ALS Awareness Week

The student council of RCS decided to have an ALS Awareness week last week so we asked them to report on the activites that took place by writing a post for our blog. This is written from the perspective of two high school students and we hope you enjoy reading it.

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From Ashlynne Stryker:

Ever since our first day of school at RCS, Mr. Westerink has been the principal. Every morning we heard him over the PA system with the announcements, saw him in his office, ready and willing to fix students broken glasses or handing out small birthday gifts. If we saw him in the hallways, he offered a happy hello – but not this year. It's different around RCS; there's a new voice on the morning announcements, a new person overseeing the students in the lunch detainment, a new grade 9 religion teacher, and an empty office. We all miss him greatly, but we know and he has told us, that God has closed this chapter in his life.

The RCS student council raised awareness for ALS the week of September 19^th. On monday, student council president, Ashley De Jong prepared a short, informative presentation on ALS and Mr. Westerink came up and shared his story for grades 7-12.

It was hard seeing him like that; the ALS taking over his body, him walking slowly to the front with his walker. As we listened to his story, I don't think there were too many dry eyes. Hearing about his faith and trust in God was amazing. ALS is taking his physical abilities away, but strengthening him spiritually.  

It is evident that God is at work in the chapter of Mr. Westerinks life and there is a great purpose behind his sickness. His story is reaching out to so many people and others can see how peaceful he is with everything. It is amazing to see how God has provided so far with everything from his medication to the equipment.

As a follow up on the ALS presentation, Tuesday blue paper ribbons (blue being the colour for ALS) were given to grades 7-12 to sign and are going to be given to Mr. Westerink to show that we are thinking and praying for him. Also, Wednesday was “blue day”. Most high school students showed support by wearing the blue uniform and blue accessories.

It was a small thing that we could do for him. Even though it may not have big results, it was our way to show Mr. Westerink that we are thinking about him and miss him a lot.  

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From Evalyn Boekestein:

I was sitting in church on a Sunday afternoon. My minister, Pastor Schoeman was giving a sermon based on 2 Corinthians 12:9, how God's grace is sufficient. It was really encouraging for me to hear this. It reminded me that no matter what the circumstance is, God's grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Pastor Schoeman related this sermon to the struggles and difficulties that Mr. Westerink and his family are going through. It was an emotional, but yet comforting sermon to hear and it came at the right time. For some time, I wanted to make these support bracelets for Mr. Westerink, but I wasn't sure what to write on them. This sermon confirmed it. I knew then that that is what I wanted to write on the bracelets. A few weeks later, I told my friend, Ashlynne Stryker about my idea. She loved the idea and was willing to help out. On a Saturday night, my family and a few other families, were at Ashlynne's house for a barbeque. It was that night that we (Ashlynne, Ashley De Jong and I) went online and ordered the bracelets. A week or so later, they arrived in the mail. I called Mr. Westerink to tell him about them, and he loved the idea! I was so excited to hand the bracelets out; to get the message out: “GRACE IS SUFFICIENT!” It is my hope that whenever people look down at their wrists and see the bright blue band, that they will think of the Westerinks and pray for them. For patience and strength through this hard time.

A few weeks later, I went to visit Mr. and Mrs. Westerink with my parents. It was heart breaking to see Mr. Westerink struggle with his walking and his talking. I hadn't seen him in a while, so it hit me pretty hard when I saw how much worse he had gotten. Although it was a sad visit, it was also somewhat of an encouraging visit. It was amazing to hear them talk about how God is helping them through everything and how God is their rock of strength and courage. Even though I was encouraged by all of this, I still feel a sense of sadness. I already miss him at school and so do all of the other students. I will never forget how easy it was to talk to Mr. Westerink. If a teacher made a decision that we didn't quite agree with or what we thought was an “unfair” detainment, we would run to Mr. Westerink and he would calmly listen and either let us “off the hook” or tell us in a kind and understanding way that we would just have to serve the detainment this once. I also remember his beaming smile every morning when I would pass him in the hallway and he would say good morning to me. I never realized how much those two simple words meant to me until he was no longer there to say them. When I walk past the office that used to be his, I need to fight back the tears that threaten to fall. I miss seeing him in there, typing away with his two pointing fingers, which was a skill that only he could master. I guess the absence of Mr. Westerink is something we will all have to get used to.

I really don't understand how he and his wife do it, but they are so at peace. They put all their trust, all their cares, all their worries, and all their struggles in the Lord. I went to their house with a heavy heart, filled with sadness. Even anger. I wondered why God would let such a terrible thing happen to such an amazing man. A man who was so important in so many lives, whether it be at school, at church, or in his family. I wondered why God had let this happen to a man that I really looked up to. A man that meant so much to me. By the time I left his house though, I no longer had that sadness in my heart. I felt uplifted. I almost felt jealous. Jealous that he was so calm. Jealous that he is going to meet our Heavenly Father. I realized it was so wrong of me to be angry. I realized then why God decided to place this sickness in Mr. Westerink. He had a plan. A plan to change lives. A plan to change my life. He knew that through this sickness, sinners like you and I would come to know the love, comfort, grace and forgiveness that Christ offers to His children. A Bible verse that really seemed to help me through this time is Revelation 21:4: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” It is so encouraging to hear that one day, we won't have to shed anymore tears; we won't have to suffer anymore pain or sicknesses. God is so good to give us this hope and promise!

A few weeks ago, I took some time to look through the blog. As I was reading it, a new idea for a song popped in my head. My dad wanted me to go and watch a Gaither Gospel Homecoming DVD with him. As I went to go downstairs, I stopped and told my dad that I would be back in a few minutes. He asked what I was doing and I told him that I had an idea for a song. Twenty minutes later it was done. I felt that God gave me the words. They all just came to me right away. Its like I didn't even have to think about it. I really wanted to share this song with Mr. Westerink and his wife. When I went to visit them and I brought along my guitar. I played the song for them after I was done, Mr. Westerink told me that the song displayed his true feelings and his exact thoughts. It really hit me that God inspired the words of this song when Mr. Westerink said this. I thanked God for helping me and inspiring me to write this song. He asked me if I would write down the lyrics of the song to share with the people reading the blog. 

Coming Home by Evalyn Boekestein

Vs. 1

All these struggles

All this pain

Will only last a little while

I won't cry

I'll be strong

Cause I'm coming Home, coming Home!

Chorus

Coming Home, I'm coming Home!

Oh thank God, I'm coming Home!

I won't be sad.

I'll be glad,

Cause I'm coming Home, coming Home!

Vs. 2

Earthly treasures

Are all thrown away.

I don't need them anymore.

Where I'm headed,

They aren't needed.

I'm going Home, going Home.

Chorus

Coming Home, I'm coming Home!

Oh thank God, I'm coming Home!

I won't be sad.

I'll be glad,

Cause I'm coming Home, coming Home!

Bridge:

So don't cry for me

Cause you know where I'll be.

Home – with my Jesus.

Chorus

Coming Home, I'm coming Home!

Oh thank God, I'm coming Home!

I won't be sad.

I'll be glad,

Cause I'm coming Home, coming Home!

**Evalyn has taped the song for us to hear!  You may want to pause the music player at the very bottom of the blog before you play the song**

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A special thank you to Evalyn, Ashlynne and Ashley for doing this.  It is so touching to see the love other people have for our dad.  This whole week, with the bracelets, the song, the stories and the pictures shows not only my dad how much he is loved, but shows us how special a dad we have!!  Thank you!  SB.