The littlest deacon

The littlest Deacon
March 2000

Evan was ordained a  deacon in February. he could hardly wait to pass the sacrament. After visiting with the bishop to discuss his abilities and expectations for him he was ordained. The first week we were anxious. Brigham  also passed and sat right behind him so they would pass down the same aisle and Blair bless the sacrament. Evan did great. Having never practice we were a little worried. But he had spent the last months watching the process, as each of his friends became new deacons. He continues to do well in ministering to the same spot each week.

Is been interesting to see the impact of all this on our ward. The first week that he passed the number of people congratulated him. Over the pulpit he has been mentioning testimonies. It's been a strong spiritual experience for the ward; he's receiving a lot of silent cheers from the congregation . I would've never thought that it wouldn't have such a positive strong effect in our ward. Evan and his life are truly amazing.

Baptism

We believe in baptism by immersion for those who are accountable at the age of eight. Evan, is defacto, non-accountable thus technically not requiring baptism. The other factors of baptism include baptism as the gateway or entry into God's kingdom as a member of His church and following Christ example of being baptized in fulfilling the commandment of the Father. Evan wasn't ready at eight and before he turned 12 he increased in awareness of baptism and desire to be baptised.

After discussion with our Bishop and thoughtful consideration and prayer we baptized Evan. It was a bit of an unorthodox experience. He really  had little interest of getting into a font. Creativity was applied and it resulted in a plein aire session. Literally in my parents swimming pool. We arranged with the Bishop and he came over, and Blair performed the ordinance. One can measure the appropriateness of activity by the Spirit that attends.  The Spirit was calm, peaceful and uplifting. It was the right thing at the right time.

On a bright Monday evening June 21 our family went to my parents pool. The bishop was going to stop by to be a witness. After playing around for a while, Blair, who is to form the baptize practice I need to the kids. When it came time for Evan, Blair left the pool and put on a white shirt. When you return to the pool Tim asked Devon if you wanted to be baptized. Evan said okay.

When worsen the prayer is like the Spirit of the Lord came down and resting upon the pool, pushing all sound and motion away. There was no street noise on noise from a two assignments, and the spare was so real. When Evan came out of the water, he bounced out with the biggest smile imaginable. We were thrilled. Spread them pull together and went back up into heaven. The Lord approved of the baptism the bishop come in at that the spirit was there an abundance is much is it any baptism.

An ancillary experience is we also believe in vicarious ordinances, a religious ordinance performed by a living person in behalf of one who is dead. Baptisms for the dead are done in our Temples and are done to create an opportunity for all to either accept or reject coming unto Christ. None will be forced but all will have the opportunity. The youth from our congregation regularly go to the Temple to perform this service. And as a young man (12- 14) Evan went with the group but would not go in the font, nor do the baptisms, until one day when Evan was listening to our friends Bill Oelkers and David Henstrom and their encouragement to participate and go in the font and do the vicarious baptism. That day was the one. Evan agreed, he got dressed, joined the group. He solemnly approached the font; and well watch the video. It is not a video of Evan but it is exactly what happened.

As Bill wiped the water from his face. he commented how the Spirit was still there. The innocence, the peace, the joy. It truly was an Evan Experience.

Hawiian tan and shirt

April 1998

We had the wonderful opportunity to go to Maui for spring vacation. The day before leaving,rindy and I have gone on an errand and came back and found the kids comparing tans and talking about how are they going to flaunt it  the next day at school. So that night in a quiet moment Evan takes a white tipped deep chocolate magic marker and proceeds to color his arms from his elbows to his fingertips.  At least he got the concept and figured out how to be competitive.

Additionally the boys were getting their new Hawaii shirts ready to wear the next day at school. Evans has a large image of a whale on the back and a  small Image on the left of the front of your normal T-shirt. So later that night someone is noticing evan is cutting up his new shirt. What he has  done is cut off the tags inside the color on the back of the shirt no actual damage to the shirt. Without the tags there is no longer an orientation a front to back on the shirt so he can wear the shirt with the back image on the front and not get in trouble for wearing his clothes backwards because there's no back or front. The kid is  to  thinking way too much.

The Ripple Effect

Going through life one  can live in the calm eddies and pools or venture forth into the current and rapids. One can chose to enter  the waters stealthily without impact or as a pebble with a continually increasing fan that spreads out and sends forth a ripple effect.

Unanticipated, by us, was a repeat performance by Evan into the world of open-heart surgery. A faulty valve had developed into a severe leak that needed immediate fixing. All went great, he is mending well, currently requires a modicum of prudence in his activities until his sternum ( which was cracked stem to stern) heals completely.

The Ripple Effect has been interesting:

• A teenage neighbor has her confirmation class pray for Evan
• A neighborhood prayer circle prays for Evan
• A dear friend's 9 year old son - 1.500 miles away fasts & prays for Evan
• An antagonist becomes a friend for evan
• A school class unites in kindness for evan
• A sister leaves her own, again, watches our kids while parents are in the hospital for Evan
• A family bonds in love for Evan.

The ripple effect. 

One little heart that has opened the hearts of many.

One little heart that has softened the hearts in an ever widening circle.

One little heart the greatest gift of the season

Community Found

In a society that has become more interested in consumption than in connection it brings assurance to find an oasis of community in Zachary Elementary School.   Communities in general are becoming more fragmented and less and less physically fixed; and as they accommodate a broad range of influences, the culture in turn becomes more dilute. The growing irrelevance of time and place additionally destroy community as one can have a virtual office, virtual conversation, or a virtual store. As the fabric of community is slowly shredded we become a public - simply all the people apart from any personal responsibility or belonging. Our society leads us to become globalized individuals - depending more on large-scale markets and technologies for our lives and livelihoods than on our neighbors. A community, unlike a public, has to do with belonging, it’s a group of people who belong to one another and to their place.     Zachary Lane Elementary offers community. As a community it has its own unique but overlapping constellation of shared ideas and interactions. One such incidence manifested itself this fall in the Third Grade.   Our son Evan, a third grader with Down Syndrome, was called upon to run the mile with the rest of his grade. A daunting task for most but particularly for him in regard to the focus and perseverance required to accomplish the task. At the start of the activity, Steven Paletz, one of his fellow classmates asked him “ Do you want to be my running buddy – we can run together”. An enthusiastic “yes” was the reply and the two took off together. They finished, last, but they finished; amidst the cheers and acknowledgements of their peers. A wise teacher took Steven to the head of the class and pronounced to all that he had rendered great service as being the ‘personal trainer’ to Evan during the run.   Many publics don’t have kids like Steven who would willingly become a personal trainer for the day. Many publics don’t have schools that foster inclusion as a right of all children. Many publics don’t have a principal, teachers and staff that can create a caring and safe environment where all grow. Zachary Lane Elementary does.   Simone Weil observed in The Need for Roots: “The effective exercise of a right springs not from the individual who possesses it, but from other men who consider themselves as being under a certain obligation to him.”  It is out of a concern for the communal that morality arises, and with it virtue. Thank you to the community called Zachary Lane. Submitted by:​ Timothy M. Wilson​10/22/97