Please Pray

On the 2nd day of school this year, I got a new student in my class. He is such a sweet boy with a great smile and sense of humor. I came to find out that unfortunately, I wasn't going to have the pleasure of having this boy in my class for the whole year. He was brought to my school under some horrible circumstances and I am asking you all to pray for him and his family. On August 3rd, his Dad (a father of 9 children) was shot at point blank range, four times in a random shooting, and left paralyzed. The family is from Utah, and the boy in my class was brought to stay here in Phoenix, along with 4 of his brothers and sisters, to live with his grandparents and go to school, while his Dad recovers in the hospital and his Mom stays by his side. When I heard of this tragedy, my heart broke for this family and the struggles that lie ahead for them. I knew there was nothing I could do to ease their pain, so I have just tried to make this boy's time with me as easy and "normal" as possible. I have been able to keep up with his father's progress on their blog, and the family has been nice enough to allow me to share the link with all of you, in hopes that we will have many more people praying with them and for them. My student's last day with me is tomorrow. He is going back a little early to get back into his old routine with his family and friends in Utah. I have truly enjoyed every moment I have had with him and will miss him when he returns home, although I will be happy knowing that it means his father is one step closer to being home with his family. Please keep this family in your prayers.

Here is a link to one of the news articles about this tragedy. Others can be found on the Armstrong's blog.