We Found the Right Place for Andy!

November 6, 2011

Andy is a great young man. He is helpful, courteous, and curious.  Andy also he recently graduated from Elim’s school program. His teachers, his classmates, and those who worked with him during his time in the school will miss him. So what comes next for Andy?

Once he graduates from the school, Andy will be fortunate enough to find placement in our adult services program – a placement that is only possible because of people like you. Your support of Elim makes it possible for us to provide a vibrant adult services program that carries on the values of Elim’s entire agency, and serves each of its 200+ adults to equip them to achieve their God-given potential. However, it’s best to share the words of Lori Swartwout, Andy’s mom: “It is very important to us that Andy is able to continue at Elim in the adult program, because we’ve always wanted Andy to be as independent as possible. We wanted him to be in a community job, but it became apparent that his needs made a workshop the right option. But the workshop needed to be a place where he could be safe, be understood, and where he could do meaningful work.  He wants to do work that earns a paycheck and work that serves others.

At Elim we found the right place for Andy.”   Lori loves what Elim does, what it stands for, what you have built here through your support. Among those qualities is our emphasis on the value and potential that people with disabilities have to be used by God to bless others and to impact lives for His glory. Lori has seen Andy do that in her own church, and she has shared the following thoughts on his service:   “His heart for service has changed how I view what it means to ‘contribute to society.’ It’s not about position, money, success – even though that can help. He can reflect God’s unconditional love. He shows me that you can contribute by joyfully serving others, and finding out how God has wired you and doing that to the best of your ability. It means doing and being all that God has created you to be – it still holds true despite your abilities or disabilities.”