Dear Friends of the Pregnancy Help Centers,

In 2008, there were 6 abortion providers in Missouri. In 2005 there were 7 abortion providers.Today there is only one abortion provider in the St. Louis area.I believe it is because of the Pregnancy Help Centers throughout the state of Missouri that abortion clinics have closed and abortions have decreased.Yet we have a lot of enemies who would seek to close our centers.The Pro-Choice Missouri Foundation has done an intense investigation on the Pregnancy Centers throughout Missouri hoping to prevent those who donate to the centers to receive tax credits.They say we don’t give choices because we do not refer pregnant women to get abortions.They claim we do not have nurses or medical staff.This is not true of the Pregnancy Help Center Serving the Lake of the Ozarks.To those of you who have helped fund us in the past years we are a Christian organization and we do not refer those who come to us for abortions.We do encourage abstinence for those who are not married.We provide an alternative to abortion and do whatever we can to assist young moms in parenting or adoption.If she chooses abortion, we do not condemn or judge her.This is not our job. If a women or man shares with us that they are grieved over a past abortion, we share to love of Jesus Christ with them.We offer free Ultrasounds and we do have a nurse who will talk with her.We also have a maternity home she can come to if she has no place to go.

Why make good look evil and evil look good?The Pro Choice groups present themselves as compassionate and caring, even praying and thanking God for His love and understanding for women who choose abortion.But they are doing everything they can to close down the over 50 Pregnancy Centers in the state of Missouri, because we are faith based and present alternatives to abortion.They claim that we lie and use scare tactics to convince women not to abort their babies.

At our Camdenton office last year we helped over 600 mom’s, babies and grandparents.We provided free pregnancy tests, ultra sounds, along with prenatal, infant and parenting classes.We gave away thousands of diapers, baby clothes, maternity clothes and anything we saw a pregnant or young mom as needing.We a helped a young couple with a three year who was expecting a baby boy to get into an apartment.We also assisted a young mom with her new baby to get into a nice trailer and have assisted her with child care and care repair.All of this has been done through the donations of community members like yourselves who care.

Heroes at the Pregnancy Help Centers

There have been many heroes that have made a stand for LIFE in our community.The following are three that I want to share with you:

Erma Moenkhoff; Above and Beyond Leadership

Erma Moenkhoff had knee surgery in Aug and Nov of 2009 but has missed only one board meeting since joining the Board of the Pregnancy Help Centers in 2009.She began volunteering at our Camdenton office which was open 10 hours a week.When the schools asked us to stay open longer, Erma became the Camdenton Facility Manager in March 2010.She worked with volunteers to keep the offices open Tuesday through Saturday. Pregnancy tests increased as well as training classes.The office was next to the battered women’s shelter.Young women came in with black eyes and broken hearts.Erma along with volunteers and her daughter, Donnelle gave out Bibles and a listening ear.An 18 year old came in with a black eye.Donnelle gave her a Bible.The following week the young lady gave her heart to Christ.

“We were able to do free ultrasounds in Camdenton after moving into our new offices in November 2010,” said Erma.“Last year we served over 600 moms and babies in Camdenton.Some were grandparents who were suddenly parenting their grandbabies.We gave everything from formula to gas cards and pac-n-plays.”

Ultrasounds, free pregnancy tests and millions of diapers were given away.The Camdenton Center has been able to help thousands since Erma has been serving.She became Vice President of the Board in January 2009.When the President of the Board, got cancer and had to resign she became acting president.She did such an awesome job that she was voted to be the permanent president in May 2011.

As Board President she goes the second mile by using her gift of hospitality to coordinate pot luck dinners for each monthly board meeting.She often fixes the main dish and recruits others to provide the side dishes.As the Board shares meals together there is a friendship and closeness that few boards have.

When the board members get down to business it is easy to present new ideas after sharing a meal together.Younger members have come on the board with fresh new ideas that are encouraged by Erma.We will be showing, “October Baby” throughout the Ozarks for our fall fund raiser.Seven showings are scheduled giving us the opportunity to personally share what our Pregnancy Centers are doing and the importance of giving alternatives to abortions.Erma often stands in the background making sure everything goes smoothly.But when it is time for her to stand up, she is a powerful woman of God.She asks for no recognition for using her gifts of hospitality, organization and leadership but continues to be faithful in all she does.When she sees a need, she fills it using the love of Jesus that shines in her heart for all to see.

