NEW BEGINNINGS - A HOME FOR MOTHERS
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  • Home
  • Our Services
    • Do You Need a New Beginning?
    • Baby Boutique Programs
    • Community Resources >
      • Medical
      • Education
      • Parenting
      • Financial
      • Housing
      • Legal & Mental Health
      • Food Pantry
    • Testimonials
  • Donate Now
    • One-Time Donation
    • Recurring Donation
    • Gift Catalog
    • Material Donations >
      • Target Registry
      • Amazon Wish List
      • Wish List
    • Merch
  • Getting Involved
    • Career Opportunities
    • Volunteer >
      • Volunteer Time Log
    • Internships >
      • Resident Supervisor
      • Media Design Internship
      • Film Production Internship
      • Resident Support Internship
      • Marketing Internship
      • Social Media Internship
      • Customized Internship
    • Events >
      • Ministry Presentations
    • Change for Life Program
  • About Us
    • Virtual Tour
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • History
    • Newsletter >
      • Archive
      • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Heart Campaign

Learning About God Through Questions

8/9/2018

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Children are naturally curious, and often find themselves questioning scripture during the early stages of their Bible studies.  Such questioning may seem sinful, but during our Q&A with the incredible Pastor Steinberg, we were told such questioning is normal.  This exploring of faith often leads to a stronger connection with God because it forces one into God’s word for the answers that can be found and the comfort of God’s love and grace when a specific answer is not available.  
Those who sit in the pews during church services seem to have an easy job. They show up, listen while the pastor does all the grunt work and afterwards they might enjoy a snack and connect with some community members.  Attending church is not a show, it’s a chance to challenge and fully engage with your faith, to ensure that our trusted leaders are doing their jobs correctly.   As Martin Luther preached “A simple layman armed with Scripture is to be believed above a pope or a council without it."


​Pastor Steinberg generously donated his time to lead a group night Q&A here at New Beginnings.  He was beyond patient and provided us with lots of laughs, along with great insight into our faith.  Here are some of the questions our residents asked him:
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​If I’m a Lutheran, why can’t I take communion at all Lutheran Churches?
 
Communion is designed by God to be taken with one’s chosen church community. The Bible explains a group expresses a oneness when it communes together just like there is one loaf.  Individuals are to learn the Bible and check out whom they commune with and not all Lutheran churches are the same.  
At what age should someone start taking communion?
 
There is not a definite Biblical age where communion should be taken. Different churches decide different processes one must go through in order to take communion, but there is no solid answer.  Biblically, one must be able to understand what communion is as they take it.  Pastor Steinberg told us a story about a man living with dementia who could not understand the communion process sometimes while other times he could. This man was only given communion during the periods where he could fully understand why he was taking communion. 
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Can I give my child more than two godparents?
 
Absolutely, godparents are not mentioned in the Bible once.  The origins of godparents stems back to early Christianity when persecution was common, and followers of Christ had to keep their church services secret.  When a new member wished to join they would not be taken to the secret church service location right away.  Instead, a “godparent” would tutor the hopeful member on scripture for a number of months until that new person could be trusted.  Once the new member was deemed trustworthy, their tutor would vouch for them in front of their church as the new member's godparent.  Because godparents are more or less a nice tradition now, it's okay to create your own guidelines for choosing the godparents of your child, weather that be 4 godmothers and no godfathers or simply one godfather, it’s completely up to you.  Pastor Steinberg did note that godparents are not legally recognized, for this reason he highly recommends making a will to make sure that your children are left in good hands in the event of your passing.

When did you know you wanted to be a pastor?
 
