“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.
My senior, Nala, recently completed this famous English author’s historical fiction set against the backdrop of the French Revolution. I remember reading this novel for a high school assignment. It’s funny to think how this Englishman’s story shaped my view of the French Revolution. Now, I wonder how the French wrestle with this English novel’s historical tone about their history.
I want to share a tale of two Spanish classes at an institution of learning in the Houston, TX community of Sunnyside. The first class is led by a teacher whose mother tongue is Spanish and the second class is led by a non-native speaker who has learned the Spanish language through the educational system. Both classes are over capacity with students that have a range of Spanish fluency. When Men of Steel began in September, an assistant principal suggested for the last school period of the day, I should aid these two Spanish classrooms with my presence. Volunteering each week, my day would end at these two classrooms. Usually if a student’s behavior became disrespectful, I would engage the individual, and this would allow the attentive students to focus on the teacher’s lesson.
“I wish you could be here every day for every one of my class periods.”
This affirmative statement was shared twice in different contexts. First, when I removed wall decorations from the wearied ex-Spanish teacher’s classroom as she completed packing her possessions. The native Spanish speaking teacher became a casualty of this revolution happening in Texas public schools. The publicly educated Spanish teacher felt a familial duty to the students to preserve and expressed this statement to me before the Thanksgiving break. It has been encouraging to have 12 Men of Steel participate this school year. The men have volunteered a total of 18 days at the Sunnyside high school. Some volunteers are local pastors, and I am modelled to them how to share the gospel with students during lunch. Other times I would partner with community leaders, and after their experiences on the campus, they desired to do more at the schools. Because I am building my ministry partner team, I am not able to do ministry full time, but I am excited about the opportunity I have with Cru City to make an impact in innovative ways in under resourced communities.
As we build on the foundation of evangelism and discipleship to create Great Commission communities, we are trusting the Lord for the financial resources to reaching that achievement. We are asking the Lord for an additional $12,000 in year-end giving. Would you prayerfully consider giving a year-end gift of $250, $375 or some other amount? You can give online at https://give.cru.org/0513063. If you prefer to give by check, make it payable to ‘Cru’ and mail it to us in the enclosed envelope, along with the response card. So, your gift can be receipted in 2023, please mail it by December 30.
Sincerely,
Leon Best
Best Times 