No greater suffering; swinging amputated stumps down a highway road

YEARS LATER I AM STILL HAUNTED. It was the early days of the Charity, and I was in public transport rattling around the roads from one poverty stricken area to another.
  I happened to look left and there, on the edge of the highway, I saw one of the saddest figures I have ever seen. A man who was a double amputee was painfully placing his palms flat on the road before swinging his trunk and stumps behind him onto the tarmac. He was travelling from one town to another in this way in 40 degree heat. 
  I tried to get the transport to stop, but it was dangerous to turn back on a highway and the man was no longer in sight.

Familiar sight
I spoke to my colleagues and told them of what I had seen. Resignedly they told me that this was a familiar sight.
  People with double amputations or one limb missing and in destitute circumstances just don't have access to services to ease their daily living.
  As I worked in the tent camps, I saw many other double amputees sitting on planks which had small roller skate wheels lashed underneath begging for a push by a friendly hand across the busy roads.
  I saw another elderly gentleman being pulled along on one of these planks. His small grandson (who looked not yet eight) laboriously pulled the wheeled plank along by means of two ropes lashed to his tiny back.
  The resigned stance of that little back bent to the task with a hopeless little face bent towards the dust before him as he pulled on the ropes broke my heart.

Paralysed since birth
  In another outlying village I was told of one young lady - paralysed since birth - who has not left her pallet on the floor for years.
  Her mother and sister are unable to carry her. What is needed, of course, are wheelchairs, crutches and services for those who lack mobility.

So many people in rural areas, tent camps and war areas are in need of assistance with proper equipment for their disability.

Perhaps Divine Providence led you to read these words.

In the spirit of Lumiere, is there anything you can do to help?

Wheelchair Foundation
http://www.wheelchairfoundation.org/

With thanks to Wheelchair Foundation

A Candle has been lit in Remembrance of Nepal

 

A CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT BY LUMIERE CHARITY

IN REMEMBRANCE OF NEPAL.

Our thoughts are with the bereaved and suffering,

and for strength and protection for all in the

Caring Professions offering assistance.

Nepal Earthquake; Rescue effort intensified, Alleged News

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32470731

 

A Candle has been lit by Lumiere for all Homeless Worldwide

A CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT BY LUMIERE IN REMEMBRANCE OF ALL HOMELESS WORLDWIDE.

The need for shelter often becomes interwoven

with financial issues. And so it is the poor and

vulnerable who do not have great wealth

and opportunities who live in holes; thickets and bush;

shivering in boats trying to reach a country

of promise before drowning in refugee boats;

give birth in the open; die unknown.

 

Lumiere firmly believes that WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

One person alone cannot do all. Let us link hands

globally and, as brothers and sisters of

proud nations, join together to protect

and home all in our cities and lands.

 

Perhaps Divine Providence has led you to

read these words.

In the spirit of Lumiere, is there

anything you can do?

 

Homeless in Ireland? Telephone Number for Help is on the link

THE CRISIS IN HOMELESSNESS IN IRELAND CONTINUES. It is no longer fresh news, life has just become a grim struggle to survive. Many are looking for work which will pay for a shelter from the elements for one day and night, and for enough food to survive for the day.
  Homeless who have managed to get some funds for the day share fruit, milk and bread with each other. Others purchase shower gel and shampoo and pour out portions of the liquids into washed cooldrink bottles and cleaned food jars; these are shared among the homeless to they can stay clean. For one more day.
 Those who have managed to find a good job donate toiletries, towels, clothing to those homeless and without paid work. Many with work pay for a homeless person's shelter for 24 hours, or for a number of days and nights.
  One struggling person was wearing thick winter clothing in the heat of full Irish summer. The reason? No money to buy a set of summer clothes. This person was sweating and distressed, becoming dehydrated. One set of clothing later, together with the favourite drink of the homeless - water - and the smile that met our eyes from this lady was beaming.

Need for offer of free phone calls for homeless
For those who are newly homeless, the panic is where to turn. Phone call after phone call (usually from a borrowed phone - Lumiere Charity offers free phone calls while in the field to the homeless as phones and phone credit are the first luxury to go) may not always offer assistance, especially after hours, weekends and Bank Holiday periods.

Information for those in Homeless Predicament
Information for those in homeless predicament in Ireland can be found at link
http://www.homelessdublin.ie/

Help can be found at
http://www.homelessdublin.ie/dublin-city-council-area

Assistance to Homeless in Ireland
At present, many Street Pastors and Assistance Groups are working among the homeless in Ireland.
Diverse forms of assistance are given; tea and coffee, clothing and umbrellas, thick coats and sleeping bags. Pastoral Care Assistance and referrals to the many groups offering aid with Homeless Issues, Legal Issues, Health Issues, Dependence Issues.

