The Ongoing Journey to Cultural Competence

Oops! I said Rosaura wrote our final entry on chapters 16 and 17, but had forgotten about Brittany's -- sorry! I don't know how I could have forgotten this phone: "[This is] my mom, sister, and me in Venice, Italy visiting Saint Mark's square. In the background is Saint Mark's Cathedral, and not only is this a very famous tourist location, it was very significant for us since we grew up Catholic." Beautiful picture, and I'm sure you'll enjoy Brittany's thoughts on these chapters, as well. Happy reading!

I have to admit, I've enjoyed this book more than I expected to, and it just so happened that my chapters coincided perfectly with the speaker we had in class today. Reza (our Middle Eastern guest speaker) talked with us about how women choose to cover up, and Ranya explained that as well. I find it so comforting that both our speaker today and the women in our book agree on the fact that religion is for everyone, and even though we may practice differently, at times like 9/11, we are all praying to God. I just loved the fact that Suzanne acted on her idea to teach children about different religions; what is even greater is the fact that she got to follow through with it.

As a student in our class about multicultural learning, I feel that my cultural competence has grown dramatically; can you imagine the changes that the world could make if we exposed children to different religions at a young age? How many stereotypes could be prevented and how many children could grow up without being teased? Something as small as this could change a person’s life, and as future professionals, this is something for which I feel we should strive. Hatred and judgment are far more likely to make the news than positive efforts to increase unity, and I feel that maybe that is why these changes have not been made in education. Parents see some terrorist attack on the news and that is why they don't want their children to learn about the Muslim faith. What parents do not realize is how they are hurting their children and reinforcing the idea that judgment is acceptable. We should be teaching our children about acceptance and embracing differences as opposed to the idea that differences should not be talked about.

I think the women who wrote this book have started to pave the way for a better world where adults and children learn to respect each other and value the fact that we all live differently. When Ranya was discussing the parent/teacher conference about her daughter it brought out true emotion in me, I was so happy to see that the teacher was actively involved and concerned with Leia’s drawing. The fact that Leia was allowed to make a presentation to her class about her religion made the story even better. Ranya explained how she could see the light in Leia’s eyes and she knew that her daughter was finally comfortable in her own skin. What an impact that experience made on their lives, and if that teacher had been unobservant, it may have never happened. This is the perfect example of how we can make such a difference in the lives of the children we work with, and how important it is that we pay close attention to what the kids are trying to tell us.

COMMENT: Well, obviously I'm a little biased, but I certainly agree that we'd do better by our children and our society if we required everyone to take a course that helped improve cultural competence! :) Seriously, though, one of the other points I appreciate here is that we should help children realize that talking about differences is ok. That can be so uncomfortable for so many of us, and doing so respectfully and openly is not often practiced and/or taught. We veer away from things that make us uncomfortable, so of course, we avoid that...but if we begin those discussions with young children, it becomes much more normal and comfortable. As we've talked about in class, a huge part of improving our cultural competence is realizing we'll make mistakes, and that doing so is really ok. We just have to have patience with each other.

Staying True to Our Beliefs, While Respecting Those of Others

Laura, the author of our second entry on chapters 16 and 17, had this to say about her photo: "This is a picture of my parents, my brother, and me in Brighton, England, when I did a semester abroad a few years ago. They have always supported me in my beliefs and decisions."

Enjoy Laura's take on these latest chapters.

The topic of chapter sixteen is a much discussed class topic. We have frequently conversed on several ideas and concepts throughout the course and how they are located on one spot of a spectrum. The chapter talks about the extremities of religious belief and practice. For example, Ranya would probably consider herself to be a liberal Muslim. She expressed her worry that other Muslims do not think she is Muslim enough. Priscilla felt that those who are not Jewish do not understand the severity of the injustices and discrimination that Jews have been dealing with for quite some time. Suzanne expresses enjoyment that other members of her church support The Faith Club’s interfaith message.

I think that no matter what religion or culture(s) you belong to, there can be those who think you are not enough. Not girly enough or Christian enough or whatever the case may be. I was not raised going to church on a regular basis, and I’ve had struggles with this same issue. I know now though that everyone has their own individual struggles and challenges with their faith and spirituality. No one is perfect and no one should be expected to be. It is always important to stand strong, stay true to your beliefs, and just be yourself.

