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Our Charis Family
Mary Ann Stoltzfus
Hello,
my name is Mary Ann Stoltzfus. I am happily married to a wonderful
man of God, my husband Ben, for almost twenty years. I am also a
blessed mother of seven beautiful children, twins, Rachel and Rosa;
age 19; Linda, 17; Karen, 16; Benjamin, 14; Timothy, 13; and Joanna,
age 10. Rosa (one of the twins) and her husband, Jon, just
celebrated their first anniversary.
My husband and I grew up in Pennsylvania among the Amish culture. I
gave birth to our first three children while still Amish. When
Linda, our third child, was still a baby we made the decision to
accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior! It was the best decision
we have ever made! After making that monumental decision, it gave me
the faith to give birth to our last four children in the comfort of
my own home, which was so much more relaxing. I loved the fact that
I actually got to know my midwife and had her (or her assistant)
full attention during labor and delivery.
After the birth of our youngest child, Joanna, I had the desire to
pursue midwifery, but came up against some obstacles and never
pushed any further. However, this past summer, after having some
conversations with young mothers and mothers-to-be, the desire to
see these mothers experience all that God has designed for them in
childbirth drove me to seek the Lord on this topic, and to begin
researching the difference between natural childbirth versus the
intervention of drugs, etc. that so often happens in hospitals.
Through my research process, I ordered the book “Supernatural
Childbirth” which took me to a link which opened Charis Childbirth’s
website. I was so intrigued by the ministry and the ideas of Doulas
(which I had never heard about, and didn’t even know how to
pronounce the word.) Of course after researching the role of a doula,
and having a phone conversation with Kristin, I really felt that the
training to be a doula was something God was leading me into.
I shared my desire with a friend of mine from church who was
expecting her third child any day. I shared with her my desire to
become a doula, and told her that the next time she is expecting I
would love to help her through the process and be her doula. Well,
on the way home from church that day her husband asked her why I
would have to wait until the next time, why could I not coach her
during the delivery of the child they were expecting to have any
day? Needless to say, I was honored and excited to be there for
them, even though I had no training yet. Talking with Kristin on the
phone several times was such a blessing and encouragement, and her
advice was priceless!
I now have plans to begin my training the beginning of November, and
I am so excited to see what God has in store through this process
and journey. I’m waiting on a phone call any day from another young
mother from church that wants encouragement and support during her
labor to deliver her baby naturally after having a c-section with
her last child. I truly believe that this is a desire that God has
placed in my heart, and I’m very excited and willing to walk it out.
Ben and
Mary Ann Stoltzfus with their lovely
family,
Rachel and Rosa, 19 and Rosa's husband, Jon; Linda, 17;
Karen, 16; Benjamin, 14; Timothy, 13 and Joanna, 10.
Rosa and Jon, just celebrated their first anniversary.
Our
Friends ~ Our Family
We'd love to feature you in newsletters to come!
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Charis Cuisine
Curry Wasabi Nori Rolls
Ingredients
Filling Ingredients
1/4 head purple cabbage, finely chopped
1 bunch lacinato, chopped
2 carrots, grated or in long thin slices
1 small tomato, diced
1/2 head lettuce, chopped, optional
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1/2 bunch parsley, chopped
2 thin slices purple onion, minced
1/2 cup pine nuts or walnuts
dash ume plum vinegar, to taste
raw dried nori sheets
sprouts
Curry Wasabi Sauce
1 tsp. curry
1/2 tsp. coriander, freshly ground
1/2 tsp. turmeric
3 Tbl. tahini
1 lime, juiced
wasabi, to taste
water, enough to make thick sauce
dash ume plum vinegar
Directions
Toss all Filling ingredients in a bowl. Blend the Curry Wasabi Sauce
and toss with the salad. Adjust flavors to suit your taste. Roll up
the dressed salad with sprouts and carrots into nori sheets. Serve
garnished with sprouts.
About Nori
Nori is a seaweed that
draws an extraordinary wealth of mineral elements form the sea that
can account for up to 36% of its dry mass. These nutrients include
sodium, magnesium, potassium, iodine, zinc, Beta carotene, vitamin
A, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, and calcium just to name a few. In
addition to vitamins and minerals, Nori is also high in fiber and
protein and low in carbohydrates. It provides up to ten times more
calcium and iron by weight than dairy products. It has traditionally
been eaten in Asian cultures to strengthen the circulatory system
and help lower cholesterol. Today scientists are researching other
potential health benefits of seaweed.
Seaweed is one of the
greatest health secrets - a true "super food".
This may seem surprising - that such a humble and common class of
plants could offer us very much in terms of health. But seaweed
health benefits have been known for a long time - and modern science
is revealing more and more about this super-food. The fact is
seaweed is packed full of much-needed vitamins and minerals,
including some relatively rare trace elements.
Seaweeds are algae and they have unique health and nutritional
properties.
You don't have to trek down to the sea; most of them should be
available in a health food outlet somewhere in your neighborhood.
Failing that, you can buy some of them mail order.
Have a good recipe? Share it here!
Letters To The Editor
I need
to say that this issue of the Charis Newsletter, (October 2009), is
the most interesting one I've read so far. Perhaps it's because I
have a small history of Ebony now, or because I was entertained
watching teachers and students collaborating in all the wonderful
Charis "Labor Support" Workshop pictures. Thanks so much for
including me in the journey of Charis through this awesome
newsletter! I so enjoy it. I knew about the negative birth results
just from listening to medical news, but the film you posted,
Reducing Infant Mortality and Improving The Health
of Babies, really explained things! Quite the
informative newsletter.
Dave Yarnall, Pismo Beach, California
Comments From Our Readers
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and thoughts.
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