Linda Baker Experience

From Linda Baker, Preston, ID

Mother to Jeff Baker (21 yr. old) CHARGE Syndrome/Deaf-Blind

Last year in Jeff's special needs Seminary class, they were each given an assignment to read the Scriptures for 10 minutes each night for one month. When the Seminary teacher told me of the assignment, I looked at him and said "Jeff can't do that". He can't see, he can't hear, and he will eat the pages of the book he had just given me (New Testament Stories) . The teacher smiled at me and said "you can read it to him, show him the pictures in the book. Just do that every night for a month and he will have fulfilled the assignment". I reluctantly agreed. The first couple of nights things went just as I'd expected. I signed the book to him and he had no interest what so ever. And yes, he tried to rip the pages and eat them. I then started to pray before I read to him. I asked that Jeff's spirit might be touched and that he might cooperate and understand. Something wonderful begin to happen. When I?d sign that it was time to read the scriptures, Jeff would become calm, he was interested and he participated. After reading the written words, he and I would point to different things in the pictures and he would sign them. We WERE studying the scriptures together! I'm thankful for the lesson that I learned from that experience. I learned that although Jeff's body and mind might be impaired, his spirit isn't. I'd always known that he had a strong, perfect and valiant spirit, but what a choice blessing to actually see it manifested to me by this special experience. I'm grateful to this special Seminary Teacher for his inspiration in helping ME remember something I'd forgotten.