PatchWorks Spring 2022
MARANATHA – LEAVING SOMETHING BEHIND
Maranatha Volunteers International has a long history of working behind the scenes to support churches, schools, and ministries. The nonprofit organization constructs buildings, digs wells, and helps with renovations and repairs around the world. Volunteer groups are made up of a volunteer construction superintendent, individuals experienced in construction, as well as inexperienced but eager-to-learn
individuals. What they all have in common though is that they are using their vacation or retirement time to help others.
Project Patch has been the fortunate recipient of that help on more than one occasion, and over the last thirty years, the two organizations have developed a true partnership. While Maranatha provides the expertise and labor, Project Patch covers the cost of materials, insurance, and food, and offers lodging. Many volunteers park their RVs under the shade of our trees and by the pond, some stay in classrooms on inflatable mattresses or in borrowed RVs, while others are able to stay in one of our limited apartments. It’s definitely not a resort, but volunteers have some of the best nights of sleep thanks to tired muscles and long days working in the fresh air.
The day begins early with a quick breakfast prepared by Patch staff and Maranatha volunteers. Morning worship consists of several songs and a testimony, Maranatha story, or favorite scripture. The leader then gives marching orders for the day, but the meeting isn’t over until the joke of the day is shared and everyone has a chance to groan. Each trip seems to have a comedian-in-chief, and Kenneth Carr held that title for years. Finally, hard hats are put on and it’s time for work.
Crews form quickly and focus on specific tasks. Those with experience work on challenging projects, the inexperienced help by hauling materials and cleaning up, while the kitchen team prepares snacks and keeps the crew hydrated. Everyone takes great pride in their work, fulfilling the belief of David Woods, North America Project Director for Maranatha, that “…volunteers are working for Jesus. God is a God of order. He doesn’t create chaos. We honor Him when we do our very best.” Our volunteers do their best and everyone finds their spot.
When work is done, the evening allows more time for singing and longer worships. Patch staff often share during this time, and several volunteers are asked to share during our dorm worship. Meals are a favorite time to sit a little, talk a lot, and enjoy fresh homestyle food with a chance to meet and visit with the Patch teens. Finally, for those with energy, the evening ends with games, puzzles, a walk by the river, or sitting by the pond enjoying the birds and celebrating the work that has been done.
“When we work at a high standard with volunteers, we build their capacity to do quality work, and the whole team feels good about what we leave behind. That’s a blessing to everyone,” David has also said. Over the years, Maranatha has blessed Project Patch in many ways. Not only have they left behind dorms, a cafeteria, duplexes, outbuildings, and the Maranatha Volunteers Chapel, but they have also painted, replaced flooring, and repaired storm damage to our buildings.
Maranatha Volunteers International will be blessing us once again from May 18 through June 2. This project will focus on replacing windows, finishing siding, and painting. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering, visit projectpatch.org/maranatha.
TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE
The statistics are heartbreaking, but nothing compared to the stories our teens share. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, conducted by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente, revealed just how many people have experienced or witnessed violence, abuse, and neglect. This study found that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys have experienced sexual abuse during childhood. Additionally, most of our teens have been impacted by substance abuse, mental health problems, parental instability, or the incarceration of family members.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) impact lifelong health and opportunities.
These traumatic experiences can leave kids in a perpetual state of fear that can result in impulsive and explosive behaviors when triggered. Several studies show that those with an ACE score of four or higher are twenty times more likely to be incarcerated at some point in their life. There is also a link to long-term physical health problems, including pulmonary disease, asthma, kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Project Patch has helped teens feel safe and process their emotions and life experiences, yet we know there is more to learn and put into practice. With the help of the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, we are taking the next step by becoming a Trauma-Informed Organization.
Becoming a Trauma-Informed Organization is different from typical licensure or certification. It’s a shift in perspective that requires significant staff training, policy and procedure review, assessing our application process, and seeking feedback from our teens and families. It’s a commitment to keep learning and implementing tools that help bring safety and healing.
During the second phase of implementation, we will develop resources for our parents to help them understand trauma and discover ways to help their kids while reducing negative trauma responses. Our ultimate goal is to produce a curriculum for churches to help pastors and youth workers understand trauma and create trauma-informed youth programs.
THANK YOU! 