Pastor Steinberg says that he’s a rarity because he always knew he wanted to be a pastor since he was a child.  His parents were always encouraging and understanding of his life choice saying “that’s awesome, but if you change your mind that’s awesome too”.  The process to become a Lutheran pastor is very rigorous.  An aspiring pastor in the WELS will go to school for 8 years after high school, obtain a master of divinity and be expected to learn the original languages of the Bible, Hebrew and Greek.  Although Pastor Steinberg is extremely educated and a masterful storyteller, he humbly says that no amount of education can ensure someone will be a good pastor.  Looking to the Bible, you can see that some of the best teachers were just great people with an abundance of faith and a willingness to serve.
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​Many thanks to Pastor Steinberg for taking the time to answer our questions, pushing us to stay curious and making us more knowledgeable followers of God.
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​Group Night is held at New Beginnings.  Every Thursday, we meet as a group to discuss important life skills and educational topics.  Discussions are led by community volunteers and can cover a broad range of topics.

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The Pregnancy Journey & The Importance of Support

7/12/2018

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I really cannot seem to think of a clever way to share this, so I will just come out and say it: My husband and I are expecting a baby! Our precious gift will arrive just in time for Christmas on December 24, 2018. This is the first time in New Beginnings history that a director of the home has been expecting – the Lord knows I am always up for a good challenge.
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​The experience of becoming a first-time mother has put a lot of things into perspective for me. It amazes me how our bodies react to the baby growing inside us: morning sickness (that name is so deceiving), sore boobs, bleeding gums, stuffy nose, headaches, itchy legs, utter exhaustion, and so much more. I really had no idea how difficult it could be! With symptoms like these it would be so difficult not to have the support of someone you love. My husband has been my rock through this experience: he has taken on extra chores around the house (including emptying the litter box *I was thrilled to give that up*), cooked for me, listened to me complain, and helped me when I felt sick. The fact that many of the mothers that come to New Beginnings do not have support from anyone when they call us breaks my heart now more than ever.

​New Beginnings is such an important piece to the family puzzle. Not only do the mothers know that God loves them and their baby, but they know that they can rely on us to hold their hand when they are scared, help them when they are sick, and listen to them when they need to talk. All the other benefits and program components aside, this is a piece I am sure they will never forget. I certainly will never forget the support that I have had.
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​My husband and I cannot wait to meet our little boy or girl. The milestones that are coming up are so exciting! I recently started my second trimester, we will be finding out the gender soon (can’t wait), and I am excited to feel the baby move for the first time. When we hold our precious gift in our arms for the first time, I know that I will forget all about how sick I have felt. I know the mothers at New Beginnings experience the same joy and awe when their babies are born. We are all thanking God right now for blessing us with our little humans, and also thanking him for surrounding us with supportive friends and family.
Please continue to pray for all mothers that they may find the support they need both in Jesus and through friends and family. For those of you who currently support expecting or new moms, on behalf of all mothers I would like to say THANK YOU! You are a blessing.
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Brianne Hansen is the Executive Director at New Beginnings. She grew up in Marshall, WI and graduated from Lakeside Lutheran High School. Brianne has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from UW-Milwaukee and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Industrial Organizational Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys singing, camping, spending time with her dog (Bella) and cats (Mufasa & Jasmine), and going on adventures with her husband, Daniel.  ​

