Blossoming Rose in Israel

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December 2017

NEWS & NOTES

A monthly newsletter to keep you informed.

The Articles in this December Issue of the Newsletter are all in Recognition of the Donors, Volunteers, and Staff of Blossoming Rose by Dr. DeWayne A. Coxon, president

Rob and Jodi Coxon

Rob Coxon has served as the Vice President for Blossoming Rose for over fifteen years. His wife, Jodi Coxon, has served as the Office Manager for over twenty years. Together they have handled the administrative, financial, and organizational responsibilities for our office. During these years, Rob and Jodi have been half-time staff in terms of employment status even though it has taken many more hours than half-time to accomplish the weekly tasks.

Five years ago, in 2012, the Executive Committee of the Board supported the idea that there would be a transition in Rob’s role to add more hours to his position and prepare for a transition for him to succeed me. We are announcing in this December 2017 Newsletter, that Rob will become the Executive Director on January 1, 2018. The presidency will remain as it is now, but the transition will begin as planned to be prepared for the future. I will continue to lead the organization as its president and I will be as involved with planning tours, attending weekly meetings, and working at the Park for up to six weeks each year as I always have.

Rob’s additional responsibilities will be to serve as chairperson of several committees in addition to the Operations Committee (for the Park) that he has chaired for several years. His involvement in the development of tours is increasing as well as his working with the BTP Project Manager, Ty Henderson.

Jodi Coxon has increased her duties in recent years to oversee housekeeping and kitchen responsibilities at the Park. She works with the volunteers who serve in these capacities, which are as critical to the Park’s success as any other role. She also goes to the Park annually to oversee the kitchen and housekeeping duties. In between trips, she works with the volunteers by phone and email.

Volunteers serving as supervisors, project managers, food services, housekeepers, archaeology workers, gardeners/landscapers, builders, electricians, and those who upgrade the humble facilities are the ones who have made the development of the Park possible.

This is the end of the year and we are grateful to all volunteers, supporters, and tour participants who have made it all possible.

USA BOARD MEMBERSHIP

Several years ago, the United States Board of Trustees for Blossoming Rose had a membership of twenty-one persons. Over time, there were members who moved away or dropped their membership because of family or work responsibilities, until the membership was down to fifteen.

We are pleased to announce today that there are eight new members who will attend their first annual Board meeting on April 14, 2018. They are listed in order of their acceptance to serve.

TY AND AMY HENDERSON

First among the couples, are Ty and Amy Henderson. Interestingly, Ty and Amy were members of the Board many years ago. but they took time off to raise their family. They live on the east side of the State of Michigan, so attending the annual meeting was more difficult. Now, today, they are grandparents and they are traveling to the Park again and assuming many responsibilities. Ty is the Project Manager for the Park and Amy serves as one of the head cooks. What a team.

Ty and Amy have been married for 32 years and they have four children. Ty started a new business, Ty’s Auto Parts and Service at which, Amy did the bookkeeping for many years while Ty managed the business. In 2013, they sold the Auto Parts division to their son, Dustin.

They first met us at a Blossoming Rose dinner in 1986 when they attended with Larry and Genny Henderson who had gone with BR on a tour to Israel the previous year. Soon after, they went on a tour with us and have remained connected ever since. Now, many years later, Ty and Amy talk about how they felt a strong connection to our vision for Israel.

Ty and Amy recount that their first assignment at the Park was to put a back door on their little hovel which appeared not to have been occupied for 75 years. Several critters had made it their home and they had to be driven out. Even though the Park is still a camp-like setting, they appreciate the many projects that were accomplished during the years of their absence. But Ty also understands that there is much to do, and he is a willing volunteer.

Ty has been to Israel approximately fifteen times and Amy has been there six times. She’s been doing some babysitting for her grandchild and sometimes we have to tell her how much she is needed over there every time Ty goes.

Ty serves on the weekly “Operations Committee” for Blossoming Rose. The people who serve on this committee connect to the Supervisor at the Park every Wednesday morning by Video Link.