Jerry Unrein: Above and Beyond Volunteer

Sweat rolled down Jerry Unrein’s face as he rode the lawn mower over the acres of ground surrounding the Haven of Hope Maternity Home last summer.For over ten years Jerry has been building rooms, fixing plumbing, electricity, putting in floors, taking out dead trees, doing yard work and maintenance for the Pregnancy Help Centers of the Lake of the Ozarks. A church was donated to the Pregnancy Help Center to build a maternity home.Jerry built rooms, put in an apartment, put in a bath tub, did plumbing and tiled floors.He along with the help of his wife, Rose Marie made the church a home for pregnant women.Rose Marie worked alongside him making curtains and decorating rooms giving homeless girls a beautiful place to live.

When we developed a Pregnancy Center in Osage Beach he helped build offices and an ultrasound room.Together with other volunteers he built a baby boutique, an upscale resale store, offices and training rooms.The center helped thousands of young moms choose life after seeing their babies on ultrasound. Whenever we need something at the Haven of Hope Maternity Home, we turn to Jerry for help.He brings in other volunteers to assist him in building, repairing and maintaining the center. He recently put in an office for our Facility Manager.

On his birthday this summer, he donated new fans to each of our girls at the maternity home saying, “I like to give on my birthday.Now those fans belong to you girls and you can take them home when you leave.”

He listens to the residents giving wise advice as only a grandpa can give while he does his work.He is a great man of God reaching out to young mom’s and babies with the hands of a carpenter just as his Savior Jesus reached out with His lovingcarpenter’s hands.“I am one of those guys that doesn’t believe in abortion,” said Jerry.“I think it is downright murder.They say they have the right do whatever they want with their body.But what about the right of that baby?”

He respects the young women who choose life and has labored for the past 10 years to give them a safe place to live while carrying their babies.At 76 years young, Jerry does the work of 10 young men.As I watched the sweat roll down Jerry’s brow I wondered, “How can I show appreciation for this man who has gone, ‘Above and Beyond’ in helping us meet the needs of our young moms.”

Free Movie: October Baby

The Pregnancy Help Center will be showing October Baby at churches throughout the Ozarks in the coming year.If your church or organization would like to show October Baby to your congregation, please contact Patricia Dascher at 573-434-6456.Showings have been set up the following churches and schools:Lake West Christian Academy, Oct. 12^th at6:30; 1^st Baptist Church of Sunrise Beach, Oct. 16^th at 6:30; Christ the King Lutheran Church Oct. 25 at 6:30; Potters House, Oct. 27^th at 6:30 and 1^st Baptist Church of Camdenton, Nov. 11 at 6:30. Here is a link to the trailer for this beautiful movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L52Lciaui4o

We Are Moving Our Camdenton Office  ***Special Update – We Have MOVED***

We are moving our Camdenton Offices to the Save-A-Lot Shopping Center at 405 North Highway 5 in Camdenton, MO.in November 2012.Look for our big open house.We are hoping to have a big Chili Cook Off with videos and slides of what we have been doing in the past few years.

Please Vote Your Values

Look at the voting records of those who are running for office and you will find that when a person is pro-abortion they will not respect any of your other rights.They will not respect your money, your business or your right to choose.This is a very important election.Half of all Christians in the past have not been registered to vote.Half that are registered do not vote.Please stand up for what you believe and vote in this election.May God Continue to Bless our Country.I don’t believe that we can kill almost 60 million babies and expect God to bless us.But the rate of abortions and abortion clinics has decreased.The number of Pregnancy Help Centers have increased.I remember when God told Abraham that He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah Abraham asked, “If there are only 10 righteous people in the land will you save it?”God said if there were only 10 He would not destroy it.But there were not even 10 who stood up for God.Friends, we have multitudes in this country who love God and have made a stand for Him.STAND UP ON THIS ELECTION DAY.

Baby Caleb Has Arrived

Caleb was born on September 12^th weighing 7’3”.His 19 year old mother, I’ll call Sara is doing well with him.She completed High School while with us.We are looking forward to assisting her in becoming independent.Right now she is learning how to care for her new infant son.

WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO BEING LICENSED TO TAKE IN YOUTH

 ***Special Update – WE ARE NOW LICENSED TO TAKE IN YOUTH***

We hope to be licensed to take in youth 11 to 17 by the new year.Pray with us that we will be able to help those who need us most.

Pregnancy Help Centers

PO Box 885Laurie, MO 65038

HOW TO CONTACT US:

ERMA MOENKHOFF 573-346-3337Facility Manager of Camdenton Offices

RITA GARCIA573-374-1144Facility Manager of Haven of Hope Maternity Home

PATRICIA DASCHER573-434-6456Executive Director of Pregnancy Help Centers

RICHARD DASCHER573-434-6246Business Manager