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How to Reduce Stress

5/8/2018

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What is exactly is stress? Stress is a chemical reaction in response to a negative reaction. It’s your body telling you that it doesn’t want to get hurt. This isn’t always bad; it helps keep you safe. However, too much stress can get you stuck in a negative state of being. When people are over-stressed, they typically worry too much about silly things or become desensitized to problem areas in their lives.
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What are symptoms of being too stressed?
Stress has many symptoms and here are a few: increased heart rate, feeling lousy, feeling overwhelmed, forgetting things, loss of focus, and high blood pressure. Being stressed is much worse for pregnant mothers because the baby feels everything that his or her mother feels.
How do I deal with stress?
A big part of dealing with stress is recognizing it so you can plan for before, during, and after the fact. Many people only recognize what stress made them do after-the-fact. When you feel like you’re overstressed, give yourself a moment. Realize you’re having a rough time and get a fresh start. There are many simple ways to help relieve stress: write in journals, take a walk, bathe, color, listen or sing to music, pamper yourself, use a stress ball or something similar, read, take a nap, make lists, or exercise. Be proactive. When you’re really engaged it’s hard to think about all the extra stuff. Crying may not be a bad thing because it makes you feel better afterwards. It’s easier to spiral than to stay at a bottom. Everybody’s life is different. Everything has different meanings to different people. Hold yourself accountable by doing activities with others, such as working out. Get to a place where you can even compromise. Somethings will come with time. Take care of yourself.
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Mind full vs. Mindful
Mindfulness is doing actions with purpose. Your mind is sometimes so cluttered that you don’t realize what you’re doing and live life on autopilot. You’re too busy thinking about the next thing that you neglect what you’re doing in the now. Focus on your breathing two minutes a day. Clear your mind. Learn awareness, self-acceptance, and letting things go. Set apps with reminders to force you to pause throughout the day. Close your eyes and take very deep breaths. Be aware of the noises around you. Open your eyes and say five things you can see, five you can hear, five you can touch, and try to find five things to taste and smell.  Be at peace. Accept things the way they are.
How to prevent stress
Find things that are important to you and make time. Say no to a new responsibility when you need to. Make sure to make yourself laugh every once in a while. Seek out that person who always puts a smile on your face or re-watch your favorite comedy. Intentionally build things into your day to brighten it up. Make your own day. Take long breaths—quickly count 1,2,3,4. Be aware of the right now and intentionally focus on what’s around you. If you need further help with your stress, many hospitals offer courses. A stress-free you is the best you!
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Resident Shawna is stress-free at this moment!
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Group Night is held at New Beginnings.  Every Thursday, we meet as a group to discuss important life skills and educational topics.  Discussions are led by community volunteers and can cover a broad range of topics.
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Interview With a Single Mother

5/8/2018

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​For this blog I interviewed one of my friends, Alexis. She’s 25 and the mother of Lola, who’s almost three. Alexis recently finished her associate’s degree and is continuing her education. She’s one of the strongest people I know, and I couldn’t wait to get some of her insights on what it’s like to be a single mother.
​What’s something you wish you would’ve known when becoming a mother?
Alexis wishes her father would’ve told her how hard it was to have a split family. She has one full brother, plus a sister from her father’s first marriage and another sister from a different relationship. Things never worked out with Lola’s father, but she remains in regular contact with him and Lola sees him often. However, it is so hard to make everyone happy. She’s trying to make it work, but there’s always something that doesn’t sit right.
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Alexis and daughter Lola
What’s the best part about being a mother?
Alexis’s favorite moments are those quiet nights. Lola is always quick to announce her affection with an “I love you mom,” “Thank you mom,” or “You’re safe now.” “You can just tell by their look that you’re the greatest person in the world to them. Suddenly this gooey wet thing on your chest is the most important part of your life,” said Alexis. Unconditional love is an amazing thing. “You’re not doing half a bad job,” Alexis assures, “Always raise your child to be polite, helpful, and respectful.”
What are struggles you’ve faced as a single mother?
“Stability!” Alexis quickly responded, “Financial stability especially.” She’s currently looking for a new home for just her and Lola. She wants to be able to be the parent that she wants to be. She stated that even if you are living with someone rent-free, “pay rent” but put it into your child’s savings account. Additionally, when seasonal clothes go on sale, buy the next size up.
​What does your faith mean to you as a single mother?
When Alexis was a senior in high school, she was a hot mess. A person close in her life made her go to church with them, and she has been going to that same church ever since. When you feel alone and insecure, it’s comforting for people to pray with you and for you. Church is a place to go when you don’t know where your life is going. “It’ll make me feel happy, everything will turn out fine. I have another human being I can’t let down,” Alexis stated, “make sure I’m doing my best with this healthy, smart girl.” 
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​How important has education been to you as a single mother?
Alexis’s father got his doctorate when she was sixteen. He studied all the time even at school events like basketball games. He showed Alexis how to achieve. He has four kids and he still did it. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a significant other but family support is good. Nowadays you need credentials. Finishing school is Alexis’s top priority. She balanced out the hard part when Lola was a baby and knows what it’s like to be completely overwhelmed.
What advice would you give to single mothers?
“It’s okay,” Alexis said, “It’s okay if you have it together or if you don’t. If you have a baby you’re strong. You’re giving, caring and nurturing. You will be okay. Nothing will be as bad as you think. To Lola, I’m the best person. Don’t make your kid think it’s not okay. My parents sometimes didn’t have the best of times but that never stopped them from giving us a good life. Sky’s the limit. Never too late to go to school, even if you have two, four kids. Always resources out there.” 
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Proverbs 20:5: “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”
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Rachel Christian is an intern from Wisconsin Lutheran College. She is a senior Communicative Arts major with an emphasis in business. She grew up in Sullivan, Wisconsin and graduated from Lake Country Lutheran High School. In her free time she enjoys movies, the outdoors, and spending time with her cat, Cleo.
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QUICK SPRING CLEANING TIPS

