I have shared in the past about our CRAM program. We have just completed the 2nd school year of the program and here are a few comments about some of the work that is going on.
This first one is written by Patty (Havens) telling about a mentor, Paty S. and her relationship with a mentee:
I want to add one thing to all the mentors and that is that Elizabeth is feeling the love from Paty. They are meeting regularly, Paty is giving Elizabeth homework, and Elizabeth is actually doing the homework. Elizabeth is one of our harder to reach students. She is doing individual studies, only goes to school one day a week. We had no clue that Paty would be the perfect mentor for Elizabeth. Elizabeth feels love and care from Paty and for Elizabeth, that is huge.
The following comments are f rom Betty Watson, a mentor. I also want to share with all of you some amazing and wonderful info about another Elizabeth, or as she prefers to be called “Eli”. Eli has had a very hard year losing a close friend about a year ago to death in a gang “drive by shooting”. She tells everyone in authority that I am her “advocate” and her Mom has actually signed papers legalizing that position for me in Eli’s life which has given me opportunity and open doors in both the school and the medical field with her doctors and counselor. It has been a long haul this year with Eli, up and down – in and out of school – meetings, appointments with doctors and counselors, school nurse, attendance personnel, etc.
But, finally in the last few weeks there has been a significant turnaround in Eli choices and attitudes. Yesterday when I picked her up after school she told me she was sorry the year was over and she was going to miss school. She also told me next year was a new opportunity for her to make good choices and have a fresh start. In the last month I am seeing a new Eli, whose attitude has changed; she smiles, talks, shares her feelings, made a cake to take to her class two weeks ago to share in a party there, took her camera to take pictures at the last Frosh pep rally, etc. All of a sudden she is coming alive in a way I have never seen before. Yesterday when she came up to my car to get in, she was glowing!! I told her she was beautiful. After school she told me others noticed and commented on how pretty she looked. I told her it was because she was smiling – even her eyes were shining with life. That her beauty was coming from inside her. (She tells me she has given her life to Jesus.
I will continue to take her to her weekly counseling appointments this summer which will keep us connected the next two months. We will do lunch along with those trips as well as some other little things. I pray God will continue to bring hope into Eli’s life as we continue to talk about what a relationship with Jesus looks like.
Also, Lupe just completed two entire years at Broadway yesterday. She just kept saying on the way home – “I can’t believe two whole years have gone by.” This is a huge accomplishment as she had only 30 credits toward her graduation requirement of 240 credits when she began at Broadway. It looks as though she may be able to graduate next February. She has also been getting special after school reading tutoring in the “Barton Program” two afternoons a week since February and this summer it will increase to 4 times a week. She is working so hard to learn to overcome her learning disabilities and to raise her son well! And she is doing it. Mikey is a bright little boy nearly 2 ½ years old. It is a joy to watch how much he is learning at school also.
I just wanted all of you to be encouraged at how God is working in these three lives. As my long time mentor always told me while at Farm Drive – “Keep pressin’ on”. God is faithful, He will use us if we show up. That is what keeps me going when I feel overwhelmed.
Have a wonderful summer in the Lord!! Blessings, Betty
