The ladies of Protected Harbor engage in a number of activities together, including a unique hobby they have grown to love.

The Protected Harbor Native American Flute Circle began in October 2016, all thanks to a man named Michael Simons. With Michael’s help, the ladies were provided with Am Native American Flutes and bags from High Spirit Flutes located in Patagonia, Arizona. Odell Borg, the owner of High Spirits was kind enough to give discounted pricing after hearing of the specialized program.

Michael meets with the women on Sunday afternoons for lessons. The program began with introducing the basic mechanics of the Native American flute, starting with the scale and breathing. As they became skilled at this, new musical patterns were introduced and the ladies mastered them over time.

In December, High Spirit Flutes donated 6 High Am flutes to the ladies as a special Christmas holiday present. “The women were so surprised and grateful for the new flutes,” Michael recalls. “The smaller flutes were easy for them to use.”

Some of the ladies picked up the new fingering patterns faster than others using the new instruments. To overcome this new challenge, Michael encouraged the ladies to play together and mirror each other as they learned.

In the last several months as the ladies improved their skills, two songs were introduced to them to play. These songs are very similar in style to help them use the fingering patterns they recently learned. The first song is a 3-part harmony song which many flute circles use for new students, and the second song is “Tatonka”, a Lacota Indian traditional song which honors the Bison.

Other Traditional Native American percussion instruments, drums, sticks, shakers have also been introduced to the group to help them learn rhythms and move their skills forward.

“I have fully enjoyed teaching the women the Native American flute, and I’m so pleased with their progress,” beams Michael.

The women all enjoy the gathering each time and are excited to continue learning the instrument and its history. Thank you to Michael Simons for all of your hard work teaching our ladies the art of music!

“Here we are Lord, send us”

Protected Harbor opened its first home to six wonderful women and continues to offer a warm, loving, Christian environment for them to live and grow. This home and these girls would not be what they are if not for two people, Perry and Beverly Duncan.

Who are these people who have dedicated their lives to serving in this ministry? We invite you to get to know these two Protected Harbor house parents.

Perry and Beverly met in college in 1968 and were married two years later. When Perry graduated from college, he joined the military while Beverly finished school. The couple went on to pursue careers that brought them to new places and provided them with bountiful experiences.

Over the years, the couple has gone wherever God directs. They have experienced life in Europe for three years, then returned to the U.S. to to join the corporate world. Later they founded a Christian school in Atlanta. No matter where they were in life, they continued to say “Here we are Lord, send us.”

After retiring and moving to Southwest Florida, they found themselves being called to a new ministry. Florida Baptist Children’s Home (FBCH) hired the couple to manage a small home for adult women with developmental disabilities, owned by a nonprofit organization named Protected Harbor. At the time, FBCH was responsible for managing Protected Harbor’s home. After some time with Perry and Beverly in charge, Protected Harbor employed the couple directly to manage operations.

Now, you will find these two spending their days (and nights) in the women’s home caring for the women’s needs and working fervently to ensure their quality of life.

“I love watching the ladies live life,” said Perry. “The Lord shows through them, and although some of the changes they make are miniscule, it is nice to watch them make progress over the years.”

When they are not with the ladies, the two enjoy boating and spending time on the beach. They make it a priority to go visit their three sons and eight grandchildren throughout the year.

Thank you, Perry and Beverly, for sharing your lives with this ministry. We are blessed that the Lord sent you to us!