PatchWorks Spring 2021
The Fingerprints of God
Sherry worried about her 13-year-old son, Derrick. He was falling behind in school and she’d recently discovered disturbing and violent drawings. When she asked him about the drawings, he didn’t hide his thoughts about death and suicide, describing himself as “bad” and thinking things would be “better off” if he wasn’t around.
In the past 7 years Derrick hadn’t talked to his dad more than handful of times, and he took his anger out at home. He was socially awkward, had a hard time making and keeping friends, and was convinced nothing was going to change. He had given up on God because God hadn’t, “made him like everyone else.”
Sherry placed Derrick at Project Patch just before his 14th birthday. Sherry remembers the day: “Leaving Derrick at Patch was the hardest thing I had ever done as a parent. Honestly, I felt like such a failure, but also relieved knowing I had put him into hands that could truly help him.”
He was withdrawn and scared, but mostly stubborn. He quickly showed that he could be a hard worker when he chose to be. When he felt overwhelmed, he would purposefully get in trouble so he would not have to deal with people.
It took a long time for him to start to see that he was capable of doing well in life. We knew he could be a decent student, good friend, and leader . . . but he didn’t know it. It took time for Derrick to develop as a leader but as he started to grow his interpersonal skills and learn how to process conflict, people started to trust and depend on him more.
He wasn’t the type of leader that used charisma or popularity to make a difference. He did it by modeling hard work, and by doing the things that he was learning in counseling. Derrick’s relationship with God was rekindled. He learned how to read his Bible and spent time learning about God.
“His graduation was a true celebration of bringing home a changed young man,” Sherry recalls. They still had a lot of issues and brokenness in their household but the lessons he learned at Patch helped him stay focused. He made mistakes and sometimes slipped into old habits but also was willing to learn and try again.
Derrick and his whole family attended The Family Experience. The weekend with other alumni families was
a great time of focus, support, and the recommitment that Derrick and his family needed.
He enlisted in the US Marines during his senior year of high school and has now been on active duty for over two years. He was trained as an AAV Tech (mechanic/technician for amphibious vehicles) and has spent most of his time in Okinawa, Japan. His memories and skills from Patch continue to be valuable to him and he’s kept his eyes on God. His hope after globetrotting with the Marines is to work at Project Patch.
“The fingerprints of God working in Derrick’s life are so clear and Patch has played and continues to play a significant role in his life and thoughts.” – Sherry
“For parents who are considering Patch, I would suggest praying and giving that to God,” Sherry writes, “but I also have to warn them that once you do that, you trust in the plan and don’t pull back.”
Her prayers for Derrick have been answered. She prayed he would learn that he wasn’t “bad,” and he would develop the skills and discipline to succeed. Sherry says, “I truly believe that God’s hand is really working through the Project Patch ministry.”
It’s been a privilege to be a part of Sherry and Derrick’s story and we know the story isn’t over…maybe the next article on Derrick will be his introduction as a staff member.
Are you a Project Patch Alumni and are interested in sharing how your life has been changed since attending Patch? Please reach out to Carly Pon at cpon@projectpatch.org to share your experience in future newletters and other publications.
The Family Experience 2.0
Since starting The Family Experience in 2011, we’ve learned how life-changing it can be to provide families a retreat to share skills that pull them back together. Parents and kids long to be a part of a close family, but many don’t know how to communicate, deal with personality differences, process conflict, and share essential values. Through this adventure, we also learned it was often difficult for families living across the United States to travel to our property in Goldendale, Washington.
In January, we completed the sale of the Project Patch Retreat Center in Goldendale. We are now ready to step onto the next phase of The Family Experience and serve even more families.
We are leaving Goldendale without any debt, so all proceeds from the sale are advancing the mission that God has given us in serving at-risk teens and families. We also have the experience, insight, and funds to improve and relaunch The Family Experience.
Parents have been asking us to hold The Family Experience at retreat centers closer to their homes, and pastors have asked if we could host retreats in their community, so they are able to support more families. The property sale allows us to be more flexible in where we serve families.
We are looking for churches and retreat centers across the United States that are eager to partner in helping families. This revised program will continue to be very active, with a focus on experiential learning. We will be providing families with an engaging environment to learn new skills through activities, discussions, and teaching. We know families benefit from being in a supportive small group environment, which helps them know they aren’t the only ones facing challenges, while also creating a community that encourages learning.
