Counseling and Conference Room

From the proceeds of our 2005 Auction we have completed our construction of the Counseling and Conference Room project. This additional area will accommodate larger structured groups: anger management, domestic violence, AA/NA Victorious, plus individual and family counseling.  Teaching tapes, TV, plus a resource library. There's also a kitchen, bath, and utility area to serve our new addition. Our appreciation goes out to Roger Drake, Robin Ankeny, Michael Todd, and Steve Millard for their construction, design and donation of their labor. Roger, Robin, Michael, and Steve, a job "WELL DONE"!

Ed Kristiansen broke up an existing concrete slab, while Roger Drake Construction with Tim Wiles' assistance poured the new slab. Celorie Bros. stood by with their truck-load of cement to complete "Phase One" of the new construction. Mike Patterson Plumbing then completed the plumbing for the kitchen, bath and utility areas. If there is a leaky faucet, need of a new water heater or a garbage disposal, Mike is there for us. Our special thanks to all of you for your contribution of time and labor.

A new Natural gas heater was installed by Eastside Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. This new unit not only has warmed our home, but also has warmed our hearts. Their donation of the unit at their cost and labor was gratifying. Thiessen Roadhouse Ministries was without heat from February to October 2002. Cost of the gas furnace was covered by proceeds from the Auction 2002. Thank you to our donors and those who attended the Auction. Jason, you and your crew were a blessing!

New Roof

We have accomplished installing a new roof with a complete tear-off. Bower Roofing constructed the roofing project adding skylights, felt, hip ridge shingles and architectural algae block. Special thanks to Tony Bower who graciously donated a drop box and additional labor. Tony, your expertise to our ministry is appreciated both as a professional and a friend. Special thanks to all (15) of the Volunteers who helped in the tear-off of the old roofing.

Other desired improvements for 2008 will include a new window box for the kitchen, a new front door surrounded by glass blocks for enhanced design and privacy. Tile was donated by Gilford's Floor Covering and Cohen Bros. Floor Covering. Carpet donation along with the tile installation supplied by Cunningham's Floor Covering. We are in need of old wood flooring and are networking with contractors of older homes regarding this material for our "well traveled living room". We also are in need of gutter replacement for the house and for the distribution building.  We are also in need of completing the back patio, a new addition off the kitchen for a dining room, and a electric entry gate.  We would like to have a couple of existing rot iron gates in need of being welded and set in place connecting the out building.  It is our long term desire, to have the entry way, courtyard, and drive  paved with decretive blocks, brick or cement.  If you would like to volunteer or have resources in these areas, please contact us. We celebrate those members of our community who have given of their time, money, and expertise in helping Thiessen Roadhouse Ministries grow. We honor those who have gone over and above.

We would also desire a new addition off our existing kitchen, which would give the mothers more room for an eating area/dining room area.  We need someone to supervise and form a work team to accomplish this task.  We want to network community builders and suppliers to help with building supplies, in that needed area.  If you, or anyone are versed in the expertise area, please contact us for more information and perhaps a starting time.  Several have commented an on this project this summer of 2008.  Also the window box could be put in at the same time, it is in the same area.
 

An Extraordinary Gift

We are now enjoying our new plasma Philips 32inch TV/ DVD Player in our newly finished conference room.  This has been a long awaited accessory and we are extremely excited!  We invite anyone to come by and watch a movie with us!  This extraordinary gift was presented and donated by Celorie Bros. Dump Trucking Co., Inc.  These faithful long-term contributors have always been there for us, and responding to countless TRM needs, over the years.  They have also been "extraordinary" blessings by sharing and partnering with us.

There's More!

February 2007, Celorie Bros. also laid a "5 inch speed bump" in front of TRM front drive way.  This has been an on-going "water dilemma", we called it our swimming pool!  It was a terrible oversight of the new houses next to us being built higher than our property, and the county saying they were not responsible.  This was frustrating!  But now we are excited to see the "dry change", as we can now drive into TRM with drowning!  Please remember the speed bump in there, especially for you "low riders"! 

They also delivered 3 yards of river rock, two days prior, for our drain field project.  Now where can you get service like that?  Jeff, Kenny, and families, may you have everything that you have hoped for, always good health, and an abundance of prosperity in this new year!

