A Masterpiece

 Here is a post I stole off my sister, Emily's, blog.  She is a highschool art teacher and has become a champion for the teens with special needs.  You know the ones; the kids that others assume can't learn, who are tolerated in their inclusion in the classroom--but not involved in the class.  Here is her goodbye post about a young lady who lost  her fight with severe CP last week.

A Girl Without Words Leaves A Lasting Legacy





My heart aches.
I will miss her smile.


I will miss how she challenged me with her eyes to find a way to include her in activities.
Not just meaningless, you sit here and look pretty stuff, but actively engaged in lessons
And because she trusted me, I worked harder and found new ways to do things.Together, with the help of Ms. V, her companion, we created art.

We used sticks and tape and a little bit of everything
and once, I even poured paint on the floor and she used her wheels for printmaking.
We were willing to try anything and had so much fun experimenting and creating.
I am so blessed to have been called one of her teachers.
I am so blessed to had the chance to call her one of my students
I will never forget
Her smile.
Her laughter.
Her joy while being an artist on a wheel.
Just like any artist.
With hands covered in wet clay.




Creating a masterpiece.
Lindsey was an incredible young woman who capitvated the community with her smile.
She loved life and fought so hard to live.
We will miss her.
But the lessons she taught will stay with us.
To laugh.
To love.
To fight.
To expect to learn.
To push yourself and others.

 
I met another champion on Friday.  A champion for the orphan.  Mrs. Mestas(http://www.jobsdaughters.blogspot.com/) spoke at Mike's school about her family's miraculous experiences with adoption and orphan ministry.  Along with her was Solomon.  A very handsome and bright 19yr old young man whom Mrs. Mestas met at an orphanage in Ethiopia.  You can view her testimony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY3pgxjJ4iA   It is long,but totally worth it.  Solomon and Mrs. Mestas had the students at Trinity in a buzz all day!  The Lord really touched them and ignited in them(and the faculty) a love and passion for the world's 147-163 million orphans!  How exciting and precious to see the students really get it.  Later that day, I told Mike "Hey, I've been preaching this stuff for years around here and nobody cared until a stranger from North Carolina shows up!!"  Well, doesn't matter--as long as they see how important it is.