Ashley is a resident of Protected Harbor and lives in the women’s home. Her interest in cooking is no secret. While Ashley has many things that occupy her day, she always sets aside time for what she enjoys most – cooking. She works with support staff preparing an array of dishes, chopping and cutting the ingredients, and testing the final product. Those who know Ashley well, describe her passion for cooking as captivating. She loves to experiment, but most importantly, have fun in the process.

Adults living with developmental disabilities need to be able to complete essential tasks in a safe environment. Cooking has many hurdles that will arise. The benefit of learning to cook is that it provides an outlet for independence. This is a passion of Ashley’s as she can decide what she and the other residents will enjoy at dinner together. The life skills that Ashley is building are pivotal for her development and well-being. With each celebration in the home, Ashley participates along with the other residents in preparing their favorite dishes. Ashley is responsible for many tasks from start to finish. Support staff often assists in the process, ensuring that the meals are completed and the residents remain safe.

Preparation ahead of time helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities learn to cook. The recipe for success includes consistency, repetition, patience, and a dash of humor. Setup and preparation are vital in all meals cooked at Protected Harbor. The layout of items is important as the residents and support staff make decisions. Supplies must be able to be easily reached or moved. There are a lot of different compartments and equipment in a kitchen that can be confusing, but Ashley and the support staff make an excellent team. By helping to decide where to store items for ease of use, Ashley feels part of the process as she can complete each task seamlessly.

Safety is essential when learning to cook. A non-slip cutting board with a rubber backing is always helpful. Ashley focuses on the cutting, chopping, and mixing, while the support staff completes any task where Ashley could potentially injure herself. One of Ashley’s favorite dishes is chicken tacos with fresh-cut vegetables and spices. It may take a bit of preparation, but the tacos are always a favorite among the residents.

Finding a recipe that has a few ingredients with step-by-step directions, and a colorful picture can also be quite challenging for the team. It has been found that a simple recipe makes the process for adults with developmental disabilities much easier to follow and complete. All parties involved must be excited about the recipe they are cooking for a fun and successful experience.

Often the support staff read the recipe with Ashley before they begin. The purpose of this is to bring the task into focus. A helpful hint for anyone teaching adults with developmental disabilities to cook is to cover the recipe with a piece of paper leaving only the part they are working on visible. Once that task is completed, the teacher can move the paper as the student completes each task. This practice helps to ensure that a good focus is kept from start to finish.

Learning to cook has taken a bit of time for Ashley, but it is a rewarding and fun process. Spills and mistakes occur, as not all recipes are easy. Ashley and the support staff work together very well and don’t mind. Teaching adults with developmental disabilities to cook is well-worth the time. Assisting an individual on their journey toward independent living not only helps to shape that individual’s self-esteem and confidence, but it is quite rewarding for all involved, not to mention the delicious reward!

The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It is the celebration of the historical event in which God entered into our world to display perfection and holiness through his work of living perfectly. It is important to remember the true meaning of the holiday. At Protected Harbor, we celebrate with our residents in a way that allows the individuals to enjoy the festivities of the holiday while attributing the celebration to Jesus. Of course, having celebrations, attending parties, and watching the big game is not wrong. It’s just that the meaning of Christmas is supposed to be the recognition and appreciation of the birth of the One who loves us and died in our place. This Christmas we ask our supporters to remember the true meaning behind the holiday. We don’t ask that you uproot your traditions or change your plans. We ask that throughout the holiday season, you keep the Lord in your mind throughout. Express gratitude to Him for the blessings in your life. Remember that He is with you through this holiday season even through times of trial. We ask that you thank the Lord for all that he has provided for Protected Harbor and our supporters throughout the year.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for sending us Jesus so that we may have a perfect example of how to live with Your Holiness. Thank You for another year of blessings and trials. Thank You for time spent with family and friends during the holiday. Thank You for providing for Protected Harbor throughout this year and since conception. This Christmas we ask that You continue to walk closely with all of Protected Harbor’s residents and supporters as they fulfill Your purpose. We ask that You walk with every person this holiday that is in need of your peace. We ask that you provide all of our residents with the gift of health and happiness throughout this Christmas season. We ask that with the closing of this year, that You place blessings into the lives of our Protected Harbor resident’s lives and our supporters. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

