Blessings in Special Ministries

 My dear Readers,
  I have been so excited to write this post!
One of my favorite parts of blogging is that when I feel sad that such a good thing is over-vacation, volunteering, Christmas, etc.- I can always relive it on here when I write it all down! That may sound goofy, but it is fun! My other favorite part of blogging is the off chance that someone reading this might be encouraged. Or feel pressed to adopt one of the precious orphans I feature. Or, just- enjoy the life stories I so love to share!
 
  So. I can't wait to share my first visit to Scottsdale Bible's Special Ministries' Bible study with you!
First of all...it was amazing!!! It was kind of like meeting Bridget, in my opinion. (here's a link to that blog post if you're new here! :) ) I think they're similar because  in both of these encounters, I felt like God was so clearly there. This Thursday I felt so sure that God has planned for me to be there it was just exhilerating!
   For those of you in AZ, you HAVE to visit this Bible study. (Thursday nights, at Scottsdale Bible Church, 6:30-8:00) It is the most amazing thing. All the people there are just precious! They had just met me, and yet several of them mentioned me in their prayer requests.
  I wasn't even there but a few seconds when a girl came up to me and started talking to me all about sign language, and how she would love to hang out with me, and how she was so glad I was there. Then later, as I was interpreting she just came up and started signing everything I signed! I don't think I have ever made a friend that fast in my life! She was so sweet. But they were all sweet. They all were so sweet to me from the minute I walked in the door- I felt so loved!
 And as I was detailing all of this to my mom afterwards, she told me that that was the beauty. That is the beauty in Down Sydrome and some of the other challenges these people faced. They are so pure and loving. I wish all of us could be as kind as that!
   I loved interpreting. Love love loved it! It's the best feeling in the world to know that you are making God's word more accessible to someone. And I love it. But the hardest part about it was the prayer requests at the end. Each person told their table leader their prayer request, and then the table leader would pray for each of the people and each of their requests. There were about 7 tables....and each person had about a dozen prayer requests! Fingerspelling all those names and trying to make sure my friend understood what I was saying was quite a task! And I'm so glad that I got the oppurtunity to do it. Because listening to each of the people at my table's prayer requests was the best thing in the world! Caregivers, parents, friends, family, pets, others at the table, ME,- they each had so many people who they loved, and who they wanted to pray for. I think one of my favorite things I got to relay to my friend was when I got to tell her that one of the people at our table had requested to pray for her. By this time she was watching my signs more attentively than when we started,and I knew she got what I was saying when she smiled.
  
  These people at Special Ministries are living like Jesus. And it was such a blessing to be able to spend time with them. I can't wait to go back next week!
 
    I just feel so amazingly blessed that God has allowed this.
   And moments like Thursday night are such beautiful reminders to me that I am exactly where God needs me. Some days I wish with all my heart that we could adopt a dozen little children with special needs. And some days (like when Mason was recovering from surgery) I wish we didn't have to go through surgeries or therapies at all. But if we adopted a bunch of precious children, I couldn't have volunteered with Special Ministries. And if we didn't have to go through surgeries or any of the other things Cerebral Palsy comes with, I wouldn't be the same person I am today. We wouldn't be the same family,either.
 And right now I really am so glad that we are exactly where God needs us! Because in His plan is an amazing place to be.
 Your Blogger who probably just shared way more information than you wanted,
 Claire
 
 By the way- here is a link to SBC's Special Ministries site. I encourage you to contact Amy Daniels if you want to get involved! She's amazing!