100th Post!!!!!!

We got mail from a famous person.

I teach from the A Beka Curriculum, and in it, there is an excerpt from a book by Joni Eareckson Tada. I did a whole unit on her, including a "Day of Disabilities" where certain kids couldn't see, or hear, or use their hands, or walk. We also watched a 15 minute clip from her movie, and we watched a bunch of interviews with Joni and people like Larry King. I found a website that told me that Joni was still very active and working in a company called Joni and Friends. So, for our final project of the unit, pairs of students wrote letters to Joni about their experience learning about her, and then I typed them up and emailed them.

Here's a sampling of the letters written by my students- we corrected the grammar, but I wanted to keep the letters as close to their voice as possible. :) [sidenote: ok, so I went to copy/paste my 'sampling' of letters and couldn't decide on the best few because they're all so precious, soooooo I'm just putting all of them enjoy the extra reading hahaha]

Dear Joni,
How are you? I hope good. We are sixth graders that have learned about your incredible story in reading class. We all watched some of your videos. So we want to ask you some questions.
How did you feel when you couldn’t move and you know that you have cancer?
How old is Chris, your friend in the hospital?
Why do you think Jesus put this accident in your life?
What are some names of your paintings and pictures? Can you send us some pictures of drawings that you have made before and after the accident?
We want to know if you have already come to Central America with your foundation. We invite you to come to Honduras and to visit our school in Gracias, Lempira. We want to listen to more about your story!
With love, Estela, Elena, and Vivian


Dear Joni,
We are in Abundant Life Christian School and we are in sixth grade. We watched your videos in Youtube, and we read the excerpt of your story and we think you’re very talented and smart. We think your paintings are cool for a woman that is paralyzed. We have some questions for you. What other talents do you have? How do you feel now about being paralyzed? Do you feel bad when people remind you about your accident?
Sincerely, Hilda, Jenny and Leonela

Hello Joni,
Our names are Marquito, Marcos, Husai, and Alex. How are you? We watched your video and we read an excerpt. You have an incredible story. Your paintings are really cool. How much time did you need to learn how to paint with your mouth? We are from Honduras. Goodbye!

Dear Joni,
Hi my name is Byron. My partners’names are Tulito, Mario, and David. How are you? How did you feel when you had your accident? Do you feel good painting? How did you feel when your broke your neck, and how do you feel now?

Dear Joni,
Hi, I have a lot of questions for you . How did you feel when you were in the hospital? I think that your story is very exciting. I think that it is a good example for more people to know more of God. Before your accident, did you know about God? Do you give thanks to God? Do you feel bad when you see people that can move all of their body. In the class, we read your story, and with Miss VP, we did a project that everyday four people had a disability. How many countries have you brought wheelchairs?
Sincerely, Carlos

Respectful Joni,
Hello, my name is Allison Lizeth Polanco. We read an excerpt about your life, and it’s an incredible story. I think that you really gave thanks to God about keeping you alive, right? Now, how do you feel in your community now? Do you feel accepted? Or do you feel that only your husband and family take care of you? Do you sometimes wish to not be paralyzed? In my class, we did an experiment having people with disabilities. Our teacher put tape on our hands. It was a great experience learning about you and your disabilities.
Good bye,
Allison

Dear Joni,
We watched your video and it was so incredible and sad the things that happened to you. Thanks to God that you are alive. I’m so impressed how you can use your mouth like painting and drawing. I have three questions for you. Was it hard to use your mouth? How did you feel when the accident happened? Did you feel like you were going to die? I think that if that is going to happen to me, I think that I will be sad, nervous, or something like that. I would be so sad, and it will be so hard to use my mouth. Thank you for listening to me.
Sincerely, Julissa

Hello Joni,
How is your summer? (It’s summer here in Honduras) Mine is good. Ok, what to say… How were you after your accident? Well, I have never had something like that. Of course, I have little accidents like jumping off the house into the pool or to put a fire in the Nintendo with perfume. Well, bye, Daniel

Dear Joni,
I’m glad that I can write you and I want to tell you that I watched your video, and it was an incredible story. Thank God that you’re alive. Your faith in God is awesome. We appreciated you sharing your story. How do you feel in your community? Do you feel accepted by others? Well, hope that God provides you health and with love,
Alvaro

Dear Joni,
This letter is from two girls that live in Honduras. We saw almost all of your videos on youtube. Can you tell us more about your accident please? How did you feel after you discovered are well and feel better! How does your family feel after they knew that you had an accident? Why did you decide to do a movie about your story?
I hope you like our letter!
Sincerely,
Nohemi and Jaaziel

Hello Joni,
My name is Elias Mauricio Alvarado Molina. I am 12 years old. Miss Vander Ploeg, our sixth grade teacher, talked and showed us videos about you, and she read the story of your accident. I thought you died, but she continued reading and the story told us about when you were in the hospital you wanted to die. I thought that was crazy and hope you are more careful now!
Sincerely, Elias

Dear Joni,
How are you feeling right now about your accident? When you went to the hospital after the accident, you wanted to die. What made you not try to kill yourself? You paint really cool. If I tried, it would be terrible! What did you feel right after the accident? I hope you feel better now. Sincerely, David





A few days later, I got an email from someone that works with Joni saying they wanted to send something to the class! I waited until it came (so like a month ;)) to tell my kids in case it didn't come, but it did and they were SOOOOO excited!

Joni sent us a letter, which I typed out below because it is just a fantastic letter, and she also sent a little card for each student that had a copy of one of her drawings. She also sent little stickers for each of my kids. I was actually nervous that the kids would think the stickers were too babyish, but they were so happy and loved them! The questions that she didn't answer in the letter were answered in a brochure that Joni and Friends produces, so I made a copy of that for each of the students as well. It was a pretty great day!!!




Dear Abundant Life Christian School 6th Graders,

What a wonderful idea! I was so surprised and happy you chose to write me, I love to hear from friends all over the world. I enjoyed reading all of your e-mails, and I am glad that Ms. Van Ploeg was able to show you some videos of what I do here at Joni and friends.

I am often asked what it's like to be in a wheelchair. Well, sometimes it is hard not being able to do a lot of the things other people can do, but God is good and has given me so many things I can do. He has given me friends to talk with, to study the Bible with, and go camping with. He helped me as I learn to draw and paint. He has made it possible for me to travel around the world and share my story of God's love. He has also let me konw of hte many people that I've touched and helped, sometimes through letters like yours.

Since you enjoyed watching my videos in class, you might be interested in hearing the things I'm doing now. Besides painting and writing, I work in a ministry whcih helps churches reach out to people with disabilities. I host a five-minute daily radio program, a one minute radio program, and a TV show! I'm also married to Ken Tada who just retired from teaching high school for over 30 years. However, he's only retired from his teaching job- he is still working at Joni and Friends as the Director of Ministry Development!

I am also excited to you that soon Joni and Friends will have a new place on our website for you to enjoy- our Kids' Corner! There will be many fun activities just for kids, and even a place where you can answer some more of your questions about me! You also be able to read about what God is doing around the world for people who live with disabilities. So, come by for a visit www.joniandfriends.org and don't forget to share it with your friends!

Thank you again for writing to me! Your letters bring me a great deal of happiness and encouragement, and I'm glad that my life has been encouraging to you.

Yours in God's love,

Joni