Along with this long awaited improvement, Bob and Missy Funderburg, hearing of our dilemma, showed up with a load of gravel that impacted the front portion of the drive.  Also joining them was their son Bobby.  Together they worked diligently to bring this project together.  It is always a joy to see the families working together.  The young people are the next generation of "Volunteers" coming up!  Missy also has been gracious with her time of helping with TRM printer and computer needs.  Tony and Tyler also help with picking up, lifting, and hauling anything that needs to be transported to or from TRM.  All we have to do is call, and they are there!  Thank you to the Funderburg family.  What a team effort!

Also with an eager and willing heart, Brandon Wellock, is another young man that is available anytime we call him to do his part in any "unexpected job" that needs to be done around TRM.  We love you, Brandon!  We appreciate your labor, time, and your love that is returned for us! 

We Got Mail!

New metal locked mail box, now "stands stately" in front of the rod iron fence at TRM.  We want to thank Stuart Realty Group, Inc. of Canby, Oregon, for thinking of our mail safety for the ministry and donating such a reassuring gift.  A mail box like this is essential, especially when leaving for a few days and coming home to secured mail.  Tim, you and JillMarie are so appreciated and we are so proud of you, being family and partnering with Thiessen Roadhouse.  Thank you again for this extraordinary gift, "that serves with a purpose"!

The mail box is supported by a heavy duty steel post, for extra security.

Enough Projects for Everyone!

After one of our auctions , I was handed a note.  It said: "I will provide you 8 hours of any kind of work needed at your house.  I remodel and build houses, God Bless!"  Then came a phone call from Doug Morehouse in February, wanting to honor his "little note".  Doug came and chose the things that were on "TRM wish list of projects".  Doug worked, then worked some more, and then he continued to work, then he did a little more work!  Then we commented, "You have to be well over your 8 hours"!   We are so blessed, first by his gift of carpentry to compliment our home, and then by giving from his heart so much.  You are special to us, Doug, and you will be richly rewarded by the love you give away! 

Handmade Crochet and Knitted Baby Blankets

You will most likely find this women, Dee Mather, entering Thiessen Roadhouse, and she will always be toting a bundle of baby blankets for the newborns of TRM.  She also brings good tidings from her gifted and talented partner, Lynn Walters.  Lynn lives out of town, we have never met her, yet she adorns our babies with beautiful blankets.  Some day we want to thank her in person  to show our appreciation.  Each blanket is simply outstanding in color and design.  As we wrap each baby in these rainbows of color, the warmth radiates the endless hours of every threaded stitch.  Dee and Lynn, you are so loved and we honor your beautiful gifts each time you bring them.  (They also team up and knit "booties" for TRM.  You will be able to try on a pair as you enter our home to keep your feet warm until you leave!)

The Oregonian Article on the Front Page of the Living Section, "Bravo", Julie Sullivan!

You might have read the article in the paper, featured on December 21, 2007, written by Julie Sullivan, heard it from a friend, or read it on our website, "It was an article with impact"!   Since that time of circulation and letting you, our contributors know, we are still recieving recognition and congratulations!  It has been over whelming and at the same time a humbling experience.  Each one of us knows, those of us who have served in a ministry for any length of time, and something so wonderful as this happens, you know then that you have been validated.  It is an unexplainable event, that weaves happiness, excitement, and hope for the future of any ministry.  Thiessen Roadhouse's hearts were touched by this article.   So many who have seen the article also "touched their hearts, in ways we could never imagine"!  We are starting to see the "fruits" of those greetings by the letters, cards, monetary gifts, donations, emails/phone calls, from people we have never met,  stopping by to share in our accomplishments.  They call us "Angels", but in all due respect, they are the "Angels"!

One incredible Angel, is Julie Sullivan.  She was such a gracious and sensitive reporter in our midst of compassionate interviewing, of our mothers and staff, along with her photographer, Faith..  Their expertise was validated by their person.  They spent endless hours of collecting emotions and heartfelt stories from Thiessen Roadhouse residents, and then tastefully put it in writing.  We can not begin to thank Julie and Faith for sharing with us and making this a win win situation for everyone. 

Our love and appreciation goes out to you Julie, not only was it an amazing article, but we gained a beautiful friend in the process.  We are thankful for this gift friendship and you are most welcome in our home, anytime!  Again, great job!
 

Recognizing the Diversity of so many who have Responded to the Article

We would like to share with you those who have graced our doorstep by reading this article, given from their hearts, and now are part of "our family".  There are many who did not care to be recognized, nor requested documentation for tax purposes.  It was evident of the discretion of the many cards, cash, and letters recieved that did not have return names or addresses on them.  Any of you who were one of these, you are truly "silent blessings", we honor you! 