4/20/2018

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​Is spring finally here? Only God knows but now is a great time to shake off the dust from winter and pull up your sleeves. Here is a simple guide to get started:
Out with the old
Get rid of clutter. Sort items you don’t want into three piles: throw away, donate, and sell. Many possessions like toys and clothes can go a long way if donated. Money earned from selling other items can go towards a little pocket money or be donated to your favorite charity.

Having a hard time getting started? Start small. Do a drawer a day. Divide up tasks. Give yourself a reward for everything you check off your list.
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Reorganize your wardrobe. While you’re shifting out your heavier clothes for your summer line, why not go through your wardrobe to get rid of articles you never wear anymore? If your closet looks appealing, you’ll look appealing!
Organize books and dishes so they are easier to find and look more presentable. 
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​Top to bottom
Clean your residence from top to bottom! Clean light and ceiling fixtures. Fans can be dusted with long cleaning tools or get on top of a ladder and brush the dust into a pillowcase.

Don’t forget the walls; even though they are a flat, sheer surface dust still collects on them. Windows can be cleaned simply with a rag and soapy water. Other a good glass solution can be made with water, white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and a few drops of peppermint extract. Use a squeegee to get that extra sparkle.

Lastly, buff your wood floors. A D.I.Y. solution can be made with olive oil, white vinegar, hot water, and a few drops of lemon essential oil. Tough tile stains can be removed with baking soda and water. Just make sure to use a non-abrasive scrubber so you won’t scratch your floors.
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Deep clean
Here is a list of furniture and appliances to make sure you cover: dishwasher, countertops, cabinets, stove, refrigerator, sink and faucets, bathtub and shower, bedding and mattress, washing machine, silverware, bookshelves, patio furniture, couches, tables, chairs, and other upholstery.

Use salt and soda water to clean inside refrigerators.  This is also an excellent time to go through your entire fridge and get rid of all expired food. Also when you’re finished don’t forget to place an open box baking soda in both your freezer and fridge. Move your fridge away from the wall and clean all the dust built up behind it. This way you can clean the condenser coil to keep your fridge fully functioning and reunite yourself with anything you or your cat have kicked behind it.

Even if blankets and pillows don’t need to be cleaned, air them out to get rid of any winter drab.

​Finally, don’t forget to disinfect your cleaning tools like brooms, vacuums, and sponges.