YOUTH PROGRAM HAPPENINGS
Wood Cutting with the Boys
Hike to Tripod Lake with the Girls
PAYING IT FORWARD
Jordan was a city kid and nature scared him. He didn’t have any choice about coming to Project Patch, but he instantly knew our campus was safer than the woods.
He had a reputation as a fighter, and people labeled him as a “druggy.” His parents were about out of options, and so was the judge: “Project Patch or juvenile detention” (junior jail). When Jordan was introduced to the Patch staff, he wasn’t sure what to think. He knew many teens who were in trouble but knew few men like our staff in the boys’ dorm.
They weren’t easy on him and expected him to work hard and be a leader. They didn’t treat him like a “bad kid” or even believe the labels the court had put on him. They treated him with respect and expected him to treat himself and others with equal respect.
While working, playing, and growing sound character at Patch, he made lifelong friends with the other boys.
They treated him with respect and expected him to treat himself and others with equal respect.
He graduated from Patch, went home, and did reasonably well. He finished school, poured himself into his work as a diesel mechanic, and avoided partying and drama. He was good at what he did and had developed a work ethic while at Patch that helped him succeed.
Yet, several years after Patch, he found himself in a dark place. He’d made some poor decisions and was spiraling. He searched Facebook and found Gary, one of the men in the boys’ dorm. He sent a message sharing his struggles. Gary wrote back — a simple but not easy message. It was like the ones Jordan had heard at Patch when he struggled. Gary wrote, “What are you doing?” He shared with Jordan that he cared for him — he trusted that Jordan could figure it out.
That push helped Jordan get back on his feet, remembering his commitments and his faith. Those men had changed his life, and he recommitted to being a man of faith and strength.
Seventeen years later, he’s back on campus working in the boys’ dorm. He’s the kind of man this generation of struggling kids can depend on to help them find their way.
If you were supporting Project Patch 17 years ago, your investment in this young man’s life has produced an impact that continues to bless him and others.
Welcome back Jordan, we are thankful to have you here!
GIVING DAY 2022
A little can go a long way when we get together & give together! We have a goal of raising $2500 – can you help us reach it
May 4 to May 5
24-hours starting at 9am PT (10am MT)
Join the movement at www.givingday2022.com
PIECING IT TOGETHER – by Chuck Hagele, CEO
I recently looked at four lists. The first was a summary of the 21 projects completed by Maranatha Volunteers International. I can’t imagine what our campus would look like without their long hours spent constructing, remodeling, and repairing our buildings.
The second list was all the staff I’ve had a chance to work with over my past 19 years at Project Patch. Each name reminded me of a story about how God brought them to us and the unique gifts they used in helping our teens.
The third list was all the people who have financially supported us since Project Patch began in 1984. It’s humbling to see page after page of people who responded to the call to help teens and families.
Was all this hard work and sacrifice worth it?
The answer is in the final list. This one contains all the clients we’ve served since we opened our Youth Program in Garden Valley over 30 years ago. The permanent register doesn’t tell their stories. Between the intake and discharge dates are countless hours of hard work by our clients, their families, and our staff. It’s the journey of struggling teens persevering, trusting, and accepting help.
Some teens we served chose to remain defiant and stuck in destructive patterns. They are in our prayers, and we are committed to improvements that will make our program as effective as possible. The past 30 years taught us many lessons, and we aren’t done learning and growing. Thanks to the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, we are starting the process to become a certified Trauma-Informed Organization. This will help us be even more helpful to teens who have experienced trauma.
There is one final list that I would like to write — one that contains all the miracles of the past 30 years. This list would be longer than any other list and still not hold all the things that God has done to care for His kids.
As we celebrate 30 years of our Youth Program in Idaho, will you commit to praying for our teens, families, and staff? Will you financially support this critical 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 Kari Wallingford at kwallingford@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.
