Honored

I was honored a couple weeks ago when I recieved an email seeking my permission to use a couple of my pictures on a blog in support of Compassion International.

The blog is called One Year Without, and it is a great way you can support a great organization. You should check it out. (My pictures are on the outsides of the banner, and on the "Support Someone" and "I want to go OYWO" pages.)

I love taking pictures, so it is cool to have the chance for them to be used in such a great way.

Summer Beginnings

I have officially and successfully completed my first week of teaching my own class! Although I have been working in schools on and off for 12 years now, this is the first time I have had (or wanted) the responsibility of being the lead teacher.

I have to admit, I think that being a rookie they are putting me through "initiation" in the sense that they chose all the kids with the biggest behavioral issues,grades 1-6, and intrusted them in my care. My supervisor and various other staff have popped their head in off and on, I believe to make sure I am still alive.I have to say the week went amazingly well, especially considering the age range and the different levels of ability of the students in my class.

There were lots of highlights this week, but my favorite moment of the week (its up there in the top five favorite moments of my life) was when one of the students, one of the very special students who has challenged me and stretched me beyond belief (I have worked with him in the past), told me in not so many words that he loved me. He called my name, and I walked over to him, and he wrapped his arms around me and said "love." And I cried a little. If the action and the word were not used together, I would have doubted he knew the meaning of what he was saying, as feelings and emotions are a hard concept for autistic kids to grasp. But I felt so loved in that moment, so I believe he meant it.

Also, as always, there have been funny moments. One student, who I have never worked with before, likes to bring "surprises" in her backpack. So far she has brought popsicles (melted and leaking), various items of clothing that obviously do not belong to her, two cameras, and a flashlight (one of those huge ones that security officers use). Hmmmmm...I wonder what I will find next week. I am half afraid that I will open it up and something will jump out at me. Honestly, I think it could happen.

So, my week went well, and my supervisor will be relieved to know I am still alive.

When I am not at the school, the rest of my time has been devoted to working with the summer interns at Youth for Christ. I now have the official title of "Summer Intern Director". I have 7 awesome interns who are running 4 awesome programs. I'll be posting more info about that soon. I think it will be a great summer of great ministry.

Tomorrow I will be taking some of the Jefferson kids to volunteer with Hope Rises to prepare some water purification devices called "WaPIs" The WaPIs will be going to communities in Swaziland where my Jefferson students have penpals. Pretty cool connections. I am praying that the kids will become locally and internationally aware and involved.

So, my summer has had a good strong start, which will hopefully carry through! Until next time!

-Rebecca

Welcome to My World

I work in a classroom made specifically for austistic kids. They all vary in where they land on the "autistic spectrum", but they are all low enough functioning that they cannot perform in or even tolerate a normal classroom setting. Most have very limited vocabulary and an extreme lack of social awareness.

If you have had much experience with autistic kids, I am sure you appreciate the challenges and conquests of my everyday more than those who won't understand much of what I am going to share.

In general, I would say that working in special education, especially with younger kids (ages 5-10), I deal with a lot more poop, pee, vomit, and snot than 99% of the population. But that doesn't bother me.

I would also say that in my job I get hit, bit, spit on, kicked, and head-butted more than most. But those things don't bother me.

Throughout my day I hear random words and statements being yelled out, often very offensive in nature. I get called "stupid teacher" (from one specific student) more times than I would like to admit. But that doesn't bother me.

I have mastered the chasing game, and usually the child is the only one "playing". But that doesn't bother me.

Then I see kids cry and scream and throw things because they can't communicate what they need or how they feel. I see kids cringe, throw themselves down, or have a complete breakdown because they cannot tolerate something as simple as human touch. I see kids who would rather head bang a wall than make eye contact. Now, these things bother me. They bother me a lot.

Every once in a while, though, there will be a breakthough. Sometimes so small that if that child is not an intricate part of your everyday life, it would go completely unnoticed. But to those of us who have struggled to become a part of their world, they are conquests.

