The Stars Newsletter contains unedited, original work written by and for Washtenaw Literacy learners.  The opinions printed here do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or of
Washtenaw Literacy.

In This Issue
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My Journey
By: LaTasco Gray

On September 19, 2017, I began the Washtenaw Literacy GED education program. That day changed my life for the better and I am so pleased that I made the decision to join. It is some weeks later and I am thankful for all of the many different people that I have met.
 
That day I came into the class room and sat down. I was very nervous. A woman walked in and sat down next to me. When you arrive there is a sign in sheet that the students fill out. I asked the woman if she had signed the sheet. I then realized that she is one of the tutors. She did not inform me that she is a tutor.
 
I informed her that you need to sign in on the sign in sheet. She laughed and said that she didn't need to do that and then said, "I am sorry." that day we became friends. Her name is Raylene Kruger and she has made a big difference in my life.
 
On a daily basis, I thank God for having met her and adding her to my life. I enjoy learning and am looking forward to completing the GED program. This is a goal that I will complete.
The Earthquake
By: Adriana Balint
                                                
Forty years ago, on March 4, 1977, when I was 17 years old we had a major earthquake in Romania. It happened at 9:30 in the night when a lot of people were already in bed.
           
 The first thing we noticed was all the farm animals were moving around and making a lot of noise like they felt something was coming.
 
In a short time everything started to shake, so a lot of people came outside from their houses or from their apartments.
 
The first tremors lasted only four minutes but was followed by several aftershocks.
 
The next day when people went to work or school, everybody was talking about what had happened to them during the earthquake.
 
The event was all over the news. We found out it was a 6.5 on the Richter scale.
 
The epicenter had been in the area of Vrancea, close to the capital (Bucharest) where the damages were the worst. Many buildings collapsed and a lot of people got trapped under the rubble. We lost some of the current celebrities and took many years to rebuild. Fortunately my city, Fagaras, didn't suffer much damage, and in the past 40 years we haven't had another major earthquake.
Winter 2018 - BL Open Tutoring Schedule 

The Winter 2018 BL open tutoring schedule is effective from 1/15-4/20, unless otherwise noted.

Click here  for the winter BL schedule!  And click here for directions to the Community Opportunity Center.
Winter 2018- ESL Open Tutoring Schedule 

The Winter 2018 ESL Open Tutoring schedule is effective from 1/8 - 4/30 unless otherwise noted.

Click here for the winter ESL schedule!
Pinterest Resources for Learners

Check out all of the online learning resources available on Pinterest!  
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STARS SUBMISSIONS

If you are interested in having your ori ginal story or article printed in an upcoming STARS edition, please contact Washtenaw Literacy via:

Email:

or 

Postal Mail:
Washtenaw Literacy 
Attention: Alison Austin
5577 Whittaker Road
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Note: space is limited for each issue.  We will do our best to include all submitted stories. But, if space fills up, stories not included will be first in the next issue!

Articles for the next edition of STARS will be due on March 1st.

Fall 2017

Have fun reading the Fall edition of Stars! We hope you had an excellent Fall semester and a wonderful holiday! Don't forget to reach for all your goals in the new year!
The Day I Met a Pastor Who Introduced Me to Jesus
By: LaTasco Gray
                                                
To tell the story about the pastor I have to tell mine first. On October 20, 2007, my job ended. I decided to move to Ypsilanti, Michigan. I arrived on February 1, 2008, and it was snowy and very cold.
 
A few days had passed before I decided to go visit my sister Vicki. A man was outside cleaning the snow off from his car. At this time I didn't know that he was a pastor. Ass I walked by the pastor spoke to me. This pleased me but I wasn't nice to him.
 
Several weeks had gone by and I hadn't seen the pastor. When I saw him again he was so nice to me and again i was rude to him. A week later, one of my neighbors asked me if I had met the pastor. I replied, "No, I haven't met him".
 
My neighbor and I were outside when the pastor pulled up in his car. She said to me, "that is the pastor". Instantly I felt bad because I had been rude to a man of God. once again the pastor was humble and kind when he spoke to us.
 
A year later on Father's Day, June 17, 2009, I was grilling barbeque chicken outside when I looked up and saw the pastor driving to church. He waved hello to me as he drove by. At this very moment I knew that I had to talk to him.
 
It wasn't until five days had passed that I saw him outside. I was a little nervous when I asked him if I could attend church with him. I was surprised when he said, "yes, of course you can go to church with me". This is the day that changed my life.
 
The pastor's name is Pastor C. E. Lewis III. he is such a wonderful person. Over the years he has done many nice things for me. He paid my rent, tithes and he has purchased food for me for three years. He never talks down to anyone.
 