John 3:16-17

During this holiday season when we reflect on everything God has placed in our lives, we have the unique opportunity to place emphasis on giving thanks. Believing in God allows us to be thankful when things go well and patient when things go against us. It is crucial at the times when things are going against us to thank God for granting us the learning experience he has placed in front of us. Sometimes at the moment, it is hard to see God’s greater plan for you and to trust in him. Remaining patient during times of adversity allows us to completely retain the lesson that God is trying to teach us. Paul sums things up this way. He says it is God’s will for us to be thankful “in all circumstances.” Well, it may help to note that Paul is not saying we should be thankful for all circumstances, but in them. When things seem to go against us, God expects us to be grateful that his hand holds us and helps us to endure under the strain. That’s a big challenge – to look for reasons to be thankful when the going is tough. Sometimes it can be equally difficult for us to be thankful when things are going well. The very nature of human beings, even if we are Christian, is to overlook the crowd of God’s good gifts to us every day. Here’s a great exercise you can do today: sit still where you are and exercise the gift of noticing. Notice what you see, what you have, and who is with you. Notice the color, beauty, and variety around you. Keep noticing and make a list of the gifts you notice. Then give thanks to God, the great giver!

Prayer:

Today we thank you God for everything you have placed in our lives. We thank you for the good and the bad. We thank you for allowing us to be patient through the bad in our life so that we may learn what it is you want us to learn from the situation. We ask that today you give us the great gift of being able to notice all of your gifts. Open our hearts to a spirit of thanksgiving we pray. Amen.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:17

This year, on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, Protected Harbor is participating in #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving. Support Protected Harbor on #GivingTuesday! Join us in our mission of building and operating Christian care group homes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Stay tuned to our social media pages on Tuesday, December 3^rd to see how you can get involved or donate early at #GivingTuesday to let your friends and family know you support Protected Harbor!

Or, Click Here to donate now!

Janie is one of the six ladies at Protected Harbor’s first house. When you first visit the home, you won’t be surprised if Janie wants to show you her room. Her love for animals ever-present has an electronic cat that purrs and reacts to her touching it. Janie loves “Snuggles” very much and loves to introduce her to every visitor.

Janie is part of the wonderful community of women who live at Protected Harbor, which provides a caring and nurturing environment in a loving, Christian home.  The ladies work together to help out in the household.  Together they plan dinner with the staff, including checking for recipe ingredients, shopping for needed items, and preparing the meals.  Janie recently made a 3-bean salad and chicken in the crockpot for everyone to enjoy.

Other volunteer activities that Janie engages in are the prayer shawl ministry at McGregor Baptist Church and the Church Prayer team.  Because of Janie’s love of prayer, she was invited to join the prayer team to pray for the Sunday services and she is regarded as the Prayer Warrior of the group.

Janie is an avid exerciser and uses the elliptical trainer in the home’s workout room every day.  She also loves to knit and crochet and takes pleasure in presenting staff and visitors with her handmade gifts.

We are so grateful that the ladies have this home to provide them with opportunities for community fellowship and an environment that allows them to deepen their relationships with each other and God. Please pray that these ladies continue to be blessed in a home where they feel loved, respected, and needed, and where they can grow spiritually and emotionally.

This month we would like to thank Becky Lemon for all that she does for Protected Harbor and its residents. Becky Lemon was recently one of our key speakers at our 9^th Annual Prayer Breakfast where she spoke to supporters about God’s place at Protected Harbor and its residents. Everyone in attendance was drawn to the way she spoke about the residents because her love and compassion for them was clearly evident.

Perhaps the most amazing part about Becky is the fact that she attributes all of the success of the organization and the residents’ progress to the Lord. She knows that she is a “piece of the puzzle” that God has placed her in and she states that she is doing what she feels God wants her to do while at Protected Harbor. She and her husband Michael work together to teach the residents the word of God, independence, and living skills. They also help the residents grow as individuals by teaching them how to ask God for what they need, taking them to activities, and getting them involved in vocational workshops.

Becky came to Protected Harbor this year with her husband Michael Lemon when they got the call from God to serve at Protected Harbor with the residents. Her work is appreciated and we thank God every day for calling her and Michael to Protected Harbor.

Please pray for Becky’s continued success at Protected Harbor to serve God and the residents. Pray for her and Michael’s happiness and health as they continue on their Protected Harbor journey.

Thank you, Becky, and God Bless!

Protected Harbor’s 9^th Annual Prayer Breakfast was quite a success! With the Lord’s presence evident, attendees joined together in prayer to support God’s Protected Harbor. The breakfast was in a room at Kensington Country Club that had massive windows overlooking acres of greenery. Perhaps the most amazing portion of the event was the evidence of the presence of God in the room. Everyone in attendance seemed to have a peacefulness within them as the sun shined through the wall-length glass windows, making it evident that God had his hands on every speaker and person in the room.

