[Faith-talk] Welcome, and comments

Wed Apr 11 18:13:44 CDT 2007

Hi Treva.  Very well said.

Please greet Tony for me!
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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>
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