Project Patch Wish List
For those who prefer to give toward a specific project, the following list contains items that are needed, yet are not a part of the operating budget. Please make sure to note on your gift if you would like it designated for a specific Wish List item or the highest need Wish List item. If the item has already been purchased, we will contact you for further instructions.
|
YOUTH PROGRAM
Updated April 2022
|
# |
COST EACH
|
AMOUNT NEEDED
|
| Mattresses |
35 |
$300 |
|
| Vacuums |
5 |
$100 |
|
| Lawn Care Tools |
– |
– |
$300 |
| Pond Improvement Project |
– |
– |
$2,000 |
| Mountain Bikes |
– |
– |
$1,000 |
| Rafting Life Jackets |
2 |
$100 |
|
| Classroom Smartboard |
– |
– |
$3,000 |
| Classroom Adaptive Seating |
20 |
$50 |
|
| Library Books |
– |
– |
$200 |
| Arts & Craft Supplies |
– |
– |
$250 |
| Office Phones |
3 |
$100 |
|
| Chapel Video Editing Software |
– |
– |
$200 |
| Chapel Music Rights |
– |
– |
$142 |
To donate via credit card: please call our office at 360-690-8495 or use the button below
To donate via check: please mail to Project Patch, PO Box 820209, Vancouver WA 98682
PatchWorks Spring 2022
MARANATHA – LEAVING SOMETHING BEHIND
Maranatha Volunteers International has a long history of working behind the scenes to support churches, schools, and ministries. The nonprofit organization constructs buildings, digs wells, and helps with renovations and repairs around the world. Volunteer groups are made up of a volunteer construction superintendent, individuals experienced in construction, as well as inexperienced but eager-to-learn
individuals. What they all have in common though is that they are using their vacation or retirement time to help others.
Project Patch has been the fortunate recipient of that help on more than one occasion, and over the last thirty years, the two organizations have developed a true partnership. While Maranatha provides the expertise and labor, Project Patch covers the cost of materials, insurance, and food, and offers lodging. Many volunteers park their RVs under the shade of our trees and by the pond, some stay in classrooms on inflatable mattresses or in borrowed RVs, while others are able to stay in one of our limited apartments. It’s definitely not a resort, but volunteers have some of the best nights of sleep thanks to tired muscles and long days working in the fresh air.
The day begins early with a quick breakfast prepared by Patch staff and Maranatha volunteers. Morning worship consists of several songs and a testimony, Maranatha story, or favorite scripture. The leader then gives marching orders for the day, but the meeting isn’t over until the joke of the day is shared and everyone has a chance to groan. Each trip seems to have a comedian-in-chief, and Kenneth Carr held that title for years. Finally, hard hats are put on and it’s time for work.
Crews form quickly and focus on specific tasks. Those with experience work on challenging projects, the inexperienced help by hauling materials and cleaning up, while the kitchen team prepares snacks and keeps the crew hydrated. Everyone takes great pride in their work, fulfilling the belief of David Woods, North America Project Director for Maranatha, that “…volunteers are working for Jesus. God is a God of order. He doesn’t create chaos. We honor Him when we do our very best.” Our volunteers do their best and everyone finds their spot.
“When we work at a high standard with volunteers, we build their capacity to do quality work, and the whole team feels good about what we leave behind. That’s a blessing to everyone,” David has also said. Over the years, Maranatha has blessed Project Patch in many ways. Not only have they left behind dorms, a cafeteria, duplexes, outbuildings, and the Maranatha Volunteers Chapel, but they have also painted, replaced flooring, and repaired storm damage to our buildings.
Maranatha Volunteers International will be blessing us once again from May 18 through June 2. This project will focus on replacing windows, finishing siding, and painting. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering, visit projectpatch.org/maranatha.
DONATE NOW
TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE
The statistics are heartbreaking, but nothing compared to the stories our teens share. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, conducted by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente, revealed just how many people have experienced or witnessed violence, abuse, and neglect. This study found that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys have experienced sexual abuse during childhood. Additionally, most of our teens have been impacted by substance abuse, mental health problems, parental instability, or the incarceration of family members.
These traumatic experiences can leave kids in a perpetual state of fear that can result in impulsive and explosive behaviors when triggered. Several studies show that those with an ACE score of four or higher are twenty times more likely to be incarcerated at some point in their life. There is also a link to long-term physical health problems, including pulmonary disease, asthma, kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Project Patch has helped teens feel safe and process their emotions and life experiences, yet we know there is more to learn and put into practice. With the help of the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, we are taking the next step by becoming a Trauma-Informed Organization.
Becoming a Trauma-Informed Organization is different from typical licensure or certification. It’s a shift in perspective that requires significant staff training, policy and procedure review, assessing our application process, and seeking feedback from our teens and families. It’s a commitment to keep learning and implementing tools that help bring safety and healing.