The title of chapter seventeen is “Awakenings” and it was just that. What I took from the chapter is that while the three women in the book feel strongly and believe deeply in their individual faiths, they have a mutual understanding about showing consideration for one another. If and when they have disagreements, they maintain respect for each other. They ask questions instead of making assumptions. They find a way to focus on positive similarities instead of negative differences.

All three ladies express in chapter seventeen how essential it is for people to view as equal all religions of the world. Suzanne talked about how all three of the religions these women believe in should be viewed as pleasing to God. However, she finds it a challenge to view the churches as separate but equal. Although you may not practice other religions, you may find values or beliefs that you admire or agree with, and that is okay. Mold your religion and beliefs for yourself, your own individual morals.

I have been enjoying the book and its many messages. I did not disagree with anything in these chapters I was assigned. I think that the different opinions of all three women in the book are refreshing. It is important to strive for all types of cultural competence whether it is different races or religions or whatever. You must be willing to tolerate and respect other cultures and hopefully have interest in educating yourself. It is essential to pass this mentality onto children. This is just another way to teach children to respect each other’s differences. Support what makes individuals special and unique. As parents, educators, and teachers, it is our job to also be advocates of acceptance and tolerance of others. We should teach children to have peers in their lives that support and make them feel good about themselves.

Facing our Communities and Awakening

Erika wrote our first entry on chapters 16 and 17, and drew some comparisons between her own culture and Priscilla's. Happy reading!

While reading these chapters, there were many thoughts that went through my mind. I realized that these women have gone through their fair share of struggles within their communities. In the chapter Facing our Communities, the women talked about the different, somewhat harsh situations they have faced in the past. Priscilla explained that the Holocaust had caused many of the struggles people from her faith went through. The other two women were there to listen to what Priscilla had to say. The thing that I see with what Priscilla talked about is that people are still caught up with appearances. Judging others by the way they look is still a part of everyone’s life.

Out of the three women, I think I related to Priscilla’s story the most. Priscilla and Suzanne compared many of the things that Jews and Israel have in common but I noticed a lot of pain in Priscilla’s voice. She talked about the Holocaust and the bad situations Jewish people faced, from having to look for a new country because they could not handle the situation in Germany, to not finding an actual place to live until they went to the motherland.

Being Mexican, this brings out a lot of feelings in me. Mexican people are, in some ways, going through the same struggles. Most of us had to leave our homes in order to escape harsh treatment, only to find out that our life was going to be just as hard once we moved here. For my family, creating a new life in a new and entirely different country was very hard. It has been harder because we have had to deal with a lot of racism. We are looked down upon every day for everything we do, and Priscilla’s story only made me think of my own struggles.

The other chapter I read was Awakening. In this chapter the women talked about the way they have each found inner peace. Priscilla spoke about the way her friend was helping random people while the World Trade Center was coming down. She said that the way he helped them made her realize that everyone prays to the same God. She then noticed that no matter what others might think, we all come together because we all believe in a higher power, and that we can come through for each other when we need to. Because of all these situations, she was able to find inner peace.

The way Priscilla spoke about her inner peace is the same peace my family feels now. Like I mentioned before, my family migrated and had to deal with many different struggles. While reading this chapter, I came to understand that I’m not where these women are. They feel peace and understand who they believe in, but I don’t have a specific religion. I was raised Catholic and family continues to practice this religion, but it’s different for me. I hope that I can soon be in the place where these women are now.

I really don’t disagree with anything that these women talked about. All of their opinions and thoughts were very enlightening. I came to find that it is important to look at other’s opinions before you can determine your own. These women believe that at the end of the day, we all believe in different variations of the same God, and it is important that we all come to understand that it is ok to believe in different things.

Friendship

This is Sara, the author of our third and final entry on chapters 14 and 15, and her son. You'll see in her entry that she was impressed by the connections between the women in "The Faith Club" -- happy reading!

I have found these women to be very connected to each other. They have a friendship that not many people have with one another, even though they come from different backgrounds and religions. Priscilla, Suzanne, and Ranya are three ladies you can call sisters though they’re not blood-related. I felt connected to them while reading these two chapters. They are so close they are able to read each other’s minds by looking at each other’s facial expressions. For example, if one of them was getting upset about a comment that was being made, the other person could help defend her. They also enjoy each other’s company. Just spending time with one another was the most important thing for them; it did not matter where the location was or what they were experiencing. It reminded me of my best friend; we’ve been best friends since I was five years old and she was three years old. We have a connection similar to the Faith Club, and a strong bond that is hard for people to break; we can read each other’s minds and have many things in common. Today, we still have a close bond with one another, but it is stronger than the bond we had as children.