We’d love your thoughts and input as we prepare to relaunch The Family Experience. Please let us know if you are interested in attending an event in your area or having your church host a retreat. Contact us at 360-690-8495 or by going to our website www.projectpatch.org/family-program
Maranatha Project
Big changes are coming to campus this summer! Maranatha Volunteers International will be returning to our Idaho campus from July 21 through August 6. Maranatha Volunteers have been at the heart of building and expanding our campus over the past 30 years, including our beautiful Maranatha Chapel.
Volunteers will be replacing sidewalks and windows and painting the exteriors of the main building, dorms, chapel, and several housing units.
If you have an interest in joining the team, please visit marantha.org and search for Project Patch. We always love hosting the teams, and our teens are always blown away by the hard work and generosity of the
volunteers.
Join our Facebook and Instagram pages for daily updates during the trip. Would you also consider donating to help with the significant cost of building materials? Thank you, Maranatha and the volunteers, for all the work you have done and will continue to do for Project Patch!
He Doesn’t Give Up
Tom saw a beautiful car. The rest of us saw a pile of rusted metal, broken boards, and something that would require a tetanus shot if we touched it. It was a 1925 Buick Launau Coupe; and at one point, it had been a real head-turner. Now, Tom was the only one looking.
Tom bought the “car” knowing that it was going to take a lot of time, sweat, and creativity to restore it. There aren’t too many cars left like it and parts are hard to find or make. He enlisted the help of his son, Craig, found other people who had restored similar cars, and even spent time crawling under cars at museums!
It wasn’t a quick restoration. He started with the frame and worked his way from the ground up. Tom needed to be a mechanic and a woodworker. The wheels, running boards, and much of the interior were made of wood. Parts were cleaned, repainted, nickeled, polished, and repolished.
Slowly over the course of 15 years, the car took shape and others started to see the potential. Eventually the
car looked great . . . but it still wasn’t ready for the open road. He not only made the car look good but then made sure all the parts that aren’t easily seen were also restored to original shape and performance.
Tom’s led a busy retirement as he continued to do what he can to help Project Patch and by investing in the lives of others. He’d squeeze in time on the car and has spent hours chasing down parts. After thousands of hours the project is now complete.
It shouldn’t be a surprise to any of us who know Tom that the car turned out amazing. Tom has always had a way of seeing potential and beauty where other people only see scraps and damage. He knows transformation and restoration are possible and is willing to work hard work and make personal sacrifices.
The current generation of teens is struggling, and we know the next generation will need people who believe in them, support their restoration, and invest in their well-being.
Tom’s legacy is not only Project Patch, a ministry that he helped build from scratch, but in the thousands of 
people that he believed restoration was possible in . . . before others even saw the potential. We are preparing some virtual and in-person events (COVID, please go away) to celebrate Tom’s legacy. Will you join in Tom’s legacy?
As we celebrate Tom’s legacy do you have a memory to share? Please visit www.projectpatch.org/tom to share your story with Tom and help celebrate his legacy.
Piecing It Together
By Chuck Hagele, CEO
In 2019 3.8 million (15.7% of teens ages 12-17) had a major depressive episode. That statistic on its own is troubling, but it comes with another that only 1.6 million of those teens received depression care.
Emerging studies of 2020 show that 55% of teens report struggling with anxiety, 43% with depression, and 45% felt excessive stress.
The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 has been an important story for us at Project Patch. It’s a story in which the disciples had done the math and concluded that there were too many hungry people and not enough food or money to feed them. Their solution was to send the people away to figure it out on their own. Jesus’ words to them still surprise me, “You give them something to eat” (Mark 6:7 NIV). They wanted to avoid personal responsibility, but Jesus focused on meeting people’s needs.
The miracle of this story involves a boy who was willing to share what he had, which, when blessed by Jesus, was able to feed everyone with leftovers at the end. Project Patch has served thousands because Tom Sanford was willing to share what he had and get involved even when the math seemed impossible. God blessed what Tom gave, and 37 years later, we are still serving.
Yet, I would be lying if I hid that the teen mental health crisis isn’t overwhelming. The needs that teens have seem so big, and Project Patch seems so small. But Jesus is still saying, “You give them something to eat.” He’s still asking us to step out in faith and obedience. He’s prepared to work a miracle when we are willing to give our resources, time, energy, and care.
