Reprinted with Permission

To give you a bit of background: The grief ministry I've been involved with for almost 9 years is receiving a new property on which to build, and we had to petition the county zoning board in order to do so.  We are in desperate need of this new home for our ministry, as we are outgrowing our current rental.  I spoke to the zoning board last month, testifying to the necessity of this ministry, as did several other volunteers, board members and staff.  Our petition was carried over to this month, and last week, Shawn and Noah spoke on behalf of our cause, along with several more volunteers.  As a mom, and a wife, I can't think of a time when I've been more proud.  I am overwhelmed with gratitude, love and pride.  Noah did so well; he wrote this by himself (I made a few changes here for privacy concerns), and read it, clearly, while making eye contact with at least 10 complete strangers, and possibly 30 more sitting in the gallery behind him.  I can't tell you how much of a big deal this was for him!  As we left, several people we did not know got up to shake his hand and tell him he did a good job.  As a mom, that is just so meaningful to me!  He was amazing.

*Our ministry did receive the county's approval for our new home!!

Naturally, I did take a photo (and video!): 

Hi, My name is Noah Furr.  I am 13 years old, an upcoming 8^th grader in middle school, where I am an honors student, and I am a lifelong resident of this county.  I volunteered with this grief ministry for a year while I was in 4^th and 5^th grades.

My parents began homeschooling me in 4^th grade when I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.   I started going to the center on Thursdays to help my mom with the Care Café, now known as Coffee and Conversation.  My social skills therapist had me working on building people files at the time, and this was a good place to do so.  An example of a people file is remembering what a person talks about, such as a pet, a child, a spouse, a job, or a life event, and asking about it the next time I see that person.  The purpose of building my people files is so I can carry on conversations, and remember to be courteous of others.  While I volunteered at the center, I worked with Chaplain L, and Miss S, and met people like Miss R and Miss  C.  I helped my mom serve coffee, tea and light snacks, and I also did some office work.

Two years ago my favorite dog, Gretta, died.  She was the best dog ever, and my best friend.  I didn’t know how to handle the grief and the anger I felt, and I wanted to know why this was happening to me.  It was the first time I had experienced real anger, and I even shoved my mom’s cat off the counter, screaming that it should’ve been her instead of my dog.  My parents and counselor helped me with my anger so I could express it in healthy ways, but it was Miss S and her Pet Loss Support Group at the center that really helped me through.  I was able to talk about Gretta and share stories and her pictures with other animal lovers who understood me and what I was going through.   I was able to learn how to mourn Gretta without being angry.

This ministry has played a big role in my life, showing me the way when there appear to be no apparent ways.  These good people helped me and my family through my diagnosis, and helped me be less socially awkward by giving me a safe place to talk, practice my social skills and grieve.

You want to know what I think about this ministry, I think it is a lovely place full of open arms ready to help you through hard times.

Thank you for your time and attention.