During the second phase of implementation, we will develop resources for our parents to help them understand trauma and discover ways to help their kids while reducing negative trauma responses. Our ultimate goal is to produce a curriculum for churches to help pastors and youth workers understand trauma and create trauma-informed youth programs.
THANK YOU!
YOUTH PROGRAM HAPPENINGS
Wood Cutting with the Boys
Hike to Tripod Lake with the Girls
PAYING IT FORWARD
Jordan was a city kid and nature scared him. He didn’t have any choice about coming to Project Patch, but he instantly knew our campus was safer than the woods.
They weren’t easy on him and expected him to work hard and be a leader. They didn’t treat him like a “bad kid” or even believe the labels the court had put on him. They treated him with respect and expected him to treat himself and others with equal respect.
While working, playing, and growing sound character at Patch, he made lifelong friends with the other boys.
He graduated from Patch, went home, and did reasonably well. He finished school, poured himself into his work as a diesel mechanic, and avoided partying and drama. He was good at what he did and had developed a work ethic while at Patch that helped him succeed.
Yet, several years after Patch, he found himself in a dark place. He’d made some poor decisions and was spiraling. He searched Facebook and found Gary, one of the men in the boys’ dorm. He sent a message sharing his struggles. Gary wrote back — a simple but not easy message. It was like the ones Jordan had heard at Patch when he struggled. Gary wrote, “What are you doing?” He shared with Jordan that he cared for him — he trusted that Jordan could figure it out.
That push helped Jordan get back on his feet, remembering his commitments and his faith. Those men had changed his life, and he recommitted to being a man of faith and strength.
Seventeen years later, he’s back on campus working in the boys’ dorm. He’s the kind of man this generation of struggling kids can depend on to help them find their way.
If you were supporting Project Patch 17 years ago, your investment in this young man’s life has produced an impact that continues to bless him and others.
Welcome back Jordan, we are thankful to have you here!
DONATE NOW
GIVING DAY 2022
A little can go a long way when we get together & give together! We have a goal of raising $2500 – can you help us reach it
May 4 to May 5
24-hours starting at 9am PT (10am MT)
Join the movement at www.givingday2022.com
PIECING IT TOGETHER – by Chuck Hagele, CEO
I recently looked at four lists. The first was a summary of the 21 projects completed by Maranatha Volunteers International. I can’t imagine what our campus would look like without their long hours spent constructing, remodeling, and repairing our buildings.
The second list was all the staff I’ve had a chance to work with over my past 19 years at Project Patch. Each name reminded me of a story about how God brought them to us and the unique gifts they used in helping our teens.
The third list was all the people who have financially supported us since Project Patch began in 1984. It’s humbling to see page after page of people who responded to the call to help teens and families.
Was all this hard work and sacrifice worth it?
The answer is in the final list. This one contains all the clients we’ve served since we opened our Youth Program in Garden Valley over 30 years ago. The permanent register doesn’t tell their stories. Between the intake and discharge dates are countless hours of hard work by our clients, their families, and our staff. It’s the journey of struggling teens persevering, trusting, and accepting help.
Some teens we served chose to remain defiant and stuck in destructive patterns. They are in our prayers, and we are committed to improvements that will make our program as effective as possible. The past 30 years taught us many lessons, and we aren’t done learning and growing. Thanks to the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, we are starting the process to become a certified Trauma-Informed Organization. This will help us be even more helpful to teens who have experienced trauma.
There is one final list that I would like to write — one that contains all the miracles of the past 30 years. This list would be longer than any other list and still not hold all the things that God has done to care for His kids.
As we celebrate 30 years of our Youth Program in Idaho, will you commit to praying for our teens, families, and staff? Will you financially support this critical work?
DONATE NOW
Join Our Prayer Team
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.
JOIN THE PRAYER TEAM
Project Patch Wish List
For those who prefer to give toward a specific project, the following list contains items that are needed, yet are not a part of the operating budget. Please make sure to note on your gift if you would like it designated for a specific Wish List item or the highest need Wish List item. If the item has already been purchased, we will contact you for further instructions.
YOUTH PROGRAM
Updated April 2022
COST EACH
AMOUNT NEEDED
To donate via credit card: please call our office at 360-690-8495 or use the button below
WISH LIST DONATION
To donate via check: please mail to Project Patch, PO Box 820209, Vancouver WA 98682
Share this: