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In This Issue
Meet Veronica
Save the Date!
Announcing Baby Cassia
Announcing Baby Eli
Resident Profiles
Volunteer Corner - an interview with Emilia Larach
Thank you!
Meet Veronica
an interview with one of our residents  
  

Q: At what age did you enter the foster care system and why?  


A:  I was four years old, the youngest of 8 kids.  Only 4 of us were put in foster care.  I was always told that my mother's boyfriend was a child molester, and that my dad was an alcoholic and abusive.  My mom didn't want us around that, and she couldn't take care of us.  I was with my sister until I was 13.

Q: How many families did you live with?

 
A:  Too many to count!  I was adopted at one point, but they got their rights terminated.  They were crazy!

Q: When was your first pregnancy?

 
A: I had my first child at 17.  When I got pregnant with her, I ran away for four months.  Eventually I turned myself in - I was tired of living like that.  My boyfriend's mother became my legal guardian.  I started going to a special school for pregnant girls.  But after my baby was born, I never went back.

Q: Why?

 
A:  I just didn't care.  I had no motivation to do anything.  I didn't appreciate everything my boyfriend's mother was doing for me. I didn't go to school, or get a job, and neither did my boyfriend.  Then I got pregnant again. 

Q: What did you do after your second child was born?

A: I moved back into a foster home when I was 18.  While living there, I got pregnant a 3rd time.  They kicked me out because I didn't care about anything except being around my boyfriend.  I was getting $500/month for being in the foster system.  I didn't save any of it.   I just didn't care.  I didn't care about anything until I moved here.

Q: What is it about Mary's Shelter that has made you start caring about your life?

 
A:    I feel like people genuinely care about me here.  When I first came here, I was immature.  I didn't think about things the way an adult should.  I've grown up.  I originally thought I would go back to my boyfriend, but now I want to do what I need to do.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish?

 
A:  I want to start a school program and get a part-time job.

Q: Did you ever consider having an abortion?

A:  With my 2nd baby, I considered it but didn't follow through. With my 3rd, I went to an appointment at the abortion clinic, mostly because there were a lot more people pressuring me that time.  I feel bad now, because he is my angel!    I also considered an abortion with this baby, my fourth.

Q: Tell me about your relationship with God.

 
A:  I went to church every Sunday with one of my foster families.  That's how I am - a backslider.  I used to be religious in a way.  When I was on the run, I prayed that I might be able to live with my boyfriend's mother.  I knew that if my prayer was answered, I would have to live the right way and change some things in my life.  But then I moved in with them, and everything just stopped.  I wasn't willing to make those changes.

Miss Kathleen says that God is working through me for my sister, who is considering aborting her fourth child.  I think He is too.  Normally I wouldn't care if someone wanted an abortion, but something is telling me that she should not.  I think I must care about her having an abortion for a reason.

I really believe in God, but some things in my life I am not willing to change.  Yet.      
Please visit Fiberfads!  for beautiful hand-knit and felted items.  All proceeds are donated to Mary's Shelter!

fiberfads pic
 


For unique, hand-crafted rosaries and jewelery, please visit:
Beads for Mary
40-50% of your purchase will benefit Mary's Shelter
 

 

Want more information about Mary's Shelter?  Please visit our website:
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 Mary's Shelter March Newsletter
Vol. 3, No. 2   
Greetings!


We have some exciting news!  Mary's Shelter is growing!

In two weeks, Mary's Shelter will be adding a fourth house.  This fourth home is a "transition home," and will be used to provide mothers who have gone through our program with a longer-term, more independent living arrangement, as they progress to fully independent living, with their baby.    

At our Summer Soire, we told you that our dream was to be able to offer a transition home to qualified residents.  You made that dream a reality.  Thank you so much for you generous support.  You have been a true answer to prayer!

God Bless.

Kathleen Wilson, Director


  I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbor.  Do you know you next door neighbor?

- Mother Teresa

SAVE THE DATE!


The Mary's Shelter 2nd Annual Summer

Soir�e and Fundraiser

  

Saturday, August 13th, 2011

 

 Special Guest Speaker:

Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood director turned Pro-life Advocate 



Announcing Baby Cassia

 
babybowl  

Born February 1st, weighing 7 lbs., 10 oz.

photo courtesy of Lori Elizabeth Photography

Announcing Baby Eli

 
babymarch  

Born February 26th, weighing 8 lbs., 1 oz.

photo courtesy of Lori Elizabeth Photography
Resident Profiles
  The following are profiles of some of our current residents.  All names are fictitious.   

ANNE:   
We are sad to report that Anne has been admitted to Western State Mental Hospital, and her 2 1/2 month old baby has been placed in foster care.  There is no help for this unfortunate situation except for prayer.  We ask that you would please keep Anne's mental health and baby Alexander's well-being in your prayers.

 

CLARA:  Clara will be leaving us in the next few weeks to pick up life where she left off.  Her baby boy was born via c-section on February 26th.  Her labor was moving a little too slowly for her doctor who decided to perform a c-section against Clara's wishes.  At almost 42 years of age, her recovery has been slow, and now her incision is infected.  The slow physical recovery and the infected incision are daily reminders of the sacrifice she made to give her child to adoptive parents.  In Clara's culture, having a baby outside of marriage is taboo.  She was comfortable with the idea of adoption and never wavered.  But the reality that she does not get to keep her beautiful baby boy has set in.  Clara does not want to change her mind, but she is heart-broken.  What keeps her going is knowing how happy the adoptive parents are, and that her baby will grow up in a loving family with everything that he needs.  Still, her lot is bittersweet, and we can only stand in awe of the heart-wrenching sacrifice Clara made for her child. 