Pastor Lewis III has appointed me to be the President of the Usher Ministry of our church. This appointment makes me very proud. I could go on and on about what a marvelous man of God he is.
 
Because of Pastor C. E. Lewis III, I have continued to grow in Jesus. May God bless this man of God that introduced me to Jesus.                                                 
Merry meet
By: Jeffrey West

My name is Jeffrey West. My adopting name is Angel Cyrus Gomez Lovato Osment and I was born on August 10, 1985. Mom wanted me to acquire my GED and I fought her. She would fight me. We were peasants. Mom was dying and I didn't treat her well. She said things that bullied or made comments that hurt her.

After somewhere in time, I ran away from home. When I ran away from home, the first court date took place. It was then that the last time I took the action to run away from Darryl. The court date happened and I was kicked out of my group home. I got custody of myself and I transferred to a group home. My money was multiplied by 4 times. That's $100! I spent a lot of my income on school preparation and there is more than myself as I then applied flor GED classes at Washtenaw Community College. I was even guiltier. Not by the common court of law but upon taking GED classes, I improved.
 
I'm just so upset. It may not help but I encourage you to successfully acquire your GED and stay in school. I'm planning on succeeding by passing my GED and to get my GED. I am keeping my promise to Mom. By this time, my heart and mind said I want my GED. I work hard every day. Because of my Mom, Selena Gomez, Emily Osment, Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus I am doing quite well. I'm trying and slowly improving. One of my parents has Lupus. I'm scared for her. I work hard at fresh start, WCC, and healing practices as a Wiccan Healer.
My own solution is to successfully obtain my GED and I want to fulfill Mom's wish. I'm LGBTQP and face discrimination every day. I'm Angel Cyrus Gomez Lovato-Osment and I'm GOING TO GET MY GED! I choose life. I choose to forget things that make me depressed.
 
One parent is diagnosed with Lupus. A certain form of Leukemia and I'm depressed. I have PTSD is this what I ask? I deserve better. She deserves better.
So a lot has happened this first semester as well as chosen Pappy defeated a form or two of cancer.
So a lot has come up in life. I'm trying to get my GED and I encourage everyone to STAY IN SCHOOL. If you need one or two days off, you should. But try to keep every day of learning to yourselves.
 
With that said I proudly include that you are here. We all are. So let's make the most of the beginning of our lives.
Get your GED's. I'm trying to.
 
Blessed be.
Community Survey Project
By Eidy, Rula and Vanessa

Our names are Eidy, Rula and Vanessa. We are from Colombia, Jordan and Brazil. Our English class started on September 12th. Our class meets at Ypsilanti Free Methodist Church one time a week. We like this class because the people are friendly, the teacher uses good methods, and it is comfortable. For our final project, we talked to people in the community. We made a survey for them.
 
Where are you from?
Angola, Bengal, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Honduras, Iraq, Jordan, Mexico, Paraguay, Syria, U.S.A., and Uzbekistan
 
Where do you go grocery shopping?
Walmart - 7
Costco - 4
Kroger - 7
Meijer - 6
 
What kind of household products do you buy?
Cleaning products - 14
Soap - 0
Toilet paper - 10
Other - 4
 
When do you usually go grocery shopping?
Weekly - 13
Two times a week - 4
Monthly - 0
Daily - 0
 
Sometimes do you feel tired as a sick person?
Yes - 11
No - 7
 
How are you feeling now?
Happy - 3
Not bad - 0
Good - 12
Sad - 1
 
What kind of insurance do you have?
Blue Cross - 10
University of Michigan - 0
Other - 5
I have insurance from my home country. - 0
 
What kind of hobby do you do on the weekend?
Running/exercise - 1
Singing - 0
Reading - 2
Watching TV/movies - 13
 
Who do you like to spend the weekend with?
My friends - 8
My children - 9
My husband - 5
My wife - 1
 
What are you doing this weekend?
Working - 6
Going to the park - 3
Going to a restaurant - 7
Going to church/mosque/temple - 2

We hope that you enjoyed this edition of the STARS newsletter!  If you have any articles that you would like to be included for the next edition, please send them to us. 

Sincerely,

Kathryn Schuster
Washtenaw Literacy's Mission
Believing that literacy is the foundation for a sustainable community, 
Washtenaw Literacy provides literacy support, free of charge, 
to adults through a network of trained tutors.  

It is our  Vision  to eliminate illiteracy in Washtenaw County. 
 
phone:   734.879.1320  |  email   |  
 

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