As we continue to introduce the residents of Protected Harbor by name through this newsletter, we hope your prayers for this ministry may become more specific for each of the wonderful residents who reside in our homes. 

Kim Williams is one such person. Behind Kim’s smile is a genuine concern and love for those around her. Despite the sometimes chaotic activities that mark each morning, Kim intentionally seeks everyone out to inquire how they slept the previous night, what kind of new day they expect, and offering them an encouraging word.

Kim keeps very busy most weekdays as she joins a team of volunteers from Protected

Harbor serving at the Food Ministry of McGregor Baptist Church. She loves working in the kitchen, preparing food, exploring recipes and cleaning up.  When she is not working, Kim enjoys knitting. She and a small group of ladies knit caps and shawls for cancer patients. She calls it the “prayer shawl ministry” because while knitting, they pray for all the people who will use the shawls.

Due to Covid restrictions, Kim has missed one of her most cherished activities, singing in the McGregor Baptist Church choir.  Kim’s time of rehearsing and singing in the choir has been temporarily suspended. She misses it tremendously, continually asking when she can begin singing again. Please join us in prayer that she will be able to resume this activity soon.

Kim also loves jokes and riddles. She constantly tries to stump the staff with her most recently discovered riddles. She also enjoys riding her bike, especially now that the weather is cooler. She takes every opportunity to join the three or four mile treks alongside the staff and other residents.

When asked about Kim for this article Virginia Hicks, one of the Protected Harbor staff members, said: “I don’t know a sweeter soul than Kim. She is one of the kindest people I know.” While Pat Kappenman added: “We enjoy the laughter and joy Kim brings to the house and to our lives.” Please pray for Kim and thank God for the joy and spirit she shares with her Protected Harbor family.

2020 has been a tumultuous year filled with challenges and difficulties but also many victories. One special blessing occurred last fall with the arrival of Pat and Debbie Kappenman to our staff team. They join Dennis and Virginia Hicks in serving our residents at the 4561 Camino Real Way home.

The Lord led Pat and Debbie to our ministry because of a prayer request suggested by two other staff members, Kim and Suzy Brooks. In praying for Protected Harbor, Pat and Debbie began to ponder whether the Lord was calling them to be of service here.

Pat retired from a career in finance and marketing last year and was seeking his next opportunity after this rite of passage. In the past, he also pastored a church and actively participated in two new church plantings where he served in both as an elder. 

Debbie joins Pat in bringing joy and blessings to the residents of Protected Harbor. She is a servant leader in all she does. She seeks every opportunity to provide daily training and positivity to the residents through her cooking, mentoring and praise. This energy lifts the spirits of all around her.

“We are blessed to have Pat and Debbie with our ministry. Their energy, passion and dedication to the ministry and residents of Protected Harbor resonate in all they do.” as recently commented by Loretta Mottram, our director. And we agree. 

For this couple, just married this past summer, joining the staff of Protected Harbor is the opportunity they were looking for to embrace a new calling in the Lord’s service. Please pray for Pat and Debbie to be fulfilled as they continue to serve to our residents and bring God’s joy into their lives.

As we enter the season that puts smiles on even the grumpiest people’s faces, allow us to introduce you to Matthew; the young man whose beautiful smile outlasts all seasons.

What’s behind Matthew’s smile?

Maybe it’s that he enjoys living in Florida, with its perpetually warm weather; a nice change from Westchester, NY with its brutally cold winters where he was born and attended school.

Maybe it’s that he can run laps at the boatyard across the street from the house he resides in, almost every day, except for exceptionally rainy ones.

Maybe it’s that he shares the house with a wonderful group of other residents whose company he enjoys and a staff that encourages him to join them in their morning jog.

Maybe it’s that his birthday happens to be during this season!

Whatever the reasons, this is a young man who as a transplant from New York, graduated High School in Miami. Still requiring a supportive environment, Matthew has adjusted well to his new house mates and adult mentors. With their love and encouragement Matthew can look forward to many happy years at Protected Harbor. 

He still clings to his original “likes”: NY at Christmas time and NY style Italian food!

He also likes music, basketball and dancing and envisions himself being a professional rap star or basketball player.

We are all looking forward to his first performance!!

The Protected Harbor family has always been blessed, since its inception, with loving caring people who, casting aside their own personal dreams and desires, dedicated their lives to serving God and God’s special people. In April of this year, we were blessed with the addition of another such couple: Kim and Suzy Brooks. They have been compassionate caregivers not only to their own children, also to foster children as house parents in five Christian children’s homes in four states.

Their family consists of two adopted boys, two biological girls and one son in heaven. They also have four grandchildren with two more on the way! Their thirty-four yearlong marriage was therefore not only blessed by raising their biological and adopted children but also by ministering to children in the foster care system. 

More recently they felt led by God to switch their emphasis of ministry from children to adults with developmental disabilities. The ages may be different, but the need is the same; caring for those unable to care for themselves. The call to serve at Protected Harbor became therefore an obvious perfect fit for Kim and Suzy.

This wonderful couple use their infectious energy to engage the residents in various activities throughout the day including preparing creative meals like homemade pizza pockets. Creating foods like these fill the house with delectable aromas resulting in contagious smiles and giggles by the resident chefs as they gobble down their creations. Together they manage to turn good days into GREAT days, despite the pandemic. Throughout the cooking process, they never lose focus on the source of their blessings, as they remember to thank and praise God.

In addition to other gifts, Suzy is an amazing organizer, while Kim has handyman skills sorely needed in the homes. One day he can be found cleaning gutters, while another day he can be engaged in helping a resident shave! Together they have been able to fill many roles needed to make the lives of the residents better. Loretta Mottram, our Director, expressed it best: “They serve the Lord by sharing their gifts and talents to serve our residents.”

Finally, Kim and Suzy want everyone to know: “Our life verses have always been from James 1:27 “this is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God the Father, to care for the widows and orphans in their distress…”  and from Matthew 25:40  “…truly I say to you to the extent you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even to the least of them, you did it unto Me.”

This is truly our heart, to follow God’s example and His leading in caring for the vulnerable in our society by loving them, caring for them and serving them for the glory of God.”