We are pleased to welcome them back on the Board of Trustees.

BUD AND DIANE ELVE

The second couple who has agreed to serve on the Board are Bud and Diane Elve . We knew Bud and Diane sixty years ago, but it was not until Bud felt the leading of God to stop in at our home six years ago, that our friendship began to grow again.

Bud graduated from Ferris State University in Business Administration and was hired as a Bank Manager Trainee at Old Kent Bank in Grand Rapids. After six years of employment, he was named an Assistant Vice President.

He decided to make a career change at age 38 and went to Calvin College to attain his elementary teaching certificate. He was hired by Caledonia Public Schools in the elementary level the next year. He received his Master’s Degree in School Administration from GVSU. He remained with Caledonia for 20 years and retired in 2006.

Diane graduated from Central Michigan University in the elementary teacher education program and was hired by Kentwood Public Schools to teach 5th grade within the same year. She later moved to a position at Valleywood Middle School where she served in a variety of leadership positions. She received her Master’s degree in Gifted Education from Grand Valley State University in 1991 and retired from K-12 education in 2002. Diane was hired by GVSU to work as an adjunct faculty member, doing both instruction and field supervision in the College of Education's graduate school. She is still working there on a part time basis.

Diane and Bud moved from Caledonia to Newaygo in 2012 to live in the remodeled cottage where Diane enjoyed the summers of her youth. They regularly attend a Wesleyan Church in Fremont. Bud is involved in Community Bible Study and Diane volunteers on a regular basis at Insight Pregnancy Services in Newaygo.

Bud and Diane have three children, all of whom live in the Grand Rapids area and five lovely grandchildren. Bud has made six trips in the last five years to volunteer for Blossoming Rose in Israel.

JACK & KATHY CRUSAN

Jack Crusan started his first business at age 30, Ja-Rob Design, and by the time of his first retirement at age 46, he was chairman of the board for five corporations around the US. They contracted work for John Deere, Steelcase, GMC, Meijer, other supermarkets and hospitals.

Jack started his second career as owner of Back Forty Inc., a trash removal company covering five counties in Michigan. Jack’s wife, Kathy, was very involved in the business as a truck driver, working long hours, and doing whatever was most needed. Jack served on the State of Michigan “Solid Waste Planning Board.” Together they made the company successful and then they retired again when Jack was 65, after selling to a well-known company.

As retirees, they have traveled to Australia, New Zealand, around the US and to Israel. It was the first trip to Israel that changed Jack’s life and he and Kathy have gone to Israel many times since. They both volunteer at Biblical Tamar Park where they utilize the skills and talents they developed over many years. Jack can literally do almost anything, but the greatest need he has met at the Park is taking care of mechanical / machinery.

Kathy is a willing volunteer who does whatever she is asked to do to keep the facilities clean, freshly painted, and in good order. She is also a great help in the food services program.

The Crusans live in Morley, Michigan, and they have three sons, ten grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. Jack and Kathy are Historical Site Sponsors and are major donors to the Park.

Jack serves on the weekly “Operations Committee” for Blossoming Rose. The people who serve on this committee connect to the Supervisor at the Park every Wednesday morning by Video Link.

LEROY & LEONA BENSON

Leona Benson graduated from Western Michigan University and Central Michigan University with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. As an Education Specialist, she taught at Cedar Springs Elementary School for thirty-one years. Leona was also the designer and donor of the Bible Character Coloring Book that is listed for sale in the Blossoming Rose monthly Newsletter.

Leona’s gifts include playing the piano and organ and she has used her gift of music in many churches and for weddings and special programs.

LeRoy Benson enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school, where he served the US for three years. He was trained as an electrician and worked at Greenville Tool and Die. He moved his first wife and family to Colorado where they lived for thirteen years while LeRoy worked for Eastman Kodak.

