Ask... for the little things.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” (Matthew 7:7)

At the beginning of the week I was approached by a parent of one of our students. Her name is Mercedes Alferez and she is also a substitute teacher at Saint Vincent from time to time. She had a basket full of various book for all of the staff to look though to see if they could use anything. The excess was coming from a public school that was going to throw this material in the dumpster. She personally handed me some books and computer programs that we help me with teaching my Accelerated Math Class at Saint Vincent School to look through and see what I could utilize. I told her that I thought I could use some work sheets and various Math CDs.

“You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.”
(Psalms 23:5b)

A few days later she brought 14 boxes full of books and worksheets. I felt a little overwhelmed and that my Math worksheet cup went from being close to empty to overflowing. My cup did overflow. I received more than I could ever imagine using this year. Thankfully my school hosts a program at the beginning of every school year called TIP. Tip is a program in which Catholic educators are able to come and receive good advice before the start their year of classes. At TIP there are tables upon tables set up with supplies for teachers to take and have for free. So I donated many of the extra boxes that were donated to me many of the teachers at TIP are worse off than I am in regards to supplies.

I never thought I would have been so happy to receive boxes of Math supplies. I told Mercedes as I was hauling all the boxes out of her vehicle that this was just like Christmas, and it was. Not only is this going to help me, it will also help my students too. My students need good tools and good motivation in order to succeed. God is still blessing me and my students, even if it is in little ways. The little things make the difference and little things are how the world is changed.

-In Love from Boyle Heights,
Mr. Akers