The blessing of inclusion
I want to thank you for the winter 2018 edition of Spark. In so many ways “A Birth, A Vocation, A Journey” mirrored my own experience several years ago. Though without the benefit of prenatal diagnosis, my husband and I also “mourned the loss of the vision of the child we had expected.” Against prevailing professional advice, we brought this new baby home to join his three siblings. And when well-meaning friends would refer to him as our “special” child, my husband was quick to respond by saying that, with the addition of Sherman to our family, we now had “four special children!”
Fast forward to the present: Sherman is now employed as a food service worker at Calvin College. He has been a proud member of the staff there for more than 20 years and is daily experiencing the gift of inclusiveness. Thank you for highlighting past progress (and needed advancement) in the areas of research, awareness, opportunity, and legality regarding disability issues. This is God’s work!
— Dottie Vanden Bosch Wiersma ’56
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Thank you so much for yourrecent article “A Birth, A Vocation,A Journey”! It was indeed ablessing to read how others arewalking out their faith by includingpeople living with disabilities in“college life” and loving on thespecial folks God includes in ourcircles past our Calvin years.
God led me to Calvin andWoodlawn Christian ReformedChurch in the mid-1980s topursue my calling as a specialeducation teacher. Professor(Tom) Hoeksema announcedin one of my first lectures thatWoodlawn was seeking a volunteerfor the Friendship Program(a ministry that supports faithformation and congregationalinclusion for individuals withintellectual disability). I knew nota soul at Woodlawn, but with Dr.Hoeksema’s information in hand,I walked there the following Sundaymorning, and someone kindlyintroduced me to Timothy Boltand his parents. That was thebeginning of a beautiful two-yearjourney. Tim made me feel like Ibelonged! Teaching him and himteaching me was indeed a pleasure!Thank you, Tim!
Calvin College was indeed usedby my Father to prepare me forthe remote First Nation school,special education students, andSunday school classes I have hadthe privilege and honor to teachsince meeting Tim. My family andI extend our heartfelt appreciationfor all of you whom God used as ablessing during my Calvin years.
— Adriana Vander Werff ’87
Prince George, British Columbia
I wish your excellent article onTim Bolt (“A ‘Calvin College guy,’”winter 2018) had included someof his great lines. For example, hewas once asked what kind of workhe did. He said, “I work at Calvin.”Someone asked, “Are you a professor?” With slight annoyance, Timsaid, “No, I said Iworkat Calvin.”
— Wayne Joosse ’63
Grand Rapids, Michigan