Our Small Group Class -- A Discussion about Writing

Here is a photo Sr. Kathleen took of our small group class. In this session we were discussing the topic of writing. We were reviewing our recent publication of the student magazine Read Beans and Writes and talking about what new essays, short plays, or poems the students would write.

Although one-on-one tutoring is the bulk of our ABE/GED/ESL teaching, small group classes are a very good way to develop student interest and exchange ideas.

In the photo from left to right are Valerie, Jennie, Eliria, Ruby, Roderick, and me (Adrian).

--Adrian

Antarctic Photography - John Miller at McMurdo

Our pen pal at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, John Miller, sent us these two spectacular photographs he took recently near the Pegasus airfield near McMurdo. The top photo shows the strange orange sky in Antarctica. John pointed out that he had never seen a sky so orange anywhere else on Earth.

The next photo is of Mount Erebus, a volcanic mountain near McMurdo Station. We can see the lights of McMurdo in the foreground. McMurdo is a small "town" -- really a collection of USAP huts and buildings -- on Ross Island on the Ross Ice Shelf. The station houses the scientists and support staff who live in Antarctica. McMurdo is also the chief source of supply for the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, about 800 miles inland. John was at South Pole last year, and you can read about that experience elsewhere on this blog.

-- Adrian

A Letter From Billy Edwards, SVDP-ALC Volunteer Teacher

Our good friend and volunteer teacher at SVDP-ALC, Billy Edwards of Tau House in New Orleans, is at his family's farm up north for the summer. He sent us an email with photos about his life, and it reveals that philosophy and spirituality can exist even while doing farm chores.

Below are some thoughts from Billy. Thanks for the words and photos, Billy.

Billy operates a spiritual center in New Orleans called Tau House. See www.tauhouseneworleans.blogspot.com/

"I was able to take the attached photo of me just when I had finished bailing hay this past week. Making hay is some of the hardest work we do here. But, for me at least, it is among the most rewarding. When I'm riding the tractor up and down all those rows I find myself thinking of, and praying for, many of the people I know including everyone at the adult learning center. You wouldn't ordinarily think of time on the tractor as prayer time but it is for me. I'm always amazed how God made all this stuff around me, and how the sun, the earth, water, soil, combine, react, grow, to produce the things we really need. Farming is the one industry without which none of the others could exist. Who cares if you can build a computer if you have nothing to eat?
My dogs sometime ride in the cab of the tractor with me - one of the pictures shows them (I hope it's not too dark). We raise Belgian Draft Horses. They're big like Clydesdales, twice the size of an average horse.

Billy

Our New GED Graduate -- Carlen Foster

Here's some great news !

We just found out that our student Carlen Foster just passed his GED exams, so he will now receive his high school equivalency diploma, signed and sealed by the state of Louisiana.

This is really wonderful. Here he is in the photo with Sr. Lory (left) and Sr. Kathleen.

As you may recall Carlen wrote a very moving essay recently for our blog about his belief in Jesus.

Carlen visited our school today and he will be a part of the GED graduation ceremony which (we expect) will occur at Loyola next Spring. Congratulations!
Adrian

(Below is a re-printing of Carlen's article.)

Knowing Jesus Christ
By Carlen M. Foster

Being raised by my grandmother, she tried her hardest to instill in me the importance of knowing Jesus Christ. I never understood why she would force me to join her church every Sunday morning. Also, I didn't believe that having a relationship with Jesus was as important as it is. As I grew older there were a number of situations that took place in my life which made me realize how wrong I was.

In October of 2007, I was indicted on a number of federal drug charges. I was facing up to five years in prison for these offenses. I began attending church every Sunday while out on bond. One year after being arrested, I joined the church I was attending and decided to be baptized again. I had received my date on which I was to be sentenced for the charges I was accused of. It just so happened to fall on my birthday. At that point, I began to pray and ask Jesus to bring me through my tough times and asked that I receive a sentence with no prison time included.

Well, my prayers were answered; and my faith grew stronger.

On December 14, 2008, I gave my life to Jesus. I was baptized and was determined to never lose sight of the One who was there for me when ever I called on Him. That very night I was involved in a home invasion in which my family and a close friend of mine life was in danger.
I called on Jesus and once again, He showed His power.

I have only Jesus to thank for not only myself still being alive today but also my family and close friend as well.

It took me a long time to know and understand why my grandmother would force me to church on Sunday as an adolescent, but I now have the answer and the understanding.

Flower Power, Part 2

Brought to you by popular demand are more photos of Sr. Kathleen's flower garden. People are really interested in this story of this flower garden. So, here are some close-ups of the flowers and photos with the students and the nuns.

--Adrian

Flower Power! Sr. Kathleen's Garden

Well, we just returned from summer break and, low and behold, Sr. Kathleen's garden has grown. We now have real flowers!

I think they are called zinnias, but I'm not sure.

If you like the garden, send us your comments.

The weather has been terribly hot and dry in New Orleans for the past few weeks, so this has been a problem. But today it rained and cooled off a bit.

So, let's hope that the flowers like the change of weather. (Note: In the photo above we see Sr. Kathleen and her flowers.)

--Adrian

Life at McMurdo, Antarctica -- John Miller, USAP

Here are more photos recently sent to us from our pen pal, John Miller, who is with the US Antarctic Program at McMurdo Station. In the top two photos, we see John (in the red hat) attending a trauma simulation. In these trainings USAP members learn various aspects of First Aid as it applies to the dangers of Antarctica. In the next photo we see John in the freezing weather working on the hot water line. (John's expertise is electricity, and you can just imagine how essential that is in the extreme weather there.)

In the final photos we see an "A Frame" house that is (was) near McMurdo Station. It recently had a fire, and you can see what happened. Fire is a very serious problem in Antarctica. USAP members provide their own volunteer fire department and their own emergency rescue teams from themselves.

Antarctica is a dangerous place.

-- Adrian