UPS & DOWNS
May 2001

WELCOME to Lillian, Shemiah, Telora, Catrina and Brittany; Veronica and Lora.

FAREWELL and good wishes to Tamesha, TyRon and Isaiah; Jaynie and Lauren; Karry; Vicki, Georgia.Eleven women from Wayfarers' House and Clairvaux Farm in mid-May attended a gathering of 1000 women at the Victory Christian Fellowship on Route 40 for dinner and a play titled "Take All of Me." The guest were all given gifts of free new clothing from the Fellowship's Closet.Weekend Work Camp groups at Meeting Ground included an inter-generational team from Lewes Presbyterian Church, Lewes, DE May 5 and 6, and a group of singles from Bryn Mawr Presbyterian, Bryn Mawr, PA on May 11 and 12.Weekly House ActivitiesTues., 11:00 a.m. Self-Esteem Group

9:00 p.m. House MeetingWed., 10:00 a.m. Parenting/Communicating GroupFri., 12-1 p.m. Community KitchenSun., 4:30 p.m. Chapel at the Farm followed by supper** On May 20, the ordination of Ron Serino to the Christian Ministry at the New Ark United Church of Christ, Newark, DE at 4:00 p.m., followed by supper at Clairvaux Farm.Congratulations to Shontal Williams on the birth of her daughter, Makala Ny'Kia Tehya Williams, born May 3, 2001 at 2:40 a..m., and weighing 7 pounds.Meeting Ground's Annual Meeting will be held at Clairvaux Farm on Sunday, June 10, 2001 at 3:00 p.m. for the election of officers, presentation of reports and financial affairs followed at 4:00 p.m. by a Service of Celebration and a buffet supper at 5:00 p.m. Reservations are helpful:Call 410-275-2936 or e-mail: info@meetingground.org

or see the web-site: www.meetingground.org.Volunteers MeetingThere will be a quarterly meeting of Meeting Ground volunteers at the George Porter House Tuesday, June 26, 2001 at 12:30. Please call Barb Dugan at 410-620-4678 if you can attend.

AMBER AND ANTHONY'S STORY
Imagine if you will a pretty girl of twenty-five with two young children, one under a year and a two-year-old. Her name is Amber. Amber has just finished feeding her children and putting them down for the night. She is anxiously awaiting her husband of just three years to come home from work.Amber's husband works for a diesel truck company as a mechanic. Anthony puts in long hours where it is hot and greasy-smelling. When Anthony comes home he's tired and doesn't like any children crying. Amber does her best to get them in bed before their father comes home. Amber has made a beautiful dinner, fried chicken and salad with cole slaw and iced tea. There is also a six-pack of Anthony's favorite beer chilling. Is this young girl really in love, or is she afraid of what mood her husband will be in? Well, gentle reader, I think it is both. There have been many times when Amber has really outdone herself and was beaten badly. This young woman walks on eggshells even in her sleep. "Why doesn't she leave him," you say. "Doesn't she respect herself?" Amber loves her babies very much and is afraid that if she leaves, she will have worse times ahead.Unfortunately, she has seen worse times already. At one time Amber's face was so beaten she couldn't see out of both eyes. Many people have tried to intervene. Anthony wouldn't allow it. All the helpful people in Amber's life have been "trouble makers" as far as Anthony is concerned. Amber was married at a young age and comes from a dysfunctional family herself. The attention she gets from her husband, whether it be bad or good, is better than none at all. Sadly until Amber is really badly hurt, or comes to an awakening, she will never know the help that is out there for her.- Carol A. McCullough

The Chesapeake Center and Meeting Ground are starting a program for women in crisis and those who have had domestic violence in their lives. The Center will be offering weekend retreats for women and children to bond with one another, to have an enjoyable time and get some insight also. There will be many outside activities to enjoy as well as some spiritual moments.This is to be a free, informative and fun weekend for all, so that participants will have memories of this time. Projects with children and mothers will be done so taht they have a tangible memory as well.The project is started by residents of Meeting Ground on a volunteer basis, women who themselves have been victims of domestic violence. This should make sharing and bonding more comfortable.
For more information: Contact Carol McCullough, 410-620-6061;Amy Trotto, 410-398-5279 or Shontal Williams, 410-275-9823;

Meeting Ground: info@meetingground.org and http://msncommunities.selflifestyles

Princess Stephanie's Decision
Once upon a time there was a Princess named Stephanie. She was a popular girl who always was invited to lots of parties. One day a messenger came to the castle and delivered an invitation for Tiffany's party. Princess Stephanie was very excited until she read the invitation and saw that it was the same day as Sarah's party. Now the princess didn't know what to do. She decided to go ask her father, the King Thomas, what to do.The King said, "My dear Princess Stephanie, you are the one who was invited and so you have to decide fro yourself." Now the princess had a lot of thinking to do, so she went to the bell tower, her favorite spot in the castle, to think.After only an hour she realized she could go to both parties! Tiffany's party was from 2-4 p.m. , and Sarah's party was from 5-8 p.m. She was so excited she ran to tell her father the good news. Her father was proud of her decision-making, and he decided to have a new party dress made for her. THE END

Bianca Trotto, age 8, Elkton, MD