​Spring is a beautiful time. It’s the season where everything starts fresh. Why not get rid of the clutter in our hearts? Let bygones be bygones. Let go of old grudges and stressors. We are in the Easter season; Christ has washed away all our transgressions! Take this time to start anew and blossom like the beautiful human being that God created.
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 "Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." 
Song of Songs 2:12
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Rachel Christian is an intern from Wisconsin Lutheran College. She is a senior Communicative Arts major with an emphasis in business. She grew up in Sullivan, Wisconsin and graduated from Lake Country Lutheran High School. In her free time she enjoys movies, the outdoors, and spending time with her cat, Cleo.
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The Golden Rule

4/13/2018

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​When I was a child, I would watch Sesame Street with my sisters and I always remember a specific episode.  Oscar the Grouch was trying to learn to be nice to one of the other people on the show.  He heard the Golden Rule and decided that he was going to treat that other person the way he wanted to be treated.  Can you guess what happens?  He took a truckload of garbage and dumped it right onto the other person!  That’s not exactly what the Golden Rule means.  His heart was in the right place but he did not consider the other person’s likes and interests.  Silly Oscar!
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​In church, I learned that God wants us to love everybody.  We are to show that love by giving respect; just like how we would want to be treated.  That is the same rule that Oscar the Grouch was learning, but this concept was more than just a child’s television show.  It was backed up with lessons and examples in the Bible that show we are to love our neighbor as our self.  Peter writes in his letter to Christians, “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” – 1 Peter 2:17
As I child, I understood the concept of respect but didn’t know the actual word for word meaning.  I thought that everybody understood what respect meant but, since working at New Beginnings, I realize how wrong I was!  Some of the mothers who come into New Beginnings, view respect as, “You aren’t giving me what I want, and therefore, you are not respecting me!”  My favorite false idea of respect is “I will respect you as long as you respect me and do as I want.”  The two play hand in hand.  I then realized just how blessed I was to have the strong Christian upbringing that I had along with the guidance of my parents who taught me to respect others. 
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​So, what is respect?  In the dictionary it has a few different meanings but I found two that really seem to nail down the definition.  
​Respect: due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others
               : agree to recognize and abide by rules or laws
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​That is the letter of the law so to speak but that doesn’t cover it all.  In the Bible, God covers respect in a wider spectrum of Love, Honor, and Obedience.  God says in Leviticus 19:3 “Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths.  I am the Lord your God.”  He also tells us in Leviticus 19:32 “Sand up in the presence of the ages, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.  I am the Lord.”
​This is the love and respect we give the mothers who come to us looking for a new beginning.  We strive to help them accomplish their goals and grow closer to God through His Word.  We help teach them what God has to say about respect for not only others but for themselves.  I quickly found out that not everybody grew up being respected by others and therefore don’t know how to respect themselves as an adult.  Through daily instruction in God’s Word, we learn together the love that He has for us, and how He sent His Son to die for us.  What a blessed message to share with the mothers and their little ones!
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come to His people and redeemed them.
​– Luke 1:6
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Christina Pritzlaff is married with two children. She has completed Early Childhood 1 & 2 classes, Infant Toddler classes, and completed the coursework for her Associates degree in Child Development. Christina splits her time between spending time with her family and working at New Beginnings. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children, camping, fishing, reading, and doing counted cross-stitch.
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What Do Your Donation Dollars Do?