Later they moved back to Michigan and he returned to work at Greenville Tool and Die Company. By the time he retired, he had worked 36 years in the Tool and Die business. During these years, his wife passed away and he married Leona 13 years ago. They live in Rockford, Michigan.

Together they traveled to Israel with Blossoming Rose nine times, (LeRoy an additional two times), where they both volunteered. Leona has done numerous things from housekeeping to food services, to sewing, including knitting baby clothes that are sold at the Park. LeRoy’s many skills have been put to good use at the Park and he has been indispensable in keeping the vehicles working and advising in many areas where he has expertise.

LeRoy and Leona are Historical Site Sponsors and are major donors to the Park.

LeRoy serves on the weekly “Operations Committee” for Blossoming Rose. The people who serve on this committee connect to the Supervisor at the Park every Wednesday morning by Video Link.

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BOARD MEMBERS VISITING TAMAR IN 2017

It was very special to have so many Israel and USA Board members working at or visiting the Park in 2017. Pictured L – R are DeWayne Coxon, Don & Maxine Smith (Israel Board members), Ty & Amy Henderson (joining board), Chris & Pam Kritcher, Louise & Jack Scholtus, Kathy & Greg Bekes, Sue & Mike Robinaugh (Sue is a guest at Executive Committee meetings and is not on the Board.)

Pictured to the right are the Israel Board members. Those who visited the Park in 2017 see * following name. Standing L – R are Don Smith,* Dr. Gerald Schroeder, Lexie Coxon,* Hadassah & Ruby Karnei-Re’em, and Rob Coxon.* Seated L-R are Dr. DeWayne Coxon,* Attorney Larry Dub,* Shoshanna & Mika Harrarri. Maxine Smith was the photographer and she was elected to the Board after taking the photo.

GIVERS

There are people all over the world who choose to be generous. They choose to help their neighbors in need, they help strangers following disasters, they give to their churches, the needy, the homeless, and the sick. They also give to the charities and organizations that they believe are doing God’s work in the world – do good and not evil. Be good and not wicked.

Blossoming Rose is grateful to their donors who have made it possible to fulfill the mission and vision to serve God in a unique calling to bless an important piece of land mentioned in the scriptures and thereby bless the visitors from around the world. Uncovering history is a great educational endeavor because it becomes a teacher to those who may not have read the history in a book, and it’s possible that the history is not even known until it is uncovered.

There are many donors to Blossoming Rose. Even those who choose to go on a tour to Israel, that is either sponsored or facilitated by Blossoming Rose, like those pictured above sitting in the Sukkah, bless this 55-acre piece of land.

All gifts mentioned below are considered gifts to the General Fund of Blossoming Rose, even though we have used them for the stated purposes. We are blessed here in 2017 to have so many friends and partners.

There are Site Sponsors who contribute $10,000 annually. They are Jack & Louise Scholtus, Greg & Kathy Bekes, Jack & Kathy Crusan, LeRoy & Leona Benson, and Don & Maxine Smith. There are Site co-sponsors who contribute $5,000 annually. They are Dr. Catherine Ryan, Chris & Anne Barnes, and DeWayne & Lexie Coxon. (One more co-sponsor is needed.)

There are Room Sponsors who give $1,500 annually. Two couples sponsor two rooms each; they are Don & Maxine Smith, and David & Patty Tyler / UIWU. Sponsors of one room are, Dr. James Tabor / UIWU, Jack & Louise Scholtus, Cynthia Hillson, Jeannie Housler, Monica Heredia, and Esther Klinebriel. ( There are at least eight more rooms that could be sponsored.)

Don and Maxine Smith

David and Patty Tyler

Site and Room Sponsors are recognized by signage at the historical sites or on doors.

Tree donations range from $25 to $100 based on whether it is “planting or adopting.” Over two hundred people have either sponsored a tree or adopted a tree. Plaques of recognition are on the dining room wall at Biblical Tamar Park, beside the new coffee bar built by Paul Scholtus.