David Gillian was led to our home to bless us with his expertise in sound.  David is a sound consultant specialist and wanted to do something nice for Thiessen Roadhouse in as much as he enjoys music, he knew that we would too.  We now have a complete sound system in our conference room, setting it up to complement the TV sound.  It is wonderful!  He did not stop there!  He has put us on his Gleaners delivery route and every Thursday we get an abundance of food.  (If there is an overflow, we have been donating to My Father's Heart, a ministry for the homeless in Clackamas.)  David has this love for mankind along with his laughter, both evident of that beautiful compassion that "ooooozze" out of him.  We thank the Lord for bringing you into our lives, David!

A man knocked on our door, acknowledged us of our wonderful service we offered to mothers in crisis and how he enjoyed the beautiful article of what we were doing in the community, and put in my hand, folded cash, from his.  He then added that he was a retired contractor and would want to come back, clean our "much needed" over flowing gutters of leaves, and take the moss off the buildings.  He also said he specialized in refurbishing patio's, at that moment I took his hand and led him to our back patio that was in need of such services.  He remarked, "If you don't mind, I'll be back in the spring to help you with it"!  After he left, my breath was taken away, again.  Where do these "angels come from?"  Heaven of course!  He said he would be back when the rains ceased, and he did.  Now we can put a name to the man who knock on our door!  His name is Meryl.  A delightful soft spoken gentleman, with a heart for helping others.  Besides following through with his offer and our need, he did not stop there.  Meryl came in for a "tea & tour", visited with our mothers, and offered to teach a money management class for them.  His talents were endless, as he shared how he could help them  in succeeding in life.  We have had other mothers that have graduated from the ministry interested as well.  I love the scripture, "You will entertain angels unaware, that come to your door".  Thank you Meryl for caring so much for us and our mission.

Christmas Eve Special Delivery!

My son, Tim Wiles was walking in the driveway for our Traditional Candlelight Service, when a car pulled up and handed him an envelope and said, "Please give this to Linda Wiles Thornton".  My son said, "Please come in and I will get her".  The man in the car said, "That's alright, just tell her Merry Christmas"!  When Tim came in and told us what had just taken place, we all were rejoicing!  "Open the envelope", everyone said, almost at the same time.  So I did, and opened it to a  Christmas greeting card and a $500 check.  This was from someone that we had never met, someone who took their time to write a beautiful written paragraph of what our ministry was doing and sharing the article of how it touched their lives, and at the same time was in hopes their small gift would be put to where it was needed the most.  Talk about rejoicing!  Rejoice, and again I say rejoice!  All of heaven was singing!  This definitely set our candlelight service of thankfulness!  Who ever the stranger, he set out to bless someone, and he truly did!  We do not have to know who or where the blessings come from, but God does!  Thank you who ever you are, perhaps to meet someday, or we may never.  Our deepest appreciation!

We can not begin to list all the wonderful "Contribution Stories" that have come in since the article in The Oregonian was published.  But we can list the following contributors to date for their outstanding donations of "gifts".  We, at Thiessen Roadhouse acknowledge and honor all of you who we know and respect those of you who do not want to be recognized.  Either way, you all have teamed up and blessed the ministry in ways words can not express, except, "God Bless You All".

* Mr. and Mrs. Gary Hellwege * Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Everhart * Rose Ashby * Dan Okrasinski

* Mr. and Mrs. Peter Tamashiro * Sandy Ambrose * Mr. and Mrs. Paul Crosby

* Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Sattgast * D. MarQuarat * Mr. and Mrs. William Schweinfurth

* John V. Reitz * Carroll A. Reitz * Mr. and Mrs. Ted Bateman *  Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Mapes

* Mr. and Mrs. Alan Jefferis * Susan King * Mr. and Mrs. Jon Peters * J. A. Brudvik

* The Harlows * Ms. Doris Shier * Many who wanted to remain Anonymous

 To date, July 1, 2008, we have been blessed with a total of gifts amounting to, approximately: $8500

These gifts have gone into Thiessen Roadhouse Ministries general fund to be used where needed.  So far they have been distributed, three new bibles, (for current residents), expenses to set up for a computer donated to TRM for the conference room, 2 DVD players for two bedrooms, baby showers for two of our mothers that are expecting, and we stocked up our pantry for the winter months ahead.  Then of course the filling up of the TRM 12 passenger van!