4/9/2018

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​New Beginnings
runs entirely on donations from generous people like you!  If you’ve ever donated to New Beginnings or considered doing so, you may have wondered what your donation dollars do.
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​The most obvious thing your donation dollars go toward is providing a safe home for mothers and their babies.  Most of our moms come to us from unsafe or unstable living arrangements.  Being welcomed into a loving, stable home is a healthy change for both themselves and their children.  Moms only pay $1 in rent each month – the rest of their rent and utilities is all covered by your generous donations!  Plus, the apartments our mothers move into are completely furnished so they don’t have to worry about finding furniture for themselves or their babies.  Your kindness provides a roof over their heads and warm beds for them to sleep in.
​Your donation dollars do more than just provide shelter for our moms, they pay for staff who act as Christian mentors to our moms.  Imagine being a young, single mother trying to make this scary journey all on your own!  Christian love and guidance is needed to help moms grow and that is where the staff of New Beginnings comes in.  Because of your generosity, we are able to share God’s Word with our moms every night during devotion.  We also get to sit down with each mom one-on-one each week to have individual Bible studies where we dive a bit deeper into God’s Word.  Beyond spiritual growth, staff at New Beginnings sits down with each resident once a week to set weekly and monthly goals in the areas of faith, parenting, and education.  Throughout the week, we work with them to get those goals accomplished by encouraging them and helping them find necessary resources.  Our Home is staffed 24/7/365 so residents can always get help when they need it.
​One other way your donation dollars create real, long-term change is by allowing mothers to go back to school.  Mothers who get an education can get well-paying jobs to support themselves and their children.  This ultimately stops the cycle of poverty and government assistance use.  Many of our moms start off by working toward earning their GED which is necessary for college and most job opportunities.  If they’ve already obtained a high school diploma, they’re able to start college right away to work toward a degree that will allow them to achieve self-sufficiency.  Our moms have dreams like becoming an accountant, opening up their own non-profit, becoming a nurse, and more.  By donating to New Beginnings, you empower our moms to work hard and make their dreams come true.
THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to or supported New Beginnings in some way.  You are making a true difference in the lives of the mothers and babies who come into our program.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:38 (NIV)
Donate Here to help create a New Beginning
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Taleya Williamson is the Operations Manager at New Beginnings.  She was born and raised in Puyallup, Washington and attended Evergreen Lutheran High School.  Taleya recently graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College with a Bachelors of Science in psychology with a minor in anthropology.  In her free time, Taleya enjoys spending time with her husband, David.

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Five Reasons to volunteer at new beginnings

3/23/2018

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1. You Get to Choose What You Want to Do.
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If there’s a word to describe the volunteer positions you can fill at New Beginnings, it’s variety. You can watch the home during times when regular staff isn’t there as a Home Assistant, help set up fundraisers as a Church Liaison, form a close personal relationship with a resident while also being a role model as a Mentor, help residents with their academic progress as a Tutor, lead educational programs as a Group Night Presenter, or help with different projects as a general volunteer.
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2.You Make a Significant Impact. 
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Because New Beginnings is small, the impact you can have is large. One person can make a difference anywhere, but at New Beginning’s that’s definitely true!
3.You’re Actually Helping Make History, Too. 
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Although the program itself is over twenty years old, New Beginnings has only been located in Milwaukee since 2014. Thus, when you help out as a dedicated volunteer, you’re an important part of our history too.
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4.You Form Close Bonds with a Group of Awesome People. 
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Not only do you get to form relationships with the moms and babies at New Beginnings, but you also get to form close bonds with the staff. You may not like everyone you work with, but there’s no reason you can’t like your fellow volunteers.
5.You Get to Choose Your Level of Commitment. 
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Don’t have time for some of the more time-consuming volunteer positions? You can also choose to help at the general volunteer days we have every few months, usually when we have a specific project we need completed. In this way, you still get to contribute to New Beginning’s mission, but in a way that suits your schedule.
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Elizabeth Scheibl is an intern and Resident Supervisor at New Beginnings. She is still an English major and History minor at Wisconsin Lutheran College. In her spare time, she likes reading, writing, and standing on chairs and singing.
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I was working but I couldn't make ends meet.