I thought it was humorous when Ranya was getting ready to go with Priscilla to attend her church because she was asking herself “What should I wear?” and could not decide. So she called Priscilla and asked her. I can relate to that statement; I remember as a child going through my friend’s closet and figuring out what she should wear to special occasions. She would do the same for me. Today as an adult it takes me a few minutes to find the right outfit for occasions such as a wedding or a holiday function; I think it is a “girl issue” that does not ever go away, no matter your age.

Ranya told a story about her son and a car ride they took to Vermont. She mentioned how her son dropped a cookie on the car floor, picked it up, kissed it, raised it up to the sky and then ate it. Ranya asked him, “Where did you learn that?” He responded by saying a Jewish friend taught him if the food drops on the ground, pick it up and give it a kiss; then it is okay to eat it. I thought it was interesting to hear Ranya speak about her son learning a new tradition.

During the holidays, each family has its own beliefs, traditions and religion. Suzanne provided a good example for how one can respect people’s holiday season and how they celebrate it. She figured out that instead of saying Merry Christmas to people on her holiday cards, she would say “Joy to the world.” Suzanne has many friends who are of different faiths, including Jews. She does not want to offend anyone who does not say Merry Christmas. Instead she respects other people’s cultures. I think this is a good lesson for a preschool setting. In my child development classes, I have come to the conclusion that learning about each child and family’s culture, religion and beliefs is important. This knowledge can help a preschool teacher incorporate diversity in the weekly lesson plan. For example, if the families are mostly Jewish, the preschool teacher can incorporate the holiday teachings of Passover, Rosh Hashanah and other Jewish holidays into daily and weekly lesson plans. Teachers need to work to include cultural events; for example, incorporating faith and cultural events representative of the students in her class.

After reading these two chapters, I have learned a lot from these women. These women have taught me that it does not matter what religion you are, it is friendship and similarities that bring us together. These women wanted to tell people about their experiences and accomplishments. They have overcome many obstacles in their lives. It is important to not judge someone by their religion, beliefs or culture and, instead, look at the individual’s whole life. I feel that these women wanted to be accepted and not be judged by anyone. They are only human.

Finding Commonalities through Differences

Our second entry on chapters 14 and 15 was written by Olga. Happy reading!

The faith club has been changing Suzanne, Ranya, and Priscilla in ways that reveal their many differences, but still allow them to feel very closely connected. Priscilla, who is a Jew, has invited her friends to come celebrate Yom Kippur, which is considered to be the holiest day of the year for Jewish people. Priscilla wrote that this day is spent fasting and praying, in order that God might let them live one more year and leave their names written in his metaphorical Book of Life. Ranya believes in a different book of life, where a record is kept of all the good and the bad things that one has done in his life; on the judgment day that person is judged and his fate in eternity decided on the basis of what is recorded in this book.

I would disagree with Priscilla and Ranya because I believe that the book of life contains one set of names of those people who are saved by the blood of the Lord Jesus through grace and will live with God in Heaven. The Bible teaches us that there will be judgment of those people that do not have their names written in the book of life.

Suzanne has a seven year old son Thomas who is called a “doubting Thomas” because he doesn’t believe in the existence of God based on the fact that he has never seen him. I believe most children and adults go through this doubting experience at some time in their life. I remember when I was young I had thoughts that the story of Jesus might have all been made up because it was such a long time ago. I thought there was no historical evidence to prove what was written about Jesus. In spite of these doubts, I realized how important it is to teach a child the truth from an early age, in order that they might be equipped to deal with their questions about faith.

Christmas is celebrated differently by different people. Typically, Muslims do not celebrate this holiday at all. Ranya, who is a Muslim, has added this religious practice into her own traditions because she says “there is no contradiction to my faith.” These three women in the faith club have changed their religious beliefs and traditions to try to find a way to include all of the religions. This made me question child development issues and what messages the child might get. Would the child be confused about what the truth really is?

This book has inspired me to realize that there are many people who find ways to find mutual respect for all of the religions. Instead of saying “Merry Christmas,” people say “Happy Holidays.” This holiday is celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, but because not all people believe in him, “Happy Holidays” is a universal way to wish someone the joy that this celebration brings.

Through reading this book, I felt that I got to experience what it feels like to be a Jew, a Muslim, and a Christian. I realized that it is important to teach children the truth from an early age, as well as how to relate to others who do not believe exactly what you believe.

