and visiting family. In fact, there are five grandchildren anxious to vie for their attention at home in Bowling Green, Kentucky!

Their favorite Bible verse can be found in I Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” We are all thankful for this couple and grateful for their service to the Protected Harbor family.

Protected Harbor is blessed with a governing Board that includes directors from varied backgrounds, professions, and life experiences. Similarly, the clients residing in our supported living homes represent equally diverse backgrounds and life histories.

Tiffany is one such resident who despite being reluctant to share much about herself verbally, expresses herself beautifully through art. She absolutely loves drawing, painting, and crafting mosaic pieces, which she is very proud to display. Tiffany’s talent inspires her roommates to emulate her and create their own art pieces.

Additionally, Tiffany enjoys the outdoors and is especially happy to live in Florida, where she enjoys perennial spring or summer, void of the cold brought by winter! She also enjoys attending classes at Goodwill where she experiences an environment outside her home, with different people, that expands her social sphere.

When asked about her favorite food, Tiffany’s immediate response is pizza. She’s certainly not alone in that! She also enjoys the Japanese restaurant Kumo, where she delights in observing the chefs create interesting dishes right before her eyes.

Tiffany has many other “likes”; she loves Christmas (her birthday is coincidentally in December), and she mentions the Bible as her favorite book. Her current wish is to visit an art museum where she could gather new inspiration for her own creations.

David attended a yearly event held at First Baptist Naples a couple of years ago. This was pivotal and the beginning of his engagement with Protected Harbor. The event titled Missionary Sunday is when worldwide and local missions are showcased, and one that Protected Harbor regularly participates in. Dave spoke with our board president, Jeff Buchholz, that day. Jeff introduced him to our ministry and our purpose for being. His interest was immediately piqued, prompting him to become a “Friend of the Board”. A year later, he became a full board member and serves on the Governance and Executive Committee.

David came to us from a brilliant career in banking. Most recently, he worked as Executive Vice President and Senior Loan Officer at a prominent bank in Connecticut. Joining Protected Harbor helps to fulfill a deep and different urgency in his soul: the call from God to assist and care for those less fortunate, coupled with the need to give back to God’s Kingdom. Through his involvement with Protected Harbor, David sees how the mission impacts the lives of many people. He smiles, knowing that Protected Harbor helps with physical needs but, most importantly, their spiritual growth in an environment where the love of Christ is shared and demonstrated daily.

When asked about some recent fond memories, David shared that last year’s Protected Harbor Olympics event, as well as the Trailways Spiritual Camp, were opportunities to see close-up the ways our clients are encouraged and stimulated as they participate in group activities, individual challenges, and socialization. The opportunities to speak one-on-one with participants, learn about their likes and dislikes, and hear their personal stories were enlightening.

David desires to help Protected Harbor achieve its ambitious goals of expanding and evolving the ministry to serve a growing population. These goals include creating additional, specialized living environments and a greater variety of social services. All will be accomplished with God’s help, never neglecting the ethical principle of striving to provide an environment and safe harbor for our clients physically and spiritually.

David’s favorite verse exemplifies these standards: John 3:16, “As God loves us, so we love our neighbors.”

Chris and Angela Bleier joined Protected Harbor in May as the newest Direct Support professionals. They hailed from Denver, Colorado, before moving to sunny Southwest Florida. They each have experience in dealing with people of all backgrounds and abilities. Angela worked as a hairdresser for 25 years and volunteered in a nursing home. Chris was employed in the Denver Public Schools system for 18 years, working with students with intellectual disabilities. He also held a supervisory role in a public transportation company.

Because both had experience working with adults and adolescents with varying degrees of developmental disabilities, their move to Florida to work at a Protected Harbor home seemed like a great one. But for them, the deciding factor was our mission statement and its emphasis on the Christ-centered values it represents. Caring for people using guidance provided by Christ’s teachings in a wholesome environment is an essential component for them.

Angela’s sister had already moved to Ft. Myers. There she met and became friends with Ginny and Dennis Hicks who recently retired from Protected Harbor. Ginny informed Angela that an opportunity was open, and the rest became history. Loretta Mottram and the Protected Harbor Leadership Team met with them, reviewed their credentials, and prayed with them, they encouraged them to consider the move. Chris and Angela credit God’s guidance for their decision noting, “He wanted us there”.

Since joining Protected Harbor, the Bleier’s have experienced true joy and begun to understand the reason behind the smiles of our clients. They are beginning to understand what makes the residents happy or sad, what their emotional and physical needs are, and how to have fun with them. They have also observed that the entire staff shows the same love and compassion that God exemplifies through the Scriptures; it is true agape love.

Being “parents” to the residents is a joy. It is as rewarding as it is fulfilling; from consoling one who is crying, to accompanying another on a doctor’s visit, just being present for them is what it’s all about. In their free time, they enjoy walking their dog and playing frisbee golf.

When asked about their favorite Bible verses, Angela cited John 3:16, while Chris chose the entire Book of Psalms.