Donors have contributed to several significant purchases and/or projects during 2017. Jack & Louise Scholtus support more than an historical site and a room for $11,500. They give additional funds annually for projects. This year their additional support and/or pledge is for at least $23,000. Some of these dollars went to install a new kitchen floor in the dining room and some will be used to upgrade bathrooms and caravans starting in February 2018

A new tractor was purchased in 2017 and these donors made that possible. They were LeRoy & Leona Benson - $10,000, Jack & Kathy Crusan - $10,000, DeWayne & Lexie Coxon - $2,500, and Ty & Amy Henderson - $1,000

The Bedouin tent project was completed for the Abrahamic Historical Site. Victoria Brogdon purchased the tent for $3,000.

Bible Students, represented by Paul and Joyce Lagno, with the assistance and support of the Lundquist Foundation , built the Moses Historical Site pavilion and installed a model tabernacle during 2016 and 2017. Those gifts were over $35,000.

Larry and Mary Borntrager, pictured above singing with Paul and Joyce Lagno, have all invested many hours at the Park.

Three gifts of $5,000 and up were made by The Community of the Crucified One to the general fund, Laura Baxter for the dining room floor, and Lloyd Willard for greening the desert.

In addition to those already listed in categories above, multiple donors gave at least $1,000 during 2017 to the general fund. They are – Gary & Danette Bailey, Rob & Jodi Coxon, Karen Brummer, Ed Levy, Sylvia Moeller, Victoria Reich, Tim Younker, and the Garland Schut Foundation Fund.

There are also many other donors who have supported for many years. We, at the Blossoming Rose office, who open the envelopes, are delighted to see the gifts and to remember so many generous friends and faithful partners.

If we missed your name in any category above, please forgive us and remind us. Also, not all December gifts are posted at this time. We will add a note in the January Newsletter.

RECOGNIZING VOLUNTEERS

We thank our USA Board and our Israel Board for their faithful attendance at Board meetings for so many years. We published and named those members in previous Newsletters during 2017.

Pictured below are dozens of volunteers who provided the year-around services at the Park. Supervisors during 2017 were Alan Vanderkolk, Andy Kuffer, Pat DeGroot, and Viktoria Huwyler. Interim leaders were Kay Rose Bunton and John Enderton.

Alan Vanderkolk

Andy Kuffer

Pat DeGroot

Viktoria Huwyler

Kay Rose Bunton

John Enderton

There were cooks, housekeepers, builders/carpenters, electricians, plumbers, archaeology workers, gardeners, and jacks of all trades. We tried to capture most of them in the pictures in the link provided below and in this Newsletter.

Dan Clark led the tree planting crew, while his wife, Donna, helped wherever she was needed. Bill Hawes and Laura Boyke, pictured to the left, were long term volunteers last January – March 2017.

Jim Crumley

Thanks to all the great volunteers who worked on the dig, supervised by Dr. Tali Erickson-Gini from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Also, complementing this work force are several artists who are using their skills to paint water colors and oils on canvas while at Tamar. These paintings depict the historical sites, archaeology, trees, flowers and other landscapes. Some paintings will be hung in caravans and other facilities, while others will be sold to tourists visiting the Park. Artists are Trish Enderton, Peggy Sanders, Sharon Ruane, Joanne Meeks, and Pat DeGroot.

ANNOUNCEMENT

In 2018, we will begin a new program in which people can reserve a “Sanctuary at the Park,” for a cost of a $3,000 one-time fee, to honor/memorialize a loved one. Sanctuaries will be limited to twelve, and each of the twelve sites will be named after one of the twelve tribes and the name of the tribe can be reserved on a first come, first served basis. A plaque will be placed at the sanctuary naming the person memorialized. For further information, you can email Lexie Coxon at lcoxon@blossomingrose.org .

HONORING NOVEMBER 2017 VOLUNTEERS

Jodi and Chaya Coxon published The Inside Scoop on December 13, thanking the November 2017 volunteers. It was filled with pictures. The link to those pictures is http://conta.cc/2CcBdBb .