Things like not flinching when you take their hand. Looking into an autistic child's eyes and making faces at eachother and giggling. Touching something sticky. Tasting a new food. Using a 3 word sentence. Asking for something rather than grabbing. Responding appropriately to a question. Or, after not seeing a child for a year, him running up to you with a smile to give you a big hug and saying your name. These things, in my world, are cause for celebration.

I will never feel the need to climb Mount Everest or run a marathon or strive for fame, because, in my world, those conquests are small in comparison. And because of the conquests, those other things, they don't bother me.

If only it were that simple...

Last week one of the kids in my class gave me some great advice on love. He was absolutely crushed when he found out that I'm not married and I don't have any babies, so he thought he would help me out. The conversation went something like this:

"Miss Allen, do you have any babies?"

"No."

"Miss Allen do you have a husband?"

"No."

"Why don't you have a husband? Did he die?"

"No, I've never had a husband."

"Well, why not? You should have a husband" (said with tears welling up in his eyes)

"Good question."

"Can I tell you how to get a husband?"

"Sure."

"Well, first you need to find a boy. Then he needs to like you. Then he needs to like you A LOT. Then he needs to like you enough to marry you."

"Wow. That's some good advice. Then what?"

"Then you live happily ever after..."

Hmm....I'll keep that in mind :)

A Little Something Crazy

So, after many years of talk, I finally went skydiving! It was amazing!




I have a video I am trying to figure out how to post, so hopefully it will be up soon!

Somewhere in India...

A boy named Daniel is praying for me.

He asked me for my birthday, wrote it down on his calendar, and promised he would remember me in prayer on my birthday.

What a wonderful gift.

? Queres a jugar con el papalote?

This morning was one of those times, which we all have, that I would have done anything to have had my camera with me. It would be worth more than all my words if you could hear the screaming laughter and see the smiles I experienced this morning. Since I can't show you that, I will try to explain.

Saturday mornings, for me, are not about sleeping in or grabbing a bowl of cereal and plopping in front of the TV. My Saturdays start bright and early, in downtown Fresno, in a neighborhood that has captured my heart.

For any of you who work in ministry, you have probably experienced the drought. This is the season of discouragement, frustration, and exhuastion. Its a season, that if you tough it out, leads to a deeper faith, a better knowledge of Christ, and fruitfulness. I believe that God allows these low seasons from time to time, and he uses them as a time of refining. He allows us to remain in the fire long enough to burn off the impurities, but he always knows exactly when we need to be pulled out of the fire and filled with pure, cool, living water.

Today that cool water was poured over me through a group of kids.

They were a scraggly group walking up. There were six of them; a few still in their pajamas. None had taken the time to comb their hair or put on their shoes.

Their ages ranged from 2-8. The oldest boy, Juan, was mentally handicapped. Instead of words he introduced himself to me with a big hug. Among the six of them two of the girls spoke limited english. We played a little and I was able to use my limited spanish to learn their names, ages, and how they were all related.

Although it was hot and still outside, a gentle voice reminded me about the 2 kites I keep in the trunk of my car...just incase. I asked them if they would like to fly a kite. They stared at me with blank faces. I went to my car, retrieved the kites and asked again.

Given, kites are always a big hit with kids, but I have NEVER seen such a reaction in my life. We let out the string just a few feet so they could get the idea, and off and running they went. It didn't matter whose hands were holding the kites, they ran in a group. Six barefoot kids, their little legs running as fast as they could back and forth across the field, their screams and laughter reaching to the heavens, and I felt God's heart for his kids pour over me.

They walked home this morning, a couple hours later, with messy hair, no shoes, sweat streaming down their faces, and a radiant joy beaming out of each of them. They had recieved a blessing from Christ, through a couple of kites.

Before they left I was able to learn a phrase I know I will use again.

?Queres a jugar con el papalote?

Do you want to play with the kite?

Blessed,
Rebecca