 

BERNADETTE:  After 17 months at Mary's Shelter, Bernadette has been accepted into the Hope House.  This is a wonderful opportunity for her and baby Kullin.  We wish her all the best as she moves forward with her life, and hope she will come back to help at the knitting classes!

 

 

KATERI:  Kateri is one of our most recent residents.  At just 18 years of age, she is still finishing high school.  She was adopted from overseas at the age of 9, but sadly ended up in the foster system a few years later.  Kateri is smart and motivated, but she found herself in the wrong crowd in high school.  The father of her baby scares her so much that she would not wait at the ER for treatment after spotting some of his friends.  So far, Kateri has done everything we have asked her to do in our program.  She is finishing school, has found a good job, and is attending prenatal classes.  She has also taken to our knitting classes with great enthusiasm!  We are hoping that she is really ready to make some serious changes in her life.  Please pray for her continued motivation!


In addition to the moms you have read about, Mary's Shelter provides homes to other mothers and children.  Please keep them ALL in your prayers.


  Volunteer Corner - An Interview with Emilia Larach and the Fredericksburg Christian High School Art Club

art club
from left to right: Katie Byrnes, Elizabeth Sullivan, Leslie Carr, Emily Bible, Briana Hales, Emilia Larach, Jennifer Lambertson, Mrs. Yost, Rebecca Copeland. (not pictured: Melissa Goodnough, Mrs. Goodnough)   
 

 Q: What sort of volunteer work do you do for Mary's Shelter?    

 

A: Fredericksburg Christian High School's Art Club volunteers on Monday nights by doing arts and crafts with the kids while their moms are participating in enrichment classes. We also host clothing fundraisers and food drives at school to further assist and care for the families of Mary's Shelter.         

Q: How did you first get involved with Mary's Shelter and begin volunteering?
  

 

A: I first heard about Mary's Shelter when one of the directors spoke in front of my church about the organization and its services. After touring the website, I became more interested in how Art Club could help the mothers of Mary's Shelter and decided to send an email inquiring about  possible service opportunities.

 

Q: How do you find time to volunteer?  

 

A: We divided the members of Art Club into two separate groups for the nights we volunteered at Mary's Shelter. This way, the time would be split  every other Monday per group, and the students and advisors wouldn't feel too thinly spread.     

Q: What is the best part of volunteering at Mary's Shelter? What have you learned or gained from your volunteer experience?  

 

A: The best part about volunteering at Mary's Shelter is the interaction with the children and the feeling of purpose we receive. Every monday night Art Club gets the awesome opportunity to play with the children and really get to know each of their unique personalities and develop relationships with them. By spending time with these kids and offering their mothers a chance to relax, Art Club truly feels like we are helping out these families and serving those in our community. We have not only gained wonderful memories and cultivated our spirit of  service, but Art Club has also learned that offering even the smallest amount of help can really impact someone's life.

 

Q. What do you feel you have to offer to the residents at Mary's Shelter?      

 

A: Art Club offers Mary's Shelter a trustworthy and reliable group of young women who care for the families and truly seek to give of themselves by offering their time and efforts to help out in any way possible.      


Q: What would you recommend for others who want to get more involved in Mary's Shelter through volunteer work?      

 

A: If you want to get more involved in Mary's Shelter through volunteer work definitely check out their website to learn more about the organization and get in contact with one of the directors to further explore the best way for you to help out. Also, it is important to have a heart for the mothers and children because they are so appreciative and deserve your whole heart in whichever way you decide to serve.    


Q: What is the best thing about Mary's Shelter? 

 

A:  The best thing about Mary's Shelter is the compassionate hearts  of the women who run the organization and immense devotion they show toward their cause.  It's that kind of passion and care that really makes Mary's Shelter the unique and successful service it is.   

 

kullin at art aunnaniyareading

  
Thank You!

*Thank you to Stafford County Christian Church for the money collected for us in the Baby Bottle Campaign!

*Thank you to Derrick Calamos for organizing the youth group at Ni River Community Church to come and organize our storage room.  You all did an amazing job! 

*Thank you to Sarah Harkins for coming to do a Valentine's Day project with our residents.  Check out Sarah's beautiful, hand-made clay rosaries and jewelery at www.clayrosaries.com

*Thanks to Maria D'Amico for teaching our ladies how to make homemade Chicken Parmigiana!  Thanks for such an amazing meal!

*Many thanks to Mary Walsh for leading an Irish-themed cooking class, featuring Irish stew and Irish soda bread! 



A Final Thank You

We are very grateful to the wonderful volunteers, prayer warriors, and donors who are crucial to the survival of Mary's Shelter. With your ongoing support, we pray that this ministry will continue to foster a culture of life in our community for many years to come.

We hope you will consider supporting our "Fulfill the Promise" Campaign by becoming a monthly donor. With the help of our faithful benefactors, we really came a long way in 2010, but we still have many obstacles ahead of us.  Please help us by spreading the word!

For more information about our ongoing "Fulfill the Promise" Campaign, please visit our website at www.marysshelterva.org.
Thank you and may God Bless you!

Sincerely,
The Directors and Staff of Mary's Shelter