3/14/2018

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Like many of our mothers, Kim had been struggling to provide for herself and her son.  Coming to New Beginnings meant Kim could focus on her education with Christian love and support.  Upon moving in, Kim began exploring a career in medical billing and coding.  "New Beginnings is a chance to continue my education.  I will be able to have a career and a family.  It's a new outlook on life.  It's a new beginning."
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Many of our mothers, prior to coming to New Beginnings, did not have the opportunity, Christian encouragement, or resources to continue their education.  One of the best books I have read is called A Framework for Understanding Poverty written by Ruby Payne.  The author illustrates that poverty is often a result of a lack of resources, and that education can change the current prevalence of poverty.  In fact, she goes on to say, "An education is key to getting out of, and staying out of, poverty."  Education has the potential to break the cycle of poverty.
However, there is a caveat.  More than 20 years of experience has shown us that mothers will often doubt their ability to continue their education because life events have eroded their self-confidence.  As we know, self-doubt is a tough feeling to overcome, but by centering the focus on God's love for us, mothers learn that with Christ anything is possible.
We know that the educational attainment of a mother predicts the educational attainment of her child.  For this reason, New Beginnings maintains an education fund in which we help mothers pay for the cost of tuition, school supplies, laptops, and transportation to school.  Your gifts are life-changing for the mothers – they are finally given an opportunity to succeed with God by their side.  To help your gift go further, the Siebert Foundation will match gifts given to education dollar for dollar.
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​Because of your gifts, Meosha walked across the graduation stage and received her high school diploma.  She was so happy to receive her diploma and move onto higher education.  Afterwards, she made a promise to herself that she would give her daughter the opportunity for a good education just like she had while at New Beginnings.



​​Letisha recognizes the importance of education and is thankful for the opportunity that your gift provides to her and many others.  She says, "Education is very important and since coming to New Beginnings it has given me the platform, motivation, and structure to go back to school."
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​Sharing the gift of education and Christ's love is key to breaking the cycle of poverty for mothers just like Kim, Meosha, and Letisha – even more than that, your gift breaks the cycle of poverty for generations to come.
  Will you prayerfully consider a gift today?
Give Education Gift Here
Thank you for supporting life-changing work.  The mothers' accomplishments are a result of your gifts, and each mother is grateful for the opportunity to break their cycle of poverty.
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Brianne Hansen is the Executive Director at New Beginnings. She grew up in Marshall, WI and graduated from Lakeside Lutheran High School. Brianne has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from UW-Milwaukee and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Industrial Organizational Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys singing, camping, spending time with her dog (Bella) and cats (Mufasa & Jasmine), and going on adventures with her husband, Daniel.  ​

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Why We Do What We Do

2/28/2018

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Do you ever wonder if you really make a difference?  Those volunteer hours that you put in or that money that you donate to help support New Beginnings, does it really matter?  How can that help possibly make a difference? 

​​It Does!
A resident has graduated from the New Beginnings Program!  It is all because of God's love working through your help and support!  Here is Letisha's story and letter to all of you who have helped her along the way:
Dear Supporters of New Beginnings, 
​

I am honored to write this letter. I came here to Milwaukee, and low and behold I found a great family with the staff of New Beginnings. 

Since joining the New Beginnings Family I have began to find a closer relationship with God, my child has gained many new aunts with staff, and I know I have friends for life. 

My growth here at New Beginnings is only through God’s Grace. Although rough at times this experience has only helped me grow as a mother, a Christian, friend, and soon to be wife. My now fiancé James Greyer also grew and gained much respect for New Beginnings and Staff. Because he was able to trust that his son and I would be in good hands he was able to go to school to get his CDL while also getting his life back on track. 

Because of my experience here at New Beginnings I have began taking Bible Information classes so that I will be able to join the Lutheran church and extend my volunteering for New Beginnings. More than anything I plan to give back to this great organization that saved my family from sin, along with God’s help. I truly believe that God worked through this foundation. 

My fiancé and I will be moving into our new apartment. We will also be married at Saint Marcus Church. But the best thing about all of this is the relationship that has grown with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 

Because of the daily devotions and one on one Bible studies I was able to learn about God, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

For that I will forever be grateful. Although I made some mistakes along the way again New Beginnings was right there to help me get back on track, for the first time in a very long time I feel like I’m headed in the right direction and New Beginnings along with God are cheering me on. 

Gratefulness is all that is flowing in my heart, and by myself volunteering at New Beginnings I hope to give as much as they gave me back to another mom. 

​Thanks, Letisha 
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Thank you for everything you do!

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Letisha joined the New Beginnings Family in January of 2017 and had her son in May 2017.  She is pursuing her education while making God and her children the center of her world.  She has since graduated from the program but will continue in her journey as part of the New Beginnings Volunteer Family.

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