[Faith-talk] Welcome, and comments

Wed Apr 11 17:43:13 CDT 2007

Hi Kori and Everyone, 
My name is Treva Olivero, and I am involved in the East Central chapter
of the NFB f Indiana. I don't post very much, but I just wanted to share
my experiences. I go to the Fountain City Wesleyan Church in Richmond
Indiana. I currently teach Sunday school. Usually I have 8 to 10 second
graders. I was so nervous about doing this ministry, but I had wanted to
do it for a long time. When I first started, I just told the children's
pastor that I don't think that I will have any problems with working
with children due to my blindness. I had done my student teaching, so I
had experience in the past. However, I had never taught in a church
setting. I explained to her how I scan the print lessons and put them on
my Braille note PK. I said that I would plan the lesson and if they
wanted to get someone else to help me that it would be fine. They
weren't worried about it. Usually they don't have anyone there helping
me because a lot of people don't want to help with the children's
ministry. The kids will ask about my Braille note, and the boys tend to
act out sometimes, but I just do what any other teacher would do, and
they're fine. At one point, I was working with second and third grade
and our "small group" had 30 people at times. It was a little
overwhelming for me, but when I had a sighted volunteer helping me, it
was overwhelming for them too. :) Now, we have someone to teach third
grade, so all of us have the same amount of students. This doesn't have
anything to do with my blindness, but the kids tend to have better
discussions about our lesson when there aren't as many. Also, all of the
classes are in one large room because this is the available space.
Fortunately, the church that I go to has always been very willing to
work with me. They know that I am very independent, and they expect that
I will tell them if I have problems. 

Maybe it would help your friend if she offered to do the planning of the
lesson and there could be someone there with her. She could then show
them that she can do it without any assistance. 

Another thing that I try to do still is go above and beyond what is
expected. For example, I'll look at our curriculum, but if I don't think
that the lesson will work, I look for other ideas on the Internet. 

Just keep working to try to change the attitudes of the people in your
church. I think that God wants us to do this because he wants us to use
our gifts and talents to serve him. 

I hope this helps! 

Treva

-----Original Message-----
From: Kori King [mailto:koranking at cox.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 1:09 AM
To: maryesanchez at grandecom.net; Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith
and religion
Subject: [Faith-talk] Welcome, and comments

Hi, everyone! I'm Kori and I live in Gainesville, Florida, and I want to

welcome Anita and any other new members to the list. I'm Vice-President
of 
our local NFB chapter and I attend Oak Park Baptist Church. I really
think 
it's special and a blessing to know that so many other blind people are 
taking teaching and leadership roles in their churches, because as
accepting 
as the sighted church members are of the three of us blind people who
attend 
Oak Park, I feel and have witnessed the attitude that some of them think

that having a teaching role as a blind person would open the door for
the 
children to take advantage of our blindness. I've wished at times that 
someone who's blind who has a leadership role in their church or
community 
could come and speak to our congregation. I'm not very good at being 
convincing at times, and even though I feel personally that I wouldn't 
really be the best teacher, one of my blind friends has wanted to do
this. I 
feel that she would be doubted of her ability to lead the kids in
lessons, 
as someone already did express the concern of being taken advantage of,
a 
while back. Did any of you in various ministries and teaching roles have
to 
overcome skepticism and doubt of your capabilities?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mary Ellen Sanchez" <maryesanchez at grandecom.net>
To: "'Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion'" 
<faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 11:12 PM
Subject: [Faith-talk] THANK YOU

> Hello Anita.  My name is Mary Ellen.  I am from Tx and I am currently 
> a student in college.  I wanted to welcome you to this list.  I hope 
> you enjoy yourself on this list.  It is a wonderful group of people.  
> I know some of them personally.  I really hope you feel welcome here 
> and I would love to know you more.
> Your Friend,
> Mary Ellen.
> Email: maryesanchez at grandecom.net
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of ANITA
> Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 12:54 PM
> To: faith-talk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Faith-talk] THANK YOU
>
> Thank you for the welcome.
>
> My name is Anita and I would like to find out more about this 
> discussion group.  I hope to learn more about everyone as well as 
> share anything of interest with others.
>
> Again, thank you.
>
> Your sister in Christ,
>
> Anita
>
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