Attendees were welcomed by Jeff Buchholz, Protected Harbor’s incoming Board President. Rev. John Anderson then led the opening prayer, thanking God for bringing everyone together to support Protected Harbor. Following Rev. Anderson’s prayer, attendees enjoyed a wonderful spread of fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, potatoes, and homemade apple fritters!

At the closing of the delicious meal, Protected Harbor’s support staff member, Becky Lemon, shared something special about each one of the residents – her favorite experiences with the residents, their favorite activities, and their favorite things to do together. It allowed everyone in attendance to understand why the Lord had brought them all together. A short video allowed attendees to put faces to the names of our beloved residents.

Everyone was moved by the singing performance from Bria Bare, a professionally trained vocalist who was called by God to specialize in worship music. Her performance set the tone for Rev. Melissa Pearce to take the stage. While Rev. Pearce began to discuss how Protected Harbor is one “piece” of the larger puzzle, she began to recall certain moments she had with the residents. She shared one special moment that stood out to her from her visit to the Protected Harbor Ladies Home. Rev. Pearce shared with Janie how much she liked the crocheted blanket on her bed. Janie eagerly told her that she had made it herself and asked Rev. Pearce to tell her what colors she liked best and that she’d make one for her, too. Recalling this memory brought tears to Rev. Pearce and most in the audience. At the end of Rev. Pearce’s emotional sermon, Bria Bare sang another beautiful worship song. Pastor Kevin Taylor of First Baptist Church of Naples concluded the event with a moving closing prayer.

First, we would like to thank God for being with all of those in attendance at the event and for assisting Protected Harbor every step of the way. We would also like to thank everyone who took the time out of their day to join us in worship, helping to raise funds for Protected Harbor. Special thanks to Jeff Buchholz, Rev. John Anderson, Becky Lemon, Bria Bare, Rev. Melissa Pearce, and Pastor Kevin Taylor for the special role that they played. Finally, we would like to thank the wonderful staff of the Kensington Country Club.

With such a successful event, we are now motivated more than ever to grow as an organization. We would be very grateful if you would join us in our mission. We know that everyone has their own Protected Harbor puzzle piece and we pray that you will find yours.

For more information, please call us at 239-278-0200 or like us on Facebook!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Thoughts on the verse:

This verse from the Bible is one of the most repeated verses of our time. Believers turn to this verse when they are going through challenging times and they cannot seem to see God’s purpose through their challenges. They turn to this verse when they need relief and hope. All too often we pray to God and ask Him to make our situation better, not knowing if it is part of His ultimate plan for us. While contemplating this verse it is important to think about the future and God’s ultimate purpose, and trust Him. If you pray for something and do not receive it, it is not because God is not listening. It may be because what you are praying for does not align with the purpose God has in store for you or the people around you at this time. With that being said, God will not put you in situations that are too tough to bear. Remember, He is growing you into the person He can use for his overall purpose. And He promises you a future. At Protected Harbor, we have a family that sticks together through the good and the bad. Each of our supporters play a crucial role in achieving the purpose that God has granted to Protected Harbor. Join us at our Prayer Breakfast on November 12^th to hear an inspiring message from Reverend Melissa Pearce on identifying your special place in God’s bold plan.

Our Prayer:

Dear Lord, we thank you for everything that you put into our lives. We know that everything that is presented to us is serving a purpose in our life that is ultimately lived to fulfill your higher purpose. We ask that you provide strength and peace to those going through a challenging time of growth in their lives. We pray that you assist all of us at Protected Harbor to advance your purpose that you have for our mission.

This month we are highlighting Board Member Tanya Croy for her dedication to the mission of Protected Harbor. Tanya has had a love for people with developmental disabilities since her early twenties. This love transcended through her many years of teaching middle school in Naples, Florida. She has made a point to be actively involved in causes that have missions aligning with that of Protected Harbor.

Tanya had always remained educated about causes supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. Having heard about the development and growth of Protected Harbor for years, when the invitation to join the Protected Harbor board arose, she did not hesitate to get involved. Tanya is an active member of the Board of Directors and holds a position on the Fundraising Committee where she assists with the fundraising and expansion efforts so that Protected Harbor may grow in the future. Tanya is loved by the residents as she makes it a point to visit the houses and remind the residents how much their Board loves them. Seeing the quality of the group homes and support staff, the joy of the residents and knowing the Lord is sought and glorified in everything Protected Harbor does, has made her service as a Board Member a treasured blessing every day

Please keep Tanya and the rest of the Board in your prayers so that they may guide Protected Harbor in the direction given to them by the Lord.

Thank you for your service, Tanya.