Bringing Different Faiths Together

The author of our first entry on chapters 14 and 15 is Jennifer, and this is a childhood picture of her with her family in front of their church. She said that this picture is for chapter 14, and the picture at the bottom of the blog -- with Santa! -- is for chapter 15's "Happy Holidays" theme. Happy reading!

When we were assigned “The Faith Club” to read and then blog about the three authors and their search for understanding, I did not think that I was going to be able to relate. However, I was completely wrong. I chose to blog about chapters 14, Day of Atonement, and chapter 15, Happy Holidays. In these chapters Ranya, Suzanne, and Priscilla have made me think of the religious views of members of other ethnic groups in a completely different light.

These three ladies remind me of my friends and me; although we are all the same race, we have very different views on many different things. We never like to talk about things that are controversial such as religion, because growing up we were taught in school to not talk about these things. After reading these chapters it made me think that if Suzanne and Ranya could overcome their biases about Priscilla’s religious holiday, Yom Kippur, and actually take place in observing it and explaining to their children what was going on, why couldn’t other people let down their guards and be educated on others’ views?

Living in the Central Valley we see diversity every day, especially in Fresno, but we still see people of the same race or the same religious views hanging out together. You very rarely see people of different ethnic backgrounds or religious views going to a church or hanging out with someone outside of what they were taught. Reading this opened my eyes to how we as Americans say we are culturally unbiased. If you go down a street you can see different places for worship, but you never see a Catholic walking out of a synagogue, or a Jewish person walking out of a Catholic church. I am so happy to see a book out there that is letting adults and children know that our views are so skewed. We are telling our children that we are all equals, when in reality people are still looking down and being biased towards others just because people choose to be a different religion.

In chapter 15, Ranya, Suzanne and Priscilla are starting to celebrate Christmas. Ranya speaks of always having had a Christmas tree when she was growing up, and how she never really felt like it was the right thing to have considering she was not Christian. I am glad to see she has overcome that hesitation and realized it is okay to have a tree. If anything, this proves to her friends that she is really here to understand where they are coming from in each of their religious views. In my opinion all this celebration is for the birth of Christ, and if she believes in Him like she says she now does, then having a Christmas tree up should be no big deal.

In conclusion, reading this book has made me look at myself and our society in a different light. We need to see where we’re each coming from by coming together like these three ladies. Maybe then we will see ourselves for what we truly are, and that is very biased.

The Struggle with Mortality and the Power of Faith

Yes...you're seeing double. This is the author of our last entry on chapters 12 and 13, Evelyn (on the left), pictured with her twin sister, Kim (on the right), and their mother, Maryann. Evelyn shares some very personal connections to these chapters, and I believe you'll appreciate her insight.

Chapter twelve, which was my favorite so far, was about life after death and the various religious viewpoints on the afterlife from Suzanne, Priscilla, and Ranya. I found this chapter so compelling because I could relate to Ranya’s feelings of being scared of death. Ranya describes that she has such a joy for life and cannot comprehend why it must come to a halt. I can relate to Ranya’s in-depth descriptions of her fear of death and wondering if there is an afterlife.

My own fear of dying comes from losing my mother to cancer a few years ago. Before my mother passed away I had no real fears of dying. I was like Ranya, enjoying all aspects of life and “too eager to experience yet another full day” (p. 180). After my mother passed, I was very fearful of dying from the very same disease that took her. Although the fear is less intense than a few years ago, I am still questioning if I am going to have a long healthy life and if there is an afterlife. These questions came to me more often after my mother passed away; I wondered if she was in heaven/eternity.

What allayed my doubts of an afterlife was very similar to Suzanne’s experience of losing her sister. She explains that her sister loved giving massages and doing so was one way that she would comfort Suzanne. During a grief support group when Suzanne was at a very low point, her pastor gave her a shoulder massage. Suzanne later describes this experience as if her sister was there and only her sister could do this to perk up her spirits. I found this truly amazing because it was an act that was from a higher being. Only a higher being could emulate a very intimate act that only Suzanne’s sister did.

This then led me to remember an incident that I experienced fairly recently. After my mother passed away, I felt a lot of guilt about not being at the hospital much to visit her. This guilt had a large impact on my ability to accept her death and move forward. My experience with the higher being resulted in a dream I had of my mother. I had a dream of telling my mother I was sorry for not visiting her as much while she was in the hospital. In this dream it was different than others I had because after I had apologized to my mother and she forgave me, I felt such a sense of calmness and peace. And immediately I felt relieved that she forgave me; a huge weight was lifted off of my chest. In my dream I believe my mother was telling me it was ok, and that now I could begin the process of mourning her.