Will you join us in answering the call to do something to help struggling teens? This newsletter shares ways to partner with us in prayer, relaunching The Family Experience, and supporting our teens. Millions of teens need help; let’s get to work!
Join Our Prayer Team
Will you join our prayer team? At the start of each month, we’ll send you an email with prayer requests as well as answered prayers from our teens, staff, and other members of the Patch community. Angelo, our chaplain, shares a devotional to start off each month with prayerful thinking. Join us by visiting www.projectpatch.org/prayer or by emailing Carly Pon at cpon@projectpatch.org.
You can also share your prayer requests and answered prayers by clicking the “share” button at the bottom of our Prayer Team email. We know that prayer is vital and essential in our work, and we invite everyone to join our team and lift up our teens, staff, and families who are experiencing major life change through God’s work at Project Patch.
COVID Update
As the nation shut down last spring with the news of the spreading COVID-19 pandemic, Project Patch employees quickly developed new policies and procedures to keep our campus safe and healthy. Almost a year later, our team has done an excellent job not only keeping our teens and employees safe but also providing the life-changing Patch experience.
Clients and employees observe social distancing guidelines, wear masks, frequently wash hands, and sanitize surfaces. Unique to Patch are the new protocols around visitors and off-campus visits. For the time being, no visitors are allowed on campus, including parents. Off-campus visits are limited, but parents and staff have worked hard to safely support “home visits” in nearby Garden Valley.
We have also found creative ways to spend time outdoors, including school, when the weather permits. Please continue to pray for the health and safety of our employees and clients.
Project Patch Wish List
For those who prefer to give toward a specific project, the following list 
contains items which are needed, yet are not part of the operating budget. Please make sure to note on your gift if you would like it designated for a Wish List item. In the event that the item has already been purchased, we will contact you for further instructions.
| Item |
# |
Cost Each |
| Lawnmowers (Pushing) |
4 |
$320 |
| Vacuums |
10 |
$100 |
| Weed Eaters – 4 cycle |
4 |
$325 |
| New Motor for Wood Splitter |
1 |
$600 |
| 16ft A-Frame Ladder |
1 |
$400 |
| Rafting Life Jackets |
2 |
$100 |
| Fly Rods with Reals |
2 |
$150 |
| Fly Fishing Tackle |
1 |
$200 |
| Library Books |
25 |
$200 |
| Stand Up Desks for School |
2 |
$250 |
| Exercise Balls |
4 |
$20 |
If you are mailing a check for a specific item, please mark “Wish List” and the item you’d like to purchase on your check. To make your donation via credit card, you can call our office at 360-690-8495 or give online at www.projectpatch.og/wishlist.
PatchWorks Spring 2021
The Fingerprints of God
Sherry worried about her 13-year-old son, Derrick. He was falling behind in school and she’d recently discovered disturbing and violent drawings. When she asked him about the drawings, he didn’t hide his thoughts about death and suicide, describing himself as “bad” and thinking things would be “better off” if he wasn’t around.
In the past 7 years Derrick hadn’t talked to his dad more than handful of times, and he took his anger out at home. He was socially awkward, had a hard time making and keeping friends, and was convinced nothing was going to change. He had given up on God because God hadn’t, “made him like everyone else.”
Sherry placed Derrick at Project Patch just before his 14th birthday. Sherry remembers the day: “Leaving Derrick at Patch was the hardest thing I had ever done as a parent. Honestly, I felt like such a failure, but also relieved knowing I had put him into hands that could truly help him.”
He was withdrawn and scared, but mostly stubborn. He quickly showed that he could be a hard worker when he chose to be. When he felt overwhelmed, he would purposefully get in trouble so he would not have to deal with people.
It took a long time for him to start to see that he was capable of doing well in life. We knew he could be a decent student, good friend, and leader . . . but he didn’t know it. It took time for Derrick to develop as a leader but as he started to grow his interpersonal skills and learn how to process conflict, people started to trust and depend on him more.
He wasn’t the type of leader that used charisma or popularity to make a difference. He did it by modeling hard work, and by doing the things that he was learning in counseling. Derrick’s relationship with God was rekindled. He learned how to read his Bible and spent time learning about God.
“His graduation was a true celebration of bringing home a changed young man,” Sherry recalls. They still had a lot of issues and brokenness in their household but the lessons he learned at Patch helped him stay focused. He made mistakes and sometimes slipped into old habits but also was willing to learn and try again.
Derrick and his whole family attended The Family Experience. The weekend with other alumni families was
a great time of focus, support, and the recommitment that Derrick and his family needed.
He enlisted in the US Marines during his senior year of high school and has now been on active duty for over two years. He was trained as an AAV Tech (mechanic/technician for amphibious vehicles) and has spent most of his time in Okinawa, Japan. His memories and skills from Patch continue to be valuable to him and he’s kept his eyes on God. His hope after globetrotting with the Marines is to work at Project Patch.
“The fingerprints of God working in Derrick’s life are so clear and Patch has played and continues to play a significant role in his life and thoughts.” – Sherry
“For parents who are considering Patch, I would suggest praying and giving that to God,” Sherry writes, “but I also have to warn them that once you do that, you trust in the plan and don’t pull back.”
Her prayers for Derrick have been answered. She prayed he would learn that he wasn’t “bad,” and he would develop the skills and discipline to succeed. Sherry says, “I truly believe that God’s hand is really working through the Project Patch ministry.”
It’s been a privilege to be a part of Sherry and Derrick’s story and we know the story isn’t over…maybe the next article on Derrick will be his introduction as a staff member.
Are you a Project Patch Alumni and are interested in sharing how your life has been changed since attending Patch? Please reach out to Carly Pon at cpon@projectpatch.org to share your experience in future newletters and other publications.
The Family Experience 2.0
Since starting The Family Experience in 2011, we’ve learned how life-changing it can be to provide families a retreat to share skills that pull them back together. Parents and kids long to be a part of a close family, but many don’t know how to communicate, deal with personality differences, process conflict, and share essential values. Through this adventure, we also learned it was often difficult for families living across the United States to travel to our property in Goldendale, Washington.
In January, we completed the sale of the Project Patch Retreat Center in Goldendale. We are now ready to step onto the next phase of The Family Experience and serve even more families.
We are leaving Goldendale without any debt, so all proceeds from the sale are advancing the mission that God has given us in serving at-risk teens and families. We also have the experience, insight, and funds to improve and relaunch The Family Experience.
Parents have been asking us to hold The Family Experience at retreat centers closer to their homes, and pastors have asked if we could host retreats in their community, so they are able to support more families. The property sale allows us to be more flexible in where we serve families.
We are looking for churches and retreat centers across the United States that are eager to partner in helping families. This revised program will continue to be very active, with a focus on experiential learning. We will be providing families with an engaging environment to learn new skills through activities, discussions, and teaching. We know families benefit from being in a supportive small group environment, which helps them know they aren’t the only ones facing challenges, while also creating a community that encourages learning.
We’d love your thoughts and input as we prepare to relaunch The Family Experience. Please let us know if you are interested in attending an event in your area or having your church host a retreat. Contact us at 360-690-8495 or by going to our website www.projectpatch.org/family-program
Maranatha Project
Big changes are coming to campus this summer! Maranatha Volunteers International will be returning to our Idaho campus from July 21 through August 6. Maranatha Volunteers have been at the heart of building and expanding our campus over the past 30 years, including our beautiful Maranatha Chapel.
Volunteers will be replacing sidewalks and windows and painting the exteriors of the main building, dorms, chapel, and several housing units.
If you have an interest in joining the team, please visit marantha.org and search for Project Patch. We always love hosting the teams, and our teens are always blown away by the hard work and generosity of the
volunteers.
Join our Facebook and Instagram pages for daily updates during the trip. Would you also consider donating to help with the significant cost of building materials? Thank you, Maranatha and the volunteers, for all the work you have done and will continue to do for Project Patch!
He Doesn’t Give Up
Tom bought the “car” knowing that it was going to take a lot of time, sweat, and creativity to restore it. There aren’t too many cars left like it and parts are hard to find or make. He enlisted the help of his son, Craig, found other people who had restored similar cars, and even spent time crawling under cars at museums!
It wasn’t a quick restoration. He started with the frame and worked his way from the ground up. Tom needed to be a mechanic and a woodworker. The wheels, running boards, and much of the interior were made of wood. Parts were cleaned, repainted, nickeled, polished, and repolished.
Slowly over the course of 15 years, the car took shape and others started to see the potential. Eventually the
car looked great . . . but it still wasn’t ready for the open road. He not only made the car look good but then made sure all the parts that aren’t easily seen were also restored to original shape and performance.
