Access Newsletter January 2015 2015/01 | Page 8

www.etihad.com The Magdalene Home updates: • A spotlight on CBS television with Wendi Rees, the founder. • A article was highlighted in The Dallas Morning News The Magdalene Home is more than a maternity home. We provide a safe and nurturing environment for pregnant mothers as they are trained and equipped to fulfill God's purpose in their life. It’s an environment where women find loving support both emotionally and spiritually through their pregnancies. The girls at Magdalene Home are able to continue their education, receive medical care and counseling, and experience camaraderie with other girls in the house. Because our staff understands that choosing between parenting and adoption is such a difficult and personal decision, we offer support for either choice and help to lay a foundation for success for both the mother and her child. This home is open to those who genuinely desire to learn and to prepare for their future and for their baby’s future. The Magdalene Home is a real home with bedrooms, bathrooms, and living area. The house parents live in the home with the young moms. Traditional family living includes having meals as a “family,” attending church on Sunday morning, barbecues, fun outings, and more. Each mom also has a chance to grow emotionally, academically and spiritually through carefully planned programs. In the mornings and afternoons, residents will attend Bible Club where they will learn about the love of Jesus and how valuable and worthy they are. In addition to learning about the love of Jesus, there will be individual and group counseling sessions along with mommy mentorships. GED and college preparation courses are available if needed. In the late afternoon, the young women attend Life Skills classes. All residents attend these classes together, and different speakers talk about a variety of subjects and/or provide hands-on activities. Topics will vary and include things such as newborn care, baby proofing, gardening, adoption preparation, etc. Wendi has lived in Tyler for over 11 years and has 4 children (2 natural born and 2 adopted) and 2 foster children. She was been blessed to run a successful mortgage business until 2007 when she then decided to home school her children. Four years later, God brought the first of two adoptions into her life and another just 19 months later. Wendi is a public speaker at youth camps, women’s conferences and lady’s retreats and ministers on the subject of sexual abuse. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse at the hand of her father, a Baptist preacher, Wendi has had a journey through a dark side of life and has found healing in her Savior, Jesus Christ. Her desire is to help see healing and restoration in the lives of other young women and to be a vessel through which many families experience the miracle of adoption. Our Values FAITH Faith is a key aspect of a complete solution to success as a family. it is important to note that ALL families will be served, no matter how they construct themselves and ALL people will be welcomed. EDUCATION Families will have access to educational resources. As studies have shown, when education levels increase, poverty levels decrease, as do crime levels. Thus, education is a key component. FAMILY The concept of "family" is one that needs to be communicated. The center will provide services to strengthen families, as statistics have shown that when families stay together, children excel. HARD WORK Individuals thrive when they are able to be productive and contribute to a community. As such, access to services targeting training and development of skills and abilities as well as career training will be made available.