If it wasn’t for this dream, I wouldn’t be able to move on from my mother’s death, and I trust she knew this; her way of helping me in my time of need was through my dream. I don’t believe this all would be possible if there wasn’t a higher being, and this experience has confirmed for me that there is an afterlife and a God.

There is also the broader topic of faith, and it is focused on in the story of Ranya and Suzanne, and their contemplations and questions of their faith. Although I cannot relate to Suzanne and Ranya’s faith because I’m spiritual rather than religious, I can imagine what it would be like to be so devout in a religion and then question my faith. Even with their questions and curiosity, the three women still find connections between their religions. For example, when Ranya invited Suzanne and Priscilla to an interfaith Ramadan breakfast meal, Priscilla had an insightful moment; she was able to see what a godly man Imam Feisal was. I thought this was amazing – that she was able to be aware of this, given that she is not Muslim and yet she is able to see God in him.

More on Chapters 12 and 13

This is a preschool picture of Paj, the author of our second entry on chapters 12 and 13. The reading really seemed to resonate with her and I think you'll appreciate her insight.

As I was reading about Ranya’s thoughts and worries about her death and what it would be like for her children without her, it reminded me of my mom. My mom would always have this conversation with me about dying, and her fear of my siblings and me not knowing how to survive by ourselves. I usually tell her not to worry about it and that she is just worrying too much. After reading how Ranya feels about dying and leaving her children behind, I understood the concerns on my mother’s mind. Like Ranya, my mother was always safeguarding my siblings and me. She loved and cared for us and protected us with all she has. Growing up, my mom was always so attached to us and we were so attached to her. My mom took my sisters and me with her everywhere she went. She was always saying that without us, she did not feel complete.

When Ranya heard the nurse use the term “expired” after her grandpa died, it opened her eyes to see that everyone is born with their own “expiration dates.” I first heard the term “patient expiration” before my uncle passed away. This was also an eye opener for me. Hearing terms like this is something that may be intense to many others. Like Ranya, that term had opened my eyes to see that everyone has their own expiration date too. I have experienced what Ranya went through and I connected strongly with her emotions.

When I was an adolescent, I was like the little boy who asked Leia how to spell a Muslim name. I did not know that there were other religions out there. I was a Christian and I thought that you go to church and go to heaven, or you don’t go to church and don’t go to heaven. As I grew up, I began to meet people who had different religious beliefs. I was surprised at first. But after a while, I got used to it. Once I got accustomed to the different religions, I became interested in the different types of Gods there are out there.

As an adult and having that opportunity to learn the different types of religions and beliefs, people may sometimes have second thoughts or even have wavering feelings about their beliefs, like Suzanne did. Suzanne was put on the spot and she did not have the courage or confidence to prove her religious beliefs to Ranya and Priscilla. That was when she started wavering about her faith. I can relate to how Suzanne feels and I am sure there are many others who know how it feels too. When people are put in the spot light, they start to get nervous and cannot find things, or they start thinking that maybe their beliefs may be wrong too. That is when they start wavering.

Getting the chance to read about how each of them feels and how they experienced the different religious beliefs was very insightful.

Appreciating the Faith of Others

Regina wrote our first entry for chapters 12 and 13. Happy reading!

I found these two chapters in The Faith Club to be very interesting. I have never really thought about death and the afterlife. After I read chapter 12 and all the different beliefs of each woman, it created some questions that I had about death and afterlife. Having been raised Christian, I always had a belief in an afterlife and in heaven. But some questions about the actual act of dying came to mind after reading this. I had to pause to wonder exactly what death is like. I had questions like would death be painful? This question is a huge issue for me because I am very afraid of pain. Would I make it to heaven? This question I cannot answer because I believe only God knows the answer to that one. Would I be stuck waiting around between the afterlife and heaven, like that scene in Beetlejuice where the two main characters die and then are stuck waiting for their number to be called so they know where to go next on the way to their afterlife? I also wondered if I would be able to hear what people say about me after I’m gone. Silly as some of these thoughts are, I could not help but let my mind wonder. Chapter 12 brought questions to me about death that I really never contemplated.

