It's Christmas time again!
It's when we especially remember the time that God decided to come down to
earth, be born as a baby and live with a specific group of people, in
a specific place for a few years, to show us how to love and care for one
another. The baby Jesus grew up learning from his foster father Joseph, how
to work as a carpenter so that they could take care of their family while
also learning how to love God and neighbor.
We believe that God has also
called Broetje Orchards into being in order to provide jobs for people so
we can take care of our families while growing in the ability to love God
and one another in this place we all take care of together. As we grow in
understanding to do that, Jesus lives in us and reaches to those near and
far with that powerful, life-changing spirit of love, healing, restoration
and reconciliation that knows no borders. In Christ, there are no
foreign born or citizens, no documented or undocumented, no exclusivity of
men or women, no PhD's or GEDs...We are all one in his beloved
community. This Christmas message is that we are beloved. As we are.
Wherever we come from. Accepting that truth changes us. And living out that
truth can change the world. You are living fruit of that truth.
Thanks be to God and
Merry Christmas! By: Cheryl Broetje
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Over
this past year, our local elementary and daycare programs have been working
to implement a trauma-informed approach to the care and wellbeing of our
students. Research has determined that children who grow up in
circumstances of trauma experience physical changes in their brain
development. The trauma referred to in these studies refers to three
areas: 1) abuse; 2) neglect; and 3) household dysfunction.
In
sum, the more trauma a child experiences, the higher the risk of serious,
long-term health conditions. In our schools, these conditions may
dramatically affect the ways in which children are able to learn and
interact with others.
While
it is clear why our schools need to understand trauma, it is equally
important for us as a business. As managers, those who are victims of
abuse or trauma may be those we supervise. Have we ever wondered why
some people react so differently to a request, a consequence or something
that we are trying to teach?
In a
recent study in California, they found 61% of adults have experienced at
least one qualifying trauma, while over 16% have experienced more than four
kinds of trauma. This research helps us to understand why
servant-leadership as a management philosophy is so important to us.
Learning to understand others in the context of their lived experiences can
make the difference between success and failure for them (as well as their
families).
Key
to ensuring a student can overcome trauma is having access to one caring
adult relationship. As we reach out to our fellow employees, let us
bear this in mind and seek to understand them better. The more care
we receive, the more we are able to care for others. By: Roger
Bairstow
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The Power of Partnerships
Christmas
Season is upon us and we'd like to share a powerful story of Kervenson, a 5
year-old boy whose life was saved through the power of partnership.
Earlier this year, we traveled
to Haiti to celebrate 150 graduates of Fonkoze's "Pathway to a Better
Life" program. This program works to empower Haiti's poorest women
with business training, improved housing, health services, and support.
After the graduation, we
visited with Elsie in her home. We learned that her son was not able to go
to school due to severe back pain that made it impossible for him to sit
still. Soon after, Fonkoze took the boy to Partners in Health (PIH), where
a visiting cardiologist diagnosed him with a congenital heart defect.
Without surgery, the
condition would be fatal, so PIH worked with the Haiti Cardiac Alliance to
schedule a surgery in the United States. Heart Gift Louisiana sponsored the
stay for Elsie and her son in New Orleans; American Airlines donated plane
tickets. Kervenson's operation was a success! His mother says "He's
like a new boy - he runs, he plays, he does everything." Thanks to
each of the five organizations for their part in weaving a web of support
around this family. Kervenson will now go to school and his mother is
empowered to sustain him. For more info on Fonkoze's amazing work see: www.fonkoze.com
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School Project in Miramar, Oaxaca,
Mexico
Thanks
to the efforts of more than 200 Broetje Orchards employees, a total of $
6,518.10 was raised to support a school library in Miramar, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Vista Hermosa Foundation matched these employee donations 1:1, bringing the
total to $13,036.20.
The
library - built by parents, school employees and the Civil Partnership
COPPFUMIR - will now be equipped with books, puzzles, educational videos, a
projector, computer equipment, microscope, stereo recorder, camera, shelves
and more.
These
materials are going to make a big difference in the quality of education
that children receive. Their smiles are unforgettable. For more
information on how you can participate in this program or how to recommend
a new project, please stop by the office to see Melanie Lopez Grewal, or
call her at (509) 749-8178.
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December:
Upcoming Events
3-4:
HSL & CTP Warehouses: Safety Meeting 7:00am
17:
Orchard Safety Meeting 2:00pm
25-27:
Broetje Orchards: Office & Warehouse Closed
22-
Jan 2nd: Vista Hermosa & Prescott School Closed for Holidays
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