Tuppers' newsletter

I thought some of you might appreciate some news from our friends Mike and Lori Tupper. Mike is the pastor of the Hope UMC, and Lori is the first-grade teacher at the Frakes School Center. Since Mike has missionary status within the United Methodist Church, he and Lori put out a monthly newsletter for their friends, family, and supporters. They agreed to let us put their newsletter on our blog--I asked them because I thought it'd be good for y'all to hear perspectives from people who work deeper in the community than we do.

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Mike's Journal

We celebrated Palm Sunday by receiving four new members into the life of our little church. We've now received nineteen new members in the past two years. Our membership is now thirty-five. (I used to think that churches with membership under fifty should be closed!)

One of our newest members was a living member for only four days. Dru Robinson had been confined to a hospital or nursing home bed since the first of the year. She talked about going back home and getting out to church by her birthday in June. She told me, "I'll join the church that first Sunday I'm back." A few weeks ago Dru was enrolled in Hospice. I decided to hurry the membership process up. I asked Dru if we could bring the church to her instead of waiting for her to come to church.

About a dozen of us gathered around Dru's bed on that Palm Sunday afternoon. She was very alert and talkative that day. She seemed more like the Dru I've known. She said, "Someday, I'm looking forward to seeing my husband again." (Her husband passed away a year and a half ago.) "I also am looking forward to meeting my grandfather, Bill Henderson. He was killed before I was born. But I've always wanted to meet him. I have so many questions I want to ask him." (Bill is the man who donated the land for Henderson Settlement and after whom Henderson Settlement is named.)

I asked Dru if she believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior and was following Jesus as her Lord. I asked Dru if she was willing to join the Hope United Methodist Church and support it as much as she could. She answered in the affirmative. We held hands and I prayed for Dru. I presented Dru with a Membership Certificate. She held it up in pride. We concluded our time together by celebrating Holy Communion. The Lord was with us.

Four days later Dru died. She finally got her wish to see her husband and Bill Henderson. The picture of Dru holding up her membership certificate was in the slide show at the funeral. The framed membership certificate was placed by the casket at the funeral. The last thing the funeral director did before closing her casket for the last time was place her membership certificate inside the casket with Dru.

Another grandchild of Bill Henderson joined the church on Palm Sunday. P.O. Cobb had been attending the church sporadically over the past fifteen years. He's married to Sheila, a lady who came to Henderson Settlement a dozen years ago as a US-2 United Methodist missionary.
P.O. is the father of Lona. Lona is the one child who never misses Sunday School and worship. Lona is a first grader in Lori's class at the school and has been taking piano lessons on Saturdays from our piano player, Philip. On Easter Sunday Lona played in church for the first time. She played the melody for "God is So Good". We're so proud of Lona!

The other two people who joined the church on Palm Sunday were Sarah Reid and Eric Yetter. They are one-year volunteers at the Settlement. They recently graduated from college in Pennsylvania and New York. We've enjoyed having Sarah and Eric over to our place often. We hope their youthfulness rubs off on us! Sarah is working in the library and Eric is working on the farm. They are not paid, but do receive room and board for volunteering. (Anyone who volunteers to work for a month or more receives free room and board.) If you want to see pictures of the Settlement and hear stories from them, go to their blog: http://goingtothefair.blogspot.com

Our latest prayer concern is a KKK Rally in the nearby town of Pineville on April 11-13. Pray that God might help our church and community respond in Christ-like ways in a world that is hurting and hurtful.

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Lori's Journal

March in Kentucky brings an end to snow days (finally!), the beginning of sudden showers and daffodils ("Easter flowers") and walkers on the new Settlement walking track.

Life with my "short friends" was fun as we began an economy unit. I paid them $10 a week for coming to school, but they had to pay me $5 rent for desk/chair, $1 for a pencil for the week, and $2 for their paper.

"Miz Lori," they whined that first day as they handed back 8 of their 10 play dollars, "that don't leave us much money."

"Welcome to life." I said, collecting their money.

On Friday, they had to fill out job applications for the next week. The application was very basic…name, phone #, what position they wanted, and why they would be good at it. Some of my favorites were:

LINE LEADER: "I would be good at it because I like to eat first."

CABOOSE (Last in line and reports any misbehavior in the halls): "I have good eyes and I am ones" (honest)

BANKER (Trades $1 bills for $5s and $10s): "I have a sootkuys" (suitcase)

BOARD ERASER: "I am very fast."

Along with our economy system, March has been a month to practice what we have learned about writing paragraphs. When a student turns in a paragraph with poor handwriting, I might absentmindedly tell them, "Your handwriting is atrocious, redo it please." I had just made this statement to Paige one day last week when the reading recovery teacher walked into the room. Paige looked at her and said proudly, "My handwriting is atrocious!" Miss Stephanie laughed and asked Paige, "do you know what 'atrocious' means?" Paige shrugged her shoulders, "Nope, but Miz Lori says it is atrocious." I laughed at my assumption that they always understand me and her sweet acceptance of what I say.

March is a fun month in the life of a first grade teacher because you really get to see the progress of the kids. Sometimes it would take years to see progress in the life of my kids with special needs, but with first graders, it seems so sudden. You suddenly realize they can read, write, and think a bit more deeply. They still love school in first grade and only miss a day if they are truly sick and mama insists they stay home.

We began writing our books in February. Each student had to come up with an idea, brainstorm with a group, list characters, dictate the story to Mr. T., revise it with me—adding adjectives and more description. Then I type it on the computer, cut and paste it in a hardbound blank book and then the kids had to illustrate each page and complete the title page, dedication page, and the "About the Author" page. This project all came to fruition last week as each child passed out 2 invitations apiece (but they could invite as many people as they wanted to their "Author's performance." Then for 3 days, each student sat in a huge wooden rocker at the front of the classroom reading their book before their audience of classmates and family members, showing their illustrations for each page. All this was followed by a short reception in the hallway with cookies and punch. Why do we do this? I asked myself as I was making cookies at 5:30 in the morning. But then I realize we do it to see a father come to hear his daughter read and practically busts his buttons with pride. It is worth it to hear Madison pronounce her words carefully because it is an important story to her. It is worth it to see the tears in Nana's eyes when Jacob reads that his book is dedicated to her. It is worth it to listen to Kenny giggle throughout his silly story because the principal cared enough to come hear him read. And when my Wesley had no one show up—my heart is warmed when other parents volunteer to stay so he can have a bigger audience.

I have learned so much in first grade this year…I am learning to appreciate the parents of my students as they demonstrate so much caring for ALL of the kids—not just their own. I am learning that you don't have to be on special assignment or a teacher to make a difference in the life of a child. Anyone can do that.

I can't wait to see what I will learn in first grade next year!!

Peace!