I enjoyed reading chapter 13 as well; it made me think of an experience that I had as a child. While reading the part about the woman who had a first time experience with the Imam, it reminded me of the time I went to my first mass at a Catholic church. I was 8 and spending the night at my best friend Kathleen’s house. Her family was Catholic and I was a Christian, but since I was spending the night, I was to attend the service with them. My first impression of the church was utter awe, for I was used to my little church and this place was much bigger. As I walked in the building, the first thing I remember noticing was the basin of holy water that was attached to the wall. I didn’t know what it was for, but watched as Kathleen and her mother dipped their fingers in and did the motions with the cross on their faces.

Next I remember entering a small room with a bunch of lit candles on a table, and I sat there watching as her mother lit a candle and prayed. I don’t remember what she said but I do remember thinking how weird and different this was from my own church. After that we entered the larger room with all the pews; I think we were late because there were a lot of people already seated, so we were forced to sit way in the back. I marveled at how big the room was and we were so far back that I could not see up to the front of the alter. I remember most vividly that since I could not see up front, I didn’t know who was talking. All I could hear was a voice of a man speaking, but did not know where it was coming from; I was looking all around trying to find the source of the voice. Being a child with a vivid imagination, I looked up at the ceiling where the voice seemed to be coming from and thought that God was talking. Since I was a kid and did not know any better, and at the time did not realize they had ceiling speakers, I thought God was speaking to me. Now I know that it wasn’t God talking to me, and this experience taught me to appreciate other faiths just as the woman did who had her first experience with the Imam.

Loss and Faith

Anastasia wrote our fourth and final entry on chapters 10 and 11, and has included this memorial portrait of her grandfather that her uncle created. "It has Psalm 23 on it," she wrote. "My grandfather was a really important person in my life; he came from nothing and made something
for himself and his family. He didn't know how to read or write, but when it came to filling out applications for jobs, he made sure that someone filled them out correctly for him. He was a hard worker and I consider myself lucky to have had a grandfather like him. He taught me how to fish and play baseball. He was like a second father to me, and I
greatly miss him." As you read, I think you'll appreciate the comparisons she's drawn between the chapters and her own family experiences.

I wasn’t a very religious person. I had faith but I can count on one hand how many times I prayed in my whole life. But I distinctively remember praying a lot when I was twelve years old. It was the first week of September 1999, and I remember being called up to the office at school because my father was going to pick me up early. I didn’t know what for, but as I got to the office, I saw my other cousins waiting. It immediately hit us that something was wrong. As I sat down waiting for my father, my cousins and I all figured that it had to be our grandfather. He was in the hospital with pancreatic cancer, and he was dying. After waiting for what seem liked forever, my uncle was the one who actually picked us up from school. Then we headed off to the high school to pick up my older sister and cousins. As we all drove to the hospital, I remember my older sister and one of my cousins crying. I remember touching my necklace that had a cross on it, praying that my grandfather was okay and that it was just a misunderstanding.

We arrived at the hospital, and the whole family was there waiting and crying. I remember my sisters and I talking to our mom; she said that my grandfather didn’t have much time left and that we all needed to be together in his last minutes. We stayed at the hospital until nighttime; my grandfather was still alive when we left. We were taken home to rest and sleep. I remember that night getting on my knees and praying to God, asking him to keep my grandfather alive, asking him to make my grandfather healthy again and that if he did that, in return, I would be a nicer person, clean my room, listen to my parents, and do better in school. The next day, September 3^rd, 1999, my dad took me and my sisters back to the hospital. My grandfather was barely hanging on. His room was filled with my aunts, uncles, cousins, a doctor, and a priest. I remember listening to the priest saying a few prayers over my grandfather and blessing him with holy water. Then he said that it was his time to go, his journey on earth was done.

Awhile later, my grandfather died. All I saw around me was sadness and tears. Losing my grandfather was the biggest blow to my system that I ever had. I remember leaving the hospital and going home. I walked into my room and took off my necklace with the cross and placed it in my jewelry box. The day my grandfather died was the day I lost my faith in God.

For seven days my grandmother and aunts prayed the rosary till my grandfather was buried, a ritual when someone dies.

Two years later, September 11^th happened and just like Priscilla, I wondered where God was that day. They say God is all around us but it’s hard to imagine what God is doing when people are dying and planes are flying into buildings. I can relate to Priscilla when she felt that good things in her life are related to God. During this time my faith was not fully restored, but I agree with Suzanne when she said she saw God in all those people that were going to the scene trying to help. I saw God when America and the world united.

