Refugee Team: Welcoming a New Family to Wichita

Grace Member Fran Belden shares about her experience preparing an apartment for a new refugee family.  Fran is part of the Grace Refugee Team.

I had a new and delightful experience earlier this month I’d like to share:  helping arrange furnishings in the home for a refugee family due to arrive later in the day. I knew not a soul when I arrived, but the first to introduce herself was Anne Burris, a relatively new Grace member whom I had never met. What a treat! There were also several International Refugee Committee staff, mission workers from the LDS Church, and several strong and limber college-age volunteers (what a blessing that was).

The apartment contained only a minimum of furnishings, scattered everywhere in packing crates. Our task was to unpack, assemble, put in the proper drawer, room, etc.  There were three futons, two lamps, beds for eight people, sheets, towels, kitchen supplies, and kitchen table/chairs. This was accomplished more quickly than one might think, and “kitchen supplies” was defined as one plate, fork, knife, etc. for each person. Everyone was busy and worked hard; there was no question my place was in the kitchen with a few others putting away tableware and plates, etc. Beds, tables, and other big items were left for those who could handle them.

The first night for that new family showed each of them a place to rest, to sleep.  Much work and confusion lay ahead in the coming days, but that night they had shelter. And so did I. Thank you, God.

~Fran Belden

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Tutoring

The Grace Presbyterian Tutoring Program completed its 20th year on April 12, 2018.  For 20 years this ministry has partnered adults with students from Hyde Elementary to work on reading skills.  A staff member from Hyde walks the children over on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Here they are greeted with a snack and friendly faces. Then each child spends 45 minutes to an hour reading with an adult. The results are incredible. Year after year students make amazing strides in their reading.

We are grateful to Lib Hooper for serving as the director this year and to Carolyn Benefiel (first semester) and Jan Horner (second semester) for serving as the assistant directors. Don Allison has served as a tutor for all 20 years of the program, and he retired this spring.

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Kirk Anderson: Good Apple

Good AppleIt’s no secret to us that Kirk Anderson is a good apple, and now we have the picture to prove it. On April 16, 2018, Kirk was recognized as a Good Apple by the Wichita Board of Education. The Wichita Board of Education Good Apple program is a way for schools to recognize employees, volunteers, and partners who provide exemplary service to the district and students.

Kirk serves at Grace as our Director of Student Ministries. Eight years ago, when he began his job at Grace he led our church in forming a partnership with Wichita YoungLife and Wichita WyldLife. This partnership started Kirk eating lunch with students at Robinson Middle School every week.

Over these eight years Kirk has led lunch time Bible studies, been a mentor to students, provided pastoral care to students and teachers, and in general been a gift to Robinson, which is the same school he attended as a young person. We give thanks to God for Kirk, for the ways he uses his gifts, and for his desire to share the good news outside of the walls of our church.

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Muffins for Jacob’s Learning Ladder: May 1 and 2

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It’s time to offer a blessing to Jacob’s Learning Ladder Families. Each spring we set aside a couple of days and greet families with coffee and muffins when they come to drop-off their children.  This small gesture goes a long way in extending care from our congregation to families, and we need your help. Sign up at the church to either bake muffins (drop them off at Grace on April 29) or to be here to greet and share.

Questions?  Contact Merodee Grannis (Merodee@mygpc.org), Nancy Morrow (nancy@mygpc.org), Chris Alexander, or Catherine Neelly Burton (catherine@mygpc.org)

 

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Confirmation Class

On Sunday, April 29, our confirmation class joins the church. These eighth and ninth graders have met since the fall to explore their own faith and the faith of the church.

Kirk Anderson faithfully led this group and pulled in different people in the congregation to teach occasional classes. We are excited for the ways these young people will continue to grow in faith and lead in our church. We have the opportunity to continue to guide them and to learn from them.  It is an incredible gift to hear them claim faith in Jesus.

 

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