As always, when Lumiere ministers we recall that those in homeless situations require assistance and emotional/ psychological support. As well, it is prudent to be careful where and when you minister assistance. Many teams go out in groups of two or more, a support to each other in the ministry.

Unsung heroes and heroines
There are many who have stepped forward to assist the homeless in Ireland. They are unsung heroes and heroines; and their names are well known and cherished among those in need on the streets in Ireland. The Shelters, among them the Shelter opened by the luminous Archbishop Diurmuid Martin and the Emergency Beds opened by the Peter McVerry Trust and Focus Ireland have eased the lot of many who were struggling for survival on the streets.

Street Pastors and Volunteer Charity Workers among the Homeless are in great need.

Perhaps Divine Providence has led you to

read these words. If so, in the

spirit of Lumiere is there

anything you can do to help?

Bishop opens 35-Bed Shelter, Alleged News
http://www.herald.ie/news/bishop-opens-35bed-shelter-for-the-homeless-30845828.html

Extra Emergency Beds, Alleged News
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/first-31-extra-emergency-beds-for-homeless-available-in-dublin-1.2030461

With thanks to homelessdublin.ie/ herald.ie/ irishtimes.com
Photograph by Rev Catherine

108 Countries follow Lumiere Charity Blogs

108 COUNTRIES ARE FOLLOWING

LUMIERE CHARITY BLOGS AT PRESENT.

Blessings on you all. We can make a difference -

let us unite our hands across the globe and spread peace,

justice, health and neighbourly goodwill.

Lumiere English Academy Distance Teaching Course; Lesson Four - Dictionary

The joy of learning brings colour to the fabric of each day

LESSON FOUR
DICTIONARY

One of the golden rules in the teaching of English is to train your students from the very first day in the use of a Dictionary.
  Any time the student does not understand a word - or learns a new word - he or she should check the Dictionary to find out what the word means.
  The student will benefit from keeping a neat workbook where she or he notes new English information.
  This book is of inestimable benefit in writing essays, and during study prior to examinations.
  It is also helpful for the student to note any corrections the English teacher has given him or her.
  Repeated corrections on the same topic will soon become clear, and the student has a tool for self-study and reflection on his or her strengths and weaknesses in the study of the English language.

Encourage your student to own a small dictionary, such as the Oxford Dictionary.
  This book can be easily kept in a student bag for easy reference at all times.
  Another option is to go online to www.dictionary.com
This very good website is a free online resource which is very helpful for spelling, vocabulary and pronunciation.
  A full explanation of the word as well as the correct pronunciation is given.
Be sure to apprise yourself of your student's main spoken language. For example, if your student's home language is Spanish, or perhaps Lithuanian, look in the area in the top menu of the dictionary website which is marked Translator.
  If your student does not understand an English sentence or word he or she has read or heard, your student can type it in to this area.   
  The student should then type the language to which the sentence or word should be translated - and the word or text will translate so your student can read the full meaning in his or her home language.

Good luck with your tutoring!
Best wishes with your tutoring!Catherine Nicolette Whittle
Diploma TESOL and EDI level 5 Diploma in Teaching English 
 London Teacher’s Training College England
http://dictionary.reference.com/

Oxford Dictionary of English
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxford-Dictionary-English-Dictionaries/dp/0199571120


With thanks to Dictionary.reference.com and Amazon.co.uk

Lumiere English Academy Distance Teaching Course; Lesson Three - Reading and Comprehension