It’s been almost twelve years since my grandfather passed away and ten years since 9/11. I’m still not a religious person and I don’t attend church but I do believe that there is a higher power working around us. I don’t do the necessary rituals to be closer to God, like praying and going to church, because I figure that he’s God and he knows everything about me. I do keep a rosary in my car for protection, but I also understand that everything happens for a reason. That reason may not be to everyone’s liking but that is the way the world works.

Viewing Struggles Through the Eyes of Mentors

This is the 2006 Turlock High varsity soccer team, and the author of our third entry on chapters 10 and 11, Brittany, is second from left in the bottom row. She said, "Coach Bishop [in the middle of the back row] was a great mentor for me during my high school years. Hence, why I chose this image." In her response to the chapters, Brittany shares some touching and insightful experiences with mentoring.

Many questions arose as I meticulously read each chapter of The Faith Club. Questions regarding my own faith, stereotypes that I hold, and whether or not I could ever fully feel comfortable starting my own faith club. I have experienced uncertainty, reassurance, anger, and joy while sitting and scanning each page of this novel. So, having gone through an emotional rollercoaster, I am now beside myself.

The topics of prayer and rituals play a significant role in many religions. Yet, I am only truly familiar with my Christian beliefs on such topics. Therefore, where else could these chapters lead us? To something beyond religion, perhaps? I searched and I found a theme that resonates in all of us, no matter what religion, ethnicity, or sex. The theme I am speaking of is struggles. We all face them, some more difficult than others, or are they? Who gets to decide? The underlying message here is that we all have different perspectives on struggles. Priscilla viewed the attacks on September 11^th with a different lens than Suzanne or Ranya. Just like many of my friends and family members carried a different perspective on the story I am about to share. What is great about these lenses and perspectives is that they are flexible. If willing, one will be able to take a glimpse into someone else’s point of view. Here is a sneak peak into one of my struggles.

Growing up, the click, clicking sound of oversized shoes making their way to a pew was a common noise. I was the child who sang “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” in my grandmother’s red high heels with knee-high stockings bunched around my ankles, while the rest of the congregation sang in harmony to old hymns. This brief Sunday morning description is just a snapshot of how I lived out my youth— a confident, determined leader.

I was fortunate to be raised by parents who practiced unconditional positive regard. Even though this reflected their parenting style, as a family we still endured numerous struggles. Life in my home environment was not always perfect. In the sixth grade, I experienced my sister’s first suicide attempt. Throughout my junior high and high school years, I was exposed to a way of life I thought only existed in the movies. Drug dealers lived in my home, personal possessions were stolen, and I was given a glimpse into the life of a drug addict. By my junior year in high school, my sister had attempted suicide four times, was addicted to opiates, and had been in and out of three rehabilitation centers. My world had been turned upside down. Instead of looking at prospective colleges or focusing on my future aspirations, I spent my time staying at home praying I was not going to have to attend my sister’s funeral. During this time, many people began to make their way into my life. With the help of coaches, relatives, and friends, I was able to see the good in my situation. What I perceived to be devastating, they looked at as a learning opportunity. With this new perspective, I became determined to make more of my life; I refused to be dependent on the use of drugs. It is due to these various lenses offered in my time of need that I am able to speak of this story.

Therefore, I believe it is pivotal as educators, parents, and friends to never assume that others do not face struggles. We need to be aware that everyone we come in contact with has faced or is currently facing a trial. By being active listeners and allowing them to view a new perspective, we may be changing their life.

Rituals and Prayers

This is Kit, the author of our second entry on chapters 10 and 11. She said, "I babysat my fiancé's best friend's kids, and it was Tevein and T'neice's first time making cupcakes. We had a blast!" I'm just wondering if there are any of those cupcakes left...!

Happy reading!

In chapters ten and eleven, Ranya made a really good point when she discussed the conversation she had with the women about God and rituals. She said people shouldn't worry about how other people practice their religion, and instead should concentrate on their own beliefs. I agree with Ranya because in today’s society religion is a heated topic. People have different views on it. People have the right to their beliefs and others should respect that. Religion is personal to each individual and is sacred to that person.