Tom’s led a busy retirement as he continued to do what he can to help Project Patch and by investing in the lives of others. He’d squeeze in time on the car and has spent hours chasing down parts. After thousands of hours the project is now complete.
It shouldn’t be a surprise to any of us who know Tom that the car turned out amazing. Tom has always had a way of seeing potential and beauty where other people only see scraps and damage. He knows transformation and restoration are possible and is willing to work hard work and make personal sacrifices.
The current generation of teens is struggling, and we know the next generation will need people who believe in them, support their restoration, and invest in their well-being.
Tom’s legacy is not only Project Patch, a ministry that he helped build from scratch, but in the thousands of
people that he believed restoration was possible in . . . before others even saw the potential. We are preparing some virtual and in-person events (COVID, please go away) to celebrate Tom’s legacy. Will you join in Tom’s legacy?
As we celebrate Tom’s legacy do you have a memory to share? Please visit www.projectpatch.org/tom to share your story with Tom and help celebrate his legacy.
Piecing It Together
By Chuck Hagele, CEO
In 2019 3.8 million (15.7% of teens ages 12-17) had a major depressive episode. That statistic on its own is troubling, but it comes with another that only 1.6 million of those teens received depression care.
Emerging studies of 2020 show that 55% of teens report struggling with anxiety, 43% with depression, and 45% felt excessive stress.
The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 has been an important story for us at Project Patch. It’s a story in which the disciples had done the math and concluded that there were too many hungry people and not enough food or money to feed them. Their solution was to send the people away to figure it out on their own. Jesus’ words to them still surprise me, “You give them something to eat” (Mark 6:7 NIV). They wanted to avoid personal responsibility, but Jesus focused on meeting people’s needs.
The miracle of this story involves a boy who was willing to share what he had, which, when blessed by Jesus, was able to feed everyone with leftovers at the end. Project Patch has served thousands because Tom Sanford was willing to share what he had and get involved even when the math seemed impossible. God blessed what Tom gave, and 37 years later, we are still serving.
Yet, I would be lying if I hid that the teen mental health crisis isn’t overwhelming. The needs that teens have seem so big, and Project Patch seems so small. But Jesus is still saying, “You give them something to eat.” He’s still asking us to step out in faith and obedience. He’s prepared to work a miracle when we are willing to give our resources, time, energy, and care.
Will you join us in answering the call to do something to help struggling teens? This newsletter shares ways to partner with us in prayer, relaunching The Family Experience, and supporting our teens. Millions of teens need help; let’s get to work!
Join Our Prayer Team
Will you join our prayer team? At the start of each month, we’ll send you an email with prayer requests as well as answered prayers from our teens, staff, and other members of the Patch community. Angelo, our chaplain, shares a devotional to start off each month with prayerful thinking. Join us by visiting www.projectpatch.org/prayer or by emailing Carly Pon at cpon@projectpatch.org.
You can also share your prayer requests and answered prayers by clicking the “share” button at the bottom of our Prayer Team email. We know that prayer is vital and essential in our work, and we invite everyone to join our team and lift up our teens, staff, and families who are experiencing major life change through God’s work at Project Patch.
COVID Update
As the nation shut down last spring with the news of the spreading COVID-19 pandemic, Project Patch employees quickly developed new policies and procedures to keep our campus safe and healthy. Almost a year later, our team has done an excellent job not only keeping our teens and employees safe but also providing the life-changing Patch experience.
Clients and employees observe social distancing guidelines, wear masks, frequently wash hands, and sanitize surfaces. Unique to Patch are the new protocols around visitors and off-campus visits. For the time being, no visitors are allowed on campus, including parents. Off-campus visits are limited, but parents and staff have worked hard to safely support “home visits” in nearby Garden Valley.
We have also found creative ways to spend time outdoors, including school, when the weather permits. Please continue to pray for the health and safety of our employees and clients.
Project Patch Wish List
For those who prefer to give toward a specific project, the following list
contains items which are needed, yet are not part of the operating budget. Please make sure to note on your gift if you would like it designated for a Wish List item. In the event that the item has already been purchased, we will contact you for further instructions.
If you are mailing a check for a specific item, please mark “Wish List” and the item you’d like to purchase on your check. To make your donation via credit card, you can call our office at 360-690-8495 or give online at www.projectpatch.og/wishlist.
Share this: