"Don't be afraid!"

"Peace on earth!"

The words of the Christmas angels seem to take on a new perspective this year. In the midst of a fearful and war-torn world, we send you greetings of peace and hope in the name of the Prince of Peace whose birthday celebration we anticipate in this special season of the year.

Goldenrod has been a unique vantage point from which to watch and reflect on the unfolding events of the world. Working with a variety of persons with special needs convinces us more than ever that when people feel safe and loved, we can build positive relationships. To reach the goal of peace, we need to sow the seeds of peace.

We are also aware of our weakness and failure and how easy it is to fall back into the tit for tat, rewards and punishment systems that permeate our society. To love unconditionally, we must look to Jesus as our model and our Savior, the one who came to break the cycle of violence in our fearful and broken world.

In January of this year, we welcomed our third resident to Goldenrod to fill out our household. In March, we welcomed the women residents and caregivers across the hall on the other side of our duplex. In April, we had groundbreaking for a second duplex, which we anticipate being completed in the spring. So our community is growing and that growth is likely to accelerate in 2002--if we can find caregivers.

We have also developed new routines that go along with our rural lifestyle. Our barn that was begun with a great barnraising in November 2000 is now complete and we have two burros and some chickens to feed. Of course, the garden (aka "truck patch") also provided us with much activity over the summer.

Along with a full house have also come a wonderful assortment of hourly support staff who work many afternoons, helping with the cleaning and cooking and laundry and just spending some time with "our guys" so we can finish up our administrative work.

Speaking of administrative work, much has changed over the summer. Our organization was restructured to centralize all functions in our office in Goshen. I (Paul) still work out of an office in our basement, but Nancy now divides her time between Middlebury and Goshen.

Our children continue to grow and develop each in their unique ways! Although we have the common (and hopefully appropriate) parental worries for this stage of life, those concerns are certainly overwhelmed by the wonder and joy of seeing our children become young adults.

Renita is now a junior at DePauw University, continuing her studies in communications with an emphasis on photo-journalism. She enjoys college life and we were glad to meet some of her friends as they visited us during fall break.

Renita's big news is that next semester she will be doing a journalism internship in New York City. Her program is based in the heart of Manhattan and she is hoping to confirm her exact assignment any day now. She is excited to be going to New York and has already traveled there by herself for interviews. Her parents have to remind themselves occasionally that she is an adult now (she'll turn 21 while she's there), did grow up in the city, and, above all, that her life, like all of ours, is in God's hands.

Meanwhile, Nathan is quite contented with our little corner of Amish farmland in Elkhart County, Indiana. He is adjusting more and more to life with two housemates and a variety of caregivers besides just his parents. He is even getting more involved in our daily ritual of feeding the burros and the chickens and collecting the eggs.

Nathan has now been working in the kitchen at Oaklawn Psychiatric Center Hospital for over a year. He has generally done quite well and continues to enjoy his job. We were disappointed that his hours were cut back this summer and are still hoping he can regain at least some of them.

Nathan also enjoys his job retention group where he and his friends socialize and learn additional skills. The group even has its own newspaper, so he is joining his sister in the world of journalism by writing simple reviews of his favorite music and movies. Bowling is his favorite sport, indeed something that all three guys in our household enjoy.

Nancy was offered a full-time administrative job with our parent organization, MDC, during the restructuring over the summer. However, with our current commitment to caregiving and the lack of others to fill that role, we have all had to be creative and realistic at the same time. Suffice it to say that Nancy is busy as Residential Manager on the way to becoming Program Director and we continue to seek God's guidance in what all that means.

Meanwhile, relationships with extended family have provided some sparkle, particularly for Nancy and Renita. Nancy's great-nephew, Justin, was born in nearby South Bend and over the summer, Renita was the main babysitter. As the summer went on, Justin got to spend many a Friday at Goldenrod where his great-aunt enjoyed him as well. Meanwhile, the first great-niece, who lives in Germany, was joined by a baby sister born on Nancy's birthday in September! And, with the wonders of the Internet, Nancy even got a picture on the very day!

My job title is now Community Relations & Special Events Manager. My biggest job has been to coordinate our annual Goldenrod Benefit Auction. It has been amazing how a little coordination has been able to turn the efforts of dozens of wonderful volunteers into thousands of dollars desperately needed for our ongoing work. In the process, I am getting to relate more to churches, pastors, and key advocates for persons with disabilities.

I'm keeping some other options open as well. Companion Resources continues to get just enough attention to keep the website up and running, to write the monthly newsletter, and to service a client or two and sell a few items in my Internet "stores." In the past two months, I'm doing more music, both at our church and also substituting as organist occasionally in another local church.

Nancy and I also continue to be called upon to give workshops, and I get asked to preach occasionally as well. Our big event for the summer was again a half-week retreat for families, friends, and persons with disabilities. We led the music for worship and I led two sessions on life planning around the needs of family members with disabilities. Then we visited friends in Virginia to top off our week of vacation from Goldenrod.

As for church, it seems like we always come back to a "First Mennonite Church." We joined the one in Middlebury (our third "First Mennonite") on the first Sunday of the new millenium. Our residents feel comfortable there and one of the routines our household looks forward to is a weekly Wednesday evening fellowship meal. The congregation has been outstanding even among the many churches, ranging from Amish to Lutheran, that support the work at Goldenrod. We could not do what we do without their support.

This letter is also to thank you for your prayers and support. We are blessed at the variety of family and friends that God has placed into our lives. Each of you has enriched us in some special way and that reminds us again of Emmanuel--"God with us." May you also experience the wonder and joy of the season as you carry out the work to which you have been called.

Peace,

Paul & Nancy Leichty, Nathan & Renita

Paul's Web Site

Paul's Home Page

Leichty Family

Nathan's Graduation

Renita's Graduation

Companion Resources Site