Education - the Key to a Better Future

LESSON THREE
READING AND COMPREHENSION

1. Draw up initial lesson plans for your student
2. Make use of worksheets to train your student.
Assess your student's needs, and structure your lesson plans around them.
For example, if your student is weak in vocabulary, weave vocabulary lists into your lessons.
If your student needs to work on adjectives, construct lessons and conversations around different adjectives.
Strengthen your student's strengths; identify and build up your student's areas of weakness in the English language
3. Be aware that there are many English worksheets available for free on the Internet, see example links below
4. Once your lesson plan is drawn up, contact the supervisor/parent/guardian of your student.
Assess the lesson plan together to judge if the plan adequately meets your student's current English tutoring needs
5. The lesson plan I will be making available over the next blog posts are centred upon a number of worksheets.
These worksheets are all focused on assisting the student with everyday English requirements, such as shopping; transport; hospital; filling in forms.
 This format trains your student not only to become more skilled in the use of the English language, but also to be able to apply his/her English skills in practical form to everyday situations
6. Worksheets are a fun way to learn more about English grammar which will benefit the student at school
7. Plan to use two books for reading and comprehension. The first book I always use is 'The Hobbit' by the luminous J.R.R. Tolkien.
 The English contained within this book, starting with the very first words, 'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. . . ' is both formational and superlative.
The second book (only to approached once the first is completed) is the inimitable 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen.
This book contains original quotes which are now of international renown, such as  'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife'.
Pride and Prejudice further offers a fascinating look at an era within a bygone age, and the roles and expectations of the genders in society
8. Encourage your student to borrow or obtain 'The Hobbit'.
Your student will find this English classic very helpful in the fields of reading, comprehension and vocabulary.
It may look difficult at first sight, but once a student starts reading this book, it gives them the most wonderful basis for English grammar.
The ISBN number is 0-261-10328-a8, the publishers are Harper Collins Publishers, and there a number of editions of the book.
The version I have was printed in Great Britain in 1990.
If your student does not have the funds to purchase the book due to financial straits, why not arrange for a donation or gift of the book to the student.
Best wishes with your tutoring!
Catherine Nicolette Whittle
Diploma TESOL and EDI level 5 Diploma in Teaching English 
 London Teacher’s Training College England

EnglishForEveryone.org- - Printable English Worksheets
Your Resource for English Worksheets
http://www.englishforeveryone.org/ 

English Worksheets for Kids
http://www.jumpstart.com/parents/worksheets/english-worksheets 

English Worksheets
http://www.havefunteaching.com/worksheets/english-worksheets 

Brown Bear Worksheets
http://www.eslprintables.com/reading_worksheets/tales_and_stories/brown_bear/ 

ISL Collective - Free ESL Worksheets
http://www.englishblog.com/2012/04/islcollectivefree-esl-worksheets.html#.VRDrCSxLscU 

THE BASIS OF THE LUMIERE TEACHER'S PHILOSOPHY IS KINDNESS AND PATIENCE - BRINGING LIGHT INTO OTHERS' LIVES.

With thanks to englishforeveryone.org/  jumpstart.com/  havefunteaching.com/  eslprintables.com/e  nglishblog.com

A Candle has been lit by Lumiere in remembrance of Rape Survivors in Sudan

  A CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT BY LUMIERE IN REMEMBRANCE OF RAPE SURVIVORS IN SUDAN.           
  Alleged News; Lumiere has received report that Law [Article 149], has been amended and signed by the President in Sudan.
  Last year Lumiere received report that a 19-year old pregnant woman who, after being gang raped in the Sudan, was arrested along with her attackers and charged with 'offending public morality' and committing 'indecent acts' and allegedly threatened with adultery charges and deportation.

  Nearly 15,000 letters were sent to Sudanese officials calling for support of victims of sexual violence instead of criminalization. 
  The Law [Article 149] has now been amended and signed by the President so that survivors will no longer face punishments for adultery or 'immoral acts'.
  The case appears to have been dropped against the young woman; she has reportedly received immigration status and is raising a young son born June of 2014.

Huge victory for rape survivors in Sudan, Alleged News
http://www.equalitynow.org/member_news_april_2015

Report about work to reform legislation on rape and sexual violence in Sudan.
Report by Equality Now, produced in conjunction with Sudanese Women's Rights Crusader, Dr Muna Eltayeb M. Eltayeb, Alleged News
http://www.equalitynow.org/member_news_april_2015

Equality Now
http://www.equalitynow.org/

Why not Donate to Equality Now?
https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6208/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=1938

Why not Join Equality Now?
http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6208/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=2437

With thanks to Equalitynow.org. Photograph by Catherine Nicolette, for use copyright free for any worthy purpose


 

Blessed Easter

A Blessed Easter!

May the Light of the World

shine forth from the graveyard of our hopes

and the sufferings of our wars

and turn our sorrows into discarded graveclothes

our pain into hope for eternity

and our unease at injustice towards our brothers and sisters

into a strength and courage to

MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Jesus was courageous in facing His Death

and was triumphant in His Resurrected Life.

 

Let us be no less courageous

No less hopeful

No less people of integrity

No less people of prayer and godly action

as we look forward to the hope that is ours.

May you and your loved ones

have a blessed, peace-filled day.

 

Resurrection

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGqA-vpegus

With thanks to Youtube
Image by Catherine Nicolette