Reading these chapters made me think of my own family rituals, beliefs and praying to God. I grew up in a home where I was taught by my parents to believe in Buddhism. I had a hard time understanding my religion when I was growing up. My parents never explained our religion to me and I just went along with it. Both of my parents are extremely religious and they pray to the Gods of Buddha every day before they go to bed. My parents also have a ritual where they wear a Buddha pendant as a necklace to protect them from bad spirits. I felt like I was forced to practice Buddhism when I was growing up. I wore a Buddha pendant, went to the temple, but never understood why I had to pray to a Buddha. When I was a teenager, I felt like I had grown out of Buddhism and began to believe in God. I made a connection when Suzanne talked about giving up on sweets for Lent and she wasn’t able to keep her pledge. She then lost her grandmother's necklace, and she told God that she wasn't going to drink another beer again. She found the necklace, but then wasn't able to keep her promise to God.

This sounds selfish, but I only pray to God when I need guidance. I used to do the same thing Suzanne used to do when she would pray to God. When Suzanne’s grandfather died, she reconnected with God. One day she was looking for a place to pray and she was introduced to a church by her home called Maria am Gestade Church. The church not only gave her a place to pray, but it offered wonderful services. I can relate to this because I took a long break from Buddhism after I graduated high school. I wasn't sure if I believed in Buddhism, but instead had started believing more in God. Not long ago, I started to go back to the temple with my parents. Now, I have a better understanding of Buddhism because they explained it to me. Now I practice my beliefs and pray to God.

People practice different beliefs and rituals. These beliefs and rituals are passed along from one generation to the next. People tend to adopt their parents’ ways, practices, and beliefs. Children learn through modeling and each child has a different culture and religion. The reading made me realize that it is very important to respect a child’s culture, religion, and family. I think it is important for people to learn about different cultures and religions, and to teach children how important it is to be different and unique.

The reading answered my question about God: Who is God? Every culture has their own vision of God and their own perspective. When Suzanne was putting her daughter to sleep, her daughter asked her about God. Suzanne didn't have an answer for her daughter, but instead told her, “God is here” (p. 149). Teaching a child about God is hard. For example, when Suzanne asked her father about God, he didn't have a clear answer for her either.

This reading has encouraged me to be more open-minded with each child who comes from a different race and has different beliefs. I feel that people should be sensitive to different cultures, to learn about each culture and religion to have a better understanding. In the end of chapter eleven, Priscilla recognizes that it is easier for her to pray to God. She became more sensitive to Ranya and Suzanne’s beliefs, and she has a better view of her own beliefs.

At the Heart of What Matters

Our first author on chapters 10 and 11 had this to say about her photo: "This is a picture of my family. In my blog entry, I talk a lot about how love is important, and what better way to show that than the love I have for my family?" Well said, Caleigh!

Happy reading!

While reading the chapters on prayers and rituals in The Faith Club, there were many thoughts that went through my mind. All three of these women have different religions and many different ways of practicing their religion. In the chapter Prayers the women seemed to have talked more about their relationship with God. Priscilla had explained that after 9/11 she had lost her faith in God. The other two women were there to question, why? The problem that I see in the world today is more people than not tend to obsess about the negative. Suzanne made a good point in her response to Priscilla when she said that, instead of looking at the negative outcomes, to look at the good being done because of it.

Of the three women, I felt that Suzanne had the strongest confidence when it came to talking about her religion. However, when her daughter asked questions, she found it hard to answer. How do you make a child understand faith and religion? They are not able to yet grasp the concept of something that is abstract. So as a parent, you have to explain as best you can. That is how you should approach life as well, to be the best you can be. That was a very strong message that I got from this chapter on prayer.

In the next chapter Rituals, the three women discussed why rituals are or are not important to a religion. Ranya had a feeling of being disconnected because she did not have a place of worship where she felt comfortable and accepted. Could this be the same kind of thinking that adolescents face when going to school and going through that “awkward” age? A feeling of belonging seems to make people feel whole. Priscilla stated that the way that she practices her religion is on her own terms. She is able to define what religion is to suit herself and her family.

While Ranya was explaining that rituals do not make up a religion, it made me think about why rituals are even in place. Having rituals is a way to come together. This made me think of the rituals that I have in my own family. Rituals do not always have to apply to religion, but can be for anything. I find that in my family, rituals are ways to stay connected. All members of my family lead busy and sometimes separate lives. Having specific rituals helps keep us together and have that sense of feeling connected. With that said, rituals do not make my family. When I say that, I mean that rituals are not all my family is about. We have love for each other and that is what makes us a family.

I do not disagree with anything said in these chapters. I think that all three women have different opinions and that is a good thing. It is important to get different perspectives on things so you can live with that open-mindedness that these three women express. The conclusion I came to is that all religions seem to have the same goal. It does not matter what your rituals are or how